Electrical Safety Laws
- Electricity can be extremely hazardous.electricity image by Mat Hayward from Fotolia.com
An electrical current that is able to flow through a human body can cause considerable damage and even death. The involuntary muscular contractions cause by the current can also cause secondary injuries. One person is electrocuted at U.S. workplaces every day, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that in 2002, 289 employees were killed after coming into contact with an electric current. - All electrical appliances must be submitted to one of the testing laboratories operating under the aegis of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. These laboratories conduct safety tests on products in line with accepted standards. Tested products are marked with the laboratory's listing mark for ease of recognition by consumers.
- Under Regulation 64 of the Workplace Health and Safety Regulations, if a main cable must cross the workplace, then it must be higher than 2 meters and supported at least every 3 meters. Cables that run vertically must be supported every 6 meters.
- An arc flash is an electric arc which jumps through the air from an area of high voltage to an area that is grounded or of a lower voltage. It is caused when the protective insulation cannot withstand the voltage being passed through it. In 1994, the Occupational Health and Safety Administration introduced the OSHA 1910.269 "Apparel Standard" which required that all workers with the potential for being exposed to arc flashes must have clothing able to withstand the flash without melting or igniting.
- The U.S. Department of Labor requires that all electrical equipment used in the workplace must bear the manufacturers name or trademark so that it may be identified. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations 29 CFR 1910 Subpart S section 1910.303(e) also require that the current, voltage and wattage should be displayed.
