Workers who carry out work in which they are exposed to the risks of electricity must know the dangers to which they are subjected and the preventive measures to avoid as many accidents as possible. For this, it is necessary to comply with the security measures established by the regulations and apply the appropriate recommendations for each situation.

Types of accidents

Direct contact. Direct contact accidents are those that occur through direct contact with live parts of electrical installations. A bare wire is an electricity emitter that can cause accidents if the precautionary measures determined in each case are not taken.

Indirect contact. In this case, accidents take place when contact is maintained with objects that do not autonomously emit electric current but that through contact with an active part can transmit electricity. These discharges are usually produced by faults in the insulation of the objects.

Prevention

Direct contact

Isolation. The active parts must be properly insulated.

Protection. These facilities must be within a perimeter delimited by fences or walls that do not allow voluntary or involuntary access to unauthorized persons. In addition, the dangers posed by an approach to the restricted area must be indicated at all times.

Indirect contact

Protection equipment. Workers who are in contact with non-live parts of electrical installations that can accidentally transmit current must be equipped with protective clothing specified by the regulations.

Isolation. These non-active parts vulnerable to conducting incidental episodes of electrical current must be adequately insulated by coating, formwork or removal.

Class B systems. These come into operation automatically as a precautionary measure when an error or danger is detected in the installation. The system disconnects the power supply and redirects the electrical current to earth sockets where the current circuit is closed.

recommendations

Maintain a schedule of periodic reviews to ensure that the facilities are in perfect condition and that their operation is not threatened by poor quality maintenance. Safety and risk prevention measures must be adapted and updated at all times, a task that will also be reviewed by risk prevention technicians.

Power cut. When workers are preparing to carry out tasks in which they must manipulate an electrical installation, the power supply must be cut off so that there is no risk of shock.

In some cases, the power cut occurs automatically when the system detects that there has been some irregularity in the operation of the installation. Thanks to these methods, accidents involving factors that the workers or users cannot control can be avoided.