Intelligent Power Today Magazine

How to reduce electrical-related deaths and injuries to zero

BY JENIFER ROBERTSON, Electrical Safety Authority

Consider this scenario: An electrician is modifying an electrical circuit in a ceiling space at an educational institute. To perform the task, he de-energizes his specific circuit, but leaves the others in the same junction box energized.

While making the wiring modifications, the electrician makes incidental contact with a 347-volt, energized conductor with his right thumb and baby finger. He receives a shock.

Does this sound like a rarity? Well, it is not. In fact, this is a real-life incident that happened in Ontario—and it...

I recently viewed a destroyed 600-volt electrical panel board that had exploded when an operator reset an 800-ampere (A) breaker. His leather-palmed gloves had synthetic backs that ignited and seriously burned the back of his hands. His flame-resistant (FR) shirt was untucked and he was burned on his right side.

It is unfortunate that he was not following Canadian Standards Association’s CSA Z462 standard: “Workplace Electrical Safety” clause 4.3.7.3.10 (d). It is incredibly fortunate that his employer provided arc-rated clothing, as only a few years ago, he would have been wearing cotton coveralls.

Consequently, this incident would have resulted...