U.S.DepartmentofLaborOccupationalSafetyandHealthAdministrationOSHA30752002(Revised)Thisbookletprovidesagenericoverviewofastandards-relatedtopic.Thispublicationdoesnotalterordeterminecomplianceresponsibilities,whicharedescribedintheOSHAstandardsandtheOccupationalSafetyandHealthAct.Becauseinterpretationsandenforcementpolicymaychangeovertime,thebestsourcesforadditionalguidanceonOSHAcompliancerequirementsarecurrentadministrativeinterpretationsanddecisionsbytheOccupationalSafetyandHealthReviewCommissionandthecourts.Thispublicationisinthepublicdomainandmaybereproducedfullyorpartiallywithoutpermission.Sourcecreditisrequestedbutnotrequired.OSHAwillmakethisinformationavailabletosensoryimpairedindividualsuponrequest.Call(202)693–1999.Theteletypewriter(TTY)numberis(877)889–5627.U.S.DepartmentofLaborElaineL.Chao,SecretaryOccupationalSafetyandHealthAdministrationJohnL.Henshaw,AssistantSecretaryOSHA30752002(Revised)Toreportanemergency,fileacomplaint,orseekOSHAadvice,assistance,orproducts,call(800)321-OSHAorcontactyournearestOSHAregionalorareaoffice.Theteletypewriter(TTY)numberis(877)889-5627.iContentsIntroduction..............................................................1Whyshouldyoubeconcernedaboutelectricalhazards?...........................................................2WhatOSHAstandardsaddresselectricalsafety?..............3HowdoOSHA’sstandardsminimizeelectricalhazards?...........................................................4Electricity:TheBasics..............................................5Whataffectstheflowofelectricity?.............................5Howdoeswateraffecttheflowofelectricity?...............5Whatcausesshocks?.................................................5Whateffectdoshockshaveonthebody?....................6Whatkindofburnscanashockcause?.......................8Whydopeoplesometimes“freeze”whentheyareshocked?......................................................8Whatshouldyoudoifsomeone“freezes”toaliveelectricalcontact?..........................................9Howcanyoutellifashockisserious?.........................9Whatisthedangerofstaticelectricity?......................10ProtectionAgainstElectricalHazards.....................11Whatisthebestwaytoprotectyourselfagainstelectricalhazards?........................................11Whatprotectiondoesinsulationprovide?..................11Howdoyouidentifydifferenttypesofinsulation?.......11Whatisguardingandwhatprotectiondoesitoffer?...........................................................12Whatisgroundingandwhatprotectiondoesitoffer?...........................................................13iiWhatarecircuitprotectiondevicesandhowdotheywork?...................................................14Whatworkpracticeshelpprotectyouagainstelectricalhazards?........................................15Howcanyouprotectyourselfagainstmetalpartsthatbecomeenergized?..........................15Howcanyoupreventanaccidentalorunexpectedequipmentstartup?................................16Howcanyouprotectyourselffromoverheadpowerlines?.............................................17Whatprotectiondoespersonalequipmentoffer?.......18Whatroledotoolsplay?...........................................18Whatspecialtrainingdoemployeesneed?................18What’sthevalueofasafetyandhealthprogramincontrollingelectricalhazards?.............