Electric Shock Can Kill You

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ELECTRIC SHOCK can kill you.Do not touch live electrical parts.

Live electrical parts can include the power supply, the power and work cables, the torch andthe work itself (if the work is not connected to earth ground.)

Electric shock can be avoided. Follow the recommended practices listed below. Faultyinstallation, improper grounding, and incorrect operation and maintenance of electricalequipment are always sources of danger.

Connect electrical equipment and workpiece correctly. Prevent electrical shock.o Connect power supply and control cabinet chassis to approved earth groundo Connect workpiece to “work” output connection of power supply o Connect workpiece (as illustrated below) OR power supply work terminal (but

not both) to approved earth ground. “Double -grounding” can causewelding/cutting current to occur in conductors intended only for safetygrounding and can result in destruction of the safety ground.NOTE: The work lead is NOT a ground lead; the work lead is to be used onlyto complete the welding circuit

Make good electrical connections of the work lead to the power supply workterminal and to the workpiece . A missing or poorly - connected work lead can causea fatal shock. Make sure the work lead is always in good condition

Use the correct cable size. Sustained overloading will cause cable failure and resultin possible electrical shock or fire hazard. Work cable should be the same rating as thetorch cable

Make sure all electrical connections are tight, clean, and dry. Poor electricalconnections can heat up, and even melt. They can also cause bad welds and producedangerous arcs and sparks. Do not try to make an electrical connection through paint.Do not allow water, grease, or dirt to accumulate on plugs, sockets, or electrical units

Insulate yourself from workpiece and ground. Moisture and water can conductelectricity. To prevent shock, it is advisable to keep work areas, equipment, andclothing dry at all times. Fix water leaks immediately. Keep hoses from touching hotmetal. Do not exceed recommended water pressures. Make sure that you are wellinsulated. Wear dry insulated gloves, rubber-soled shoes, or stand on a dry board or

platform Use only the proper equipment if welding must be done in electrically-hazardous


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conditions. Such conditions include damp or warm locations, wet clothing, metalstructures such as floors or scaffolds, cramped positions or wherever there is a highrisk of contact with workpiece or ground. In any of these situations use :

o DC MIG weldingo DC manual (stick electrode) weldingo AC welder with reduced open-circuit voltage control Keep cables and connectors in good condition. Improper or worn electrical

connections can increase the chance of an electrical shock. Do not use worn, damagedor bare cables

Avoid open-circuit voltage. Open circuit voltage of welding, cutting and gouging power supplies can cause electric shock. When several welders are working with arcsof different polarities, or when using multiple alternating current machines, the open-circuit voltages can be additive. The added voltages increase the severity of the shockhazard.

Remove metal jewelry. It is recommended that rings, watches, necklaces, and othermetallic items be removed before welding or cutting. Accidental contact of jewelrywith welding power can cause metal to become hot or even melt. It can also increasethe possibility of a fatal shock

Follow recognized safety standards. Follow the recommendations in American National Standard Z49.1, “Safety in Welding and Cutting,” available from theAmerican Welding Society, P. 0. Box 351040, Miami, FL 33135, and also the

National Electrical Code, NFPA No. 70, which is available from the National FireProtection Association, Batterymarch Park, Quincy, MA 02269

Preventing electric shocks during welding AMSJ on January 6, 2015 at 3:00 pm

Source: Department of Mines and Petroleum, Resources Safety

22 December 2014

Summary of hazard

Over the past three years, the Department of Mines and Petroleum has received more than160 electric shock incident reports during welding on Western Australian mining operations.Fortunately, no one has been electrocuted but any shock received during welding has the

potential to be fatal.

The welding electrical circuit comprises a power source, electrode lead, electrode, work piece, work terminal and work lead. An electric shock may result if a person becomes part of

the welding electrical circuit during welding.

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Contributory factors

The most common ways that a person becomes part of the welding electrical circuit are by:

inadvertently touching exposed metallic or conductive parts during welding welding in wet or humid conditions, which increases the risk of inadvertent contact

through water or sweat, which are conductive not using fit-for-purpose personal protective equipment (PPE) using a welding electrical circuit that is faulty due to inadequate testing and

maintenance.

Actions required

Workers need to be competent in the tasks they undertake. Those involved in weldingshould understand the welding electrical circuit and how to maintain a safe current path.

Safe work procedur e

A safe work procedure for welding work should be developed and implemented inaccordance with Australian Standard AS 1674 Safety in welding and allied processes and theWelding Technology Institute of Australia’s Technical Notes 7 and 22. This includes:

conducting a job-specific risk assessment implementing measures to mitigate risks arising from the work environment visually inspecting the work environment, welding equipment and welding electrical

circuit before

each welding job.

Work practices

Welders should:

be aware of their work environment to avoid becoming part of the welding electricalcircuit (e.g.know what should not be touched)

ensure there is adequate insulation of welding electrical components to avoidinadvertent body contact with any exposed live electrical part

connect the work terminal as close as practicable to the work piece to provide the

least resistant current return-path back to the welding power source ensure earth leakage protection does not exceed 30 mA isolate the welding activity from other work carried out in the area Note: Where it is

necessary to carry out more than one welding activity in the same work area, a safe current return-path should be maintained for each welding activity.

avoid welding in wet or humid work areas use protective devices such as a voltage reduction device (VRD) or manual trigger

switch.

If it is not practical to avoid working in wet or humid conditions, implement additionalcontrol measures such as:

ensuring equipment is dry before welding


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using fit-for-purpose personal protective equipment (PPE) and clothing (e.g. personal protection that insulates body parts from any exposed metallic conductive parts of thewelding electrical circuit)

providing additional PPE for change-out when that being used becomes wet or damp.

Testing and maintenance

An electrical supervisor at a mine must ensure that electrical equipment and installations atthe mine are maintained in a safe working condition through routine testing and maintenance

by a licensed electrician. The test plan should include verification of:

the welding electrical circuit protective devices earth continuity and insulation resistance.

Further information AS 1674.2 Safety in welding and allied processes The Welding Technology Institute of Australia (WTIA) Technical Note No. 7 Health and safety in welding Technical Note No. 22 Welding electrical safety

This Mines Safety Bulletin was approved for release by the State Mining Engineer on 22 December 2014.

For more information visit the DMP website: http://www.dmp.wa.gov.au/15563.aspx#7061

What kinds of burns are manageable in our office?

Everyone is susceptible to burns, particularly on their hands. Some injuries can be minor,while others may require surgery and intense therapy. Regardless of the severity of your burn,

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Dr. Smith can help. Many first and second degree and some third degree burns can be treatedlocally without transfer to a burn center. However, larger third degree, complex burn areassuch as the hands and mouth/eyes, and in the elderly/chronically ill or children should betransferred to a regional burn center. Dr. Smith often gets consulted by the local emergency

physicians about the necessity to transfer and will make try to make the best decision for you

based on safety. Even after the acute injury from burns has subsided, the reconstruction aftercan take many surgeries and intensive therapy. Dr. Smith is very comfortable with thereconstruction of burns after the acute phase has ended and will work with you to save costlytrips to larger cities and bring personalized care from a local surgeon.

How is Burn Treatment Performed?

Your burn treatment will depend on the scope of your injury. There are four levels of burns:first degree, second degree, third degree and fourth degree. Dr. Smith and his staff arededicated to helping our patients recover from all types of burns, using some of the followingtechniques: First-degree burn : These kinds of burns are superficial, featuring redness but no

blisters, and typically heal within a week. Treatment for our first-degree burn patients mayinclude a combination local analgesics and pain medication. Second-degree burn : When the

burn results in damage to partial thickness of the skin, it is designated as a second-degree burn. This kind of injury will have blisters that may be trimmed for treatment. Any open, rawsurfaces of the skin would be cleaned and then treated with topical antibiotics. It will takeabout two or three weeks to heal, although some second-degree burns may need excision ofdamaged skin followed by skin grafting. Third-degree burn : Damage that is full thickness tothe skin is referred to as a third-degree burn and develops a white, leathery appearance. Whentreating this kind of injury, the dead skin is removed and replaced with skin grafts.Sometimes, larger amounts of tissue known as flaps containing fat or even muscle should beused if the skin is very sensitive or the burn is exposing delicate tissues underneath. Fourth-degree burns : This type of burn is the same as a third-degree burn but includes even deeperdamage that affects tendons, joints and bone. Treatment of a fourth-degree burn may involvedebridement, which is the removal of dead tissue, and the placement of skin grafts. Flapreconstruction is common with these rare, but devastating burn injuries.

Am I a Good Candidate for Bur n Treatment?

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Everyone’s injuries are different, whether indegree or location. Because of the highly individual and specialized nature of burn treatment,Dr. Smith will take the time to examine your individual problem and present you with several

potential options for treatment. During that time, he can determine the best option for yourindividual case. Tri-State Specialists: Plastic Surgery welcomes residents from throughout theregion.

What Kind of Care Can I Expect After Burn Treatment?

Burns are some of the most painful and disfiguring of injuries. Dr. Smith understands howimportant it is to provide exemplary follow-up care to our burn treatment patients. Althoughthe length and intensity of post-procedure care varies depending on the degree of the burn, we

pride ourselves on making sure all our patients feel comfortable and satisfied. To that end, weare available for any questions you may have about your burn treatment.

What are the Typical Resul ts of Bur n Treatment?

The effects of burn treatment will depend on the severity of your trauma. Our goal is torestore both the appearance and return as much normal function as possible.
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Electric Shock Can Kill You

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