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INTRODUCTION TO THE PROGRAM - ELECTRICAL SAFETY

Structure and Organization

The Electrical Safety information in this program is presented in a definite order, so that employees will see the relationships between the various groups of information and can retain them more easily. The sections in the Electrical Safety program include:

• How Electricity Works.

• Fuses and Circuit Breakers.

• Grounding and GFIs.

• Safe Work Practices.

• Outlets, Plugs and Extension Cords.

• Working With Electrical Equipment.

• Using Ladders Around Electricity.

• Electrical Emergencies.

Each section of the Electrical Safety program gives an overview of important information in one topic area, providing employees with the basis for understanding how to work safely with and around electricity.

Background

Electricity is all around us. lt lights up our homes as well as our facilities. It powers much of the machinery and equipment that we use... and runs many of our tools. Without it, both work and personal lives would come to a standstill.

But electricity can also be dangerous. Whenever we are around it we need to exercise caution. Electrical accidents can damage equipment, putting companies "out of production" for days or even weeks. Sparks from frayed wires and machinery can start fires and cause explosions. And electricity can harm people even more directly, through shock and electrical burns.

Because electricity is so pervasive in our environment, and has the potential to cause so many problems, employees need to know how it works... as well as how to work with it safely.

Objectives

To help employees understand how electricity works, and how to work with it safely, the Electrical Safety program is designed to present basic information in these areas. Upon completion of the program, employees should be able to:

• Understand how electricity works, and be comfortable with terminology like "volts", "current", "amps", and the like.

• Know the importance of fuses and circuit breakers, and how they function.

• Understand the concepts of "insulation" and "grounding", and know how Ground Fault Interrupters function.

• Employ Safe Work Practices when working with and around electricity.

• Understand how outlets, plugs and extension cords relate and the functions that they have.

• Work safely with and around electrical equipment.

• Select appropriate ladders for jobs with and around electricity, and know how to use them safely.

• Know what to do in electrical emergencies.

Reviewing the Program

With the Electrical Safety program, as with any educational program, the "presenter" should go through it at least once to become familiar with the content and make sure the program is consistent with facility policy and directives. An "outline" of the points in the Electrical Safety program is included in this Presenter's Guide to help with this task and for general reference.

As part of this review process, you should determine how you, as the presenter, will conduct your session. The use of materials such as handouts, charts, etc., that may be available to you needs to be well thought out and integrated into the overall Electrical Safety program presentation.

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