Eye on Safety
Inside this issue:
Electrical Hazards
and You. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Safety Focus:
Frost and Changing
Temperatures. . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Diabetes — What to look
for?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Berkley Agribusiness
Risk Specialists is
here to partner with
our customers to
assist them with their
insurance needs.
The hazards and
risk of commercial
agribusiness are
unique to that type of
business. Risk control
that is experienced
and knowledgeable
in commercial
agribusiness can assist
you in controlling
those hazards and risk.
BARS experienced
and specialized claims
personnel will provide a
customer-first approach
to handling your claims.
Electrical Hazards and You
Even a small amount of electricity can
cause electrocution. Be aware that
normal household current is lethal.
Electrocutions may result from contact
with an object as seemingly harmless
as a broken light bulb or as lethal as an
overhead power line.
Shocking injuries
Electrical injuries consist of four main
types: electrocution (fatal), electric
shock, burns, and falls caused as a
result of contact with electrical energy.
Electrical arcs and sparks can also
cause fires.
Electricity travels in closed circuits,
normally through a conductor. But
sometimes a person’s body — an
efficient conductor of electricity
— mistakenly becomes part of the
electric circuit. This can cause an
electrical shock. Shocks occur when a
person’s body completes the current
path with:
• Both wires of an electric circuit;
• One wire of an energized circuit
and the ground;
• A metal part that accidentally
becomes energized (perhaps
because of damaged insulation in
the wiring); or
• Another conductor that is carrying
a current.
When a person receives a shock,
electricity flows between parts of the
body or through the body to a ground
or the earth. An electric shock can
result in anything from a slight tingling
sensation to immediate cardiac arrest.
The severity depends on the following:
• The amount of current flowing
through the body;
• The current’s path through the
body; and
• The length of time the body
remains in the circuit.
Recognize risks
•
•
Even contact with another person
who is receiving an electrical shock
may cause you to be shocked.
When someone is getting a shock,
his muscles contract and he can’t
let go. If someone is “frozen” to
a live electrical contact, shut off
the current immediately. If this
isn’t possible, use boards, poles,
or sticks made of wood or any
other non-conducting materials
and safely push or pull the person
away from the contact. Act quickly,
but remember to protect yourself
as well from electrocution or
shock.
Water conducts electricity.
Standing in water, wet clothing,
high humidity, and perspiration
increase your chances of being
(continued on page 2)
October 2015 Copyright J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.
Volume 5 Issue 10
Electrical Hazards and You (continued from page 1)
electrocuted. Have a qualified electrician inspect
electrical equipment that has gotten wet before
energizing it.
Visually inspect extension cords, power tools, and other
electrical equipment before each use. Take defective
equipment out of service. Do not remove ground
prongs from cord- and plug-connected equipment or
extension cords. Grounding means that the equipment
has a low-resistance wire that directs unwanted current
directly to the ground so that metal parts don’t become
“hot” or energized if the electrical insulation becomes
damaged.
Never repair electrical cords or equipment unless
you are qualified and authorized to do so. Only
qualified persons who have been trained in safe
lockout procedures are to repair or maintain electrical
equipment.
•
•
Training
All employees who face
electrical hazards and/or who
work on or near exposed
energized parts need training
under OSHA’s electrical safety
training standard (1910.332).
Other standards require
specialized training for
telecommunications workers;
employees who work with
electric power generation,
transmission, and distribution
equipment; and resistance
welders.
Employees who face electrical hazards should be familiar
with some basic terms:
• Voltage — a measure of electrical force (measured
in volts). Voltage represents the driving force behind
the current. For example, a 12-volt car battery is more
powerful than a 9-volt flashlight battery. The typical
household supply is 120 volts. Industrial applications
use even higher voltages.
• Current — the flow of electrons from a voltage source
through conductors, measured in amperes (amps). The
typical household circuit can handle up to 15 amps of
current.
• Resistance — something that impedes current
(measured in ohms). The plastic coating on a wire has a
high resistance value, and the wire itself has very little
resistance. You can safely touch an electric cord because
the insulation confines the current to the wire.
• Ohm’s Law: Current = Voltage ÷ Resistance
Current and electrical injuries
The extent of electrical injuries received depends on the
amount of current, the pathway of the current through the
body, and the duration of current flow through the body.
When current flows from the hand to the foot for just one
second, the estimated effects are shown in the following
table:
Current size
Effect
1 mA (milliamp)
Just a faint tingle
5 mA
Slight shock felt. Disturbing, but
not painful. Most people can let go.
However, strong involuntary movements
can cause injuries.
6–25 mA (women) and Painful shock. Muscular control is
9–30 mA (men)
lost. This is the range where “freezing
currents” start. It may not be possible to
let go.
50–150 mA
Extremely painful shock, respiratory
arrest (breathing stops), severe muscle
contractions. Death is possible.
1,000–4,300 mA
(1–4.3 amps) Ventricular fibrillation occurs. Muscles
contract; nerve damage occurs. Death
is likely.
10,000 mA (10 amps)
Cardiac arrest and severe burns occur.
Death is probable.
15,000 mA (15 amps)
Lowest overcurrent at which a typical
fuse or circuit breaker opens a circuit.
There’s a difference of less than 100 mA between a shock
you can hardly notice and one that can kill. Longer exposure
times increase the danger to the shock victim. If a shock
causes your muscles to freeze up so you can’t let go, you’ll
continue to be shocked.
Moisture is another factor in the severity of a shock.
Wet surfaces are more conductive. Wet skin has a lower
resistance value in ohms than dry skin. With a lower
resistance value, a shock received through wet skin is more
likely to be fatal.
A shock travels through the body to the ground. This path
is a factor in how severe the injuries will be. If the path is
through the heart, the shock can be lethal.
Energized parts
Wires and electrical parts can be exposed if, for example,
a cover is removed from a breaker box, outlet, or junction
box. If you touch exposed live electrical parts, you can be
shocked.
If a job involves working on or near exposed energized
parts, the work can only be done by a specially trained
qualified person. However, even “unqualified” persons who
face a risk of electric shock that has not been reduced to a
(continued on page 3)
2
Copyright J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.
October 2015
Safety Focus: Frost and Changing Temperatures
There is nothing like a crisp, clear fall morning. But that crisp,
cool air can be a sign that frost has formed. Frost is the result
of water vapor freezing into ice crystals on a cold surface, like
a road. It usually happens on clear mornings instead of cloudy
ones, because clouds tend to hold in heat. Frost can leave
portions of roads unexpectedly slippery. With the change of
season, you should be aware of frost potential.
Look for frost on:
• Bridges and overpasses – frost occurs because the bridge
deck temperature is at or below the dew point and is
below freezing.
• In shaded areas – frost occurs because the sun doesn’t hit
these areas and they stay colder longer.
• In low-lying areas – frost occurs because these areas can
be damper from dew formation or fog.
Road Surfaces
•
Ice forms more slowly on a gravel road than on asphalt or
concrete.
• Gravel and dirt roads can change to mud after rain or
snow melt.
• Sandy roads can retain and freeze water. When it thaws,
the wet sand can grab tires and be soft to drive on.
• Mud can be tracked onto paved roads from adjacent
construction sites, changing the traction in those areas.
• Pavements will expand as the temperature rises and
contract as the temperature falls. Be aware of changes in
pavement conditions when frost settles into the ground.
Cracks and deterioration of road surfaces can occur.
Along with the road surface, you need to watch the road
contours while driving in slippery conditions. Pay special
attention to:
•
•
•
The type of road surface affects how weather
will impact driving conditions:
• Asphalt contains petroleum so
when oil mixes with water during
rain or frost, it is more slippery than
concrete surfaces.
A high crown
Banking of the road
Curves in the road
•
•
Soft shoulders or road
edges
Potholes or frost heaves
Slow down and allow for more following distance in
conditions where frost could occur.
Electrical Hazards and You (continued from page 2)
safe level by properly installed and safeguarded electrical
equipment need training in appropriate safety-related work
practices.
Electrical hazards
An electrical hazard exists when the wire is too small a
gauge for the current it will carry. For example, if you use an
extension cord that can’t safely handle the current used by
the tool, the wire will overheat and could cause a fire.
Wires and other components in a circuit have a maximum
amount of current they can carry safely. An example of
an overload is plugging in too many devices into a circuit.
The excessive current will heat the wires to a very high
temperature or cause arcing.
Damaged insulation exposes bare metal wiring. Metal items
that come into contact with the bare wire can become
energized. For example, an old damaged power tool can
have damaged insulation inside the tool’s case. If the wiring
touches the tool’s metal parts, you can get a shock.
When a circuit is properly grounded, stray or unwanted
current is safely drained from the circuit. Without a safe
path to ground for fault currents, metal parts that come into
contact with the circuit can be energized and shock anyone
who touches them.
Assume that all overhead power lines are energized at lethal
voltages. Never assume that a power line is safe to touch,
October 2015
even if a power line is down (due to a storm) or appears to
be insulated.
If you don’t maintain the required clearance distances from
power lines, you can be shocked and killed. The minimum
distance for voltages up to 50 kilovolts (kV) is 10 feet. For
voltages over 50kV, the minimum distance is 10 feet plus 4
inches for every 10 kV over 50kV.
Electrical equipment should be designed, installed,
operated, and maintained according to the OSHA standard
and the National Electric Code.
Take the following steps to stay safe:
• Inspect tools and equipment for damaged insulation;
• Don’t overload circuits;
• Use the right size and type of extension cord or wiring;
• Know and follow clearance distances for overhead lines;
• Make sure a qualified person locks and tags out circuits
and equipment before exposing energized parts for
maintenance or repairs;
• Make sure electrical systems, tools, and equipment are
grounded;
• Use overcurrent protection devices to prevent too much
current in circuits; and
• Use ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) to prevent
shocking currents.
Copyright J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.
3
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Berkley Agribusiness Risk Specialists
11201 Douglas Avenue
Urbandale, Iowa 50322
Toll-Free: (866) 382-7314
Products and services are provided by one or more insurance company
subsidiaries of W. R. Berkley Corporation. Not all products and services
are available in every jurisdiction, and the precise coverage afforded by
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as issued. | This publication and the information herein is confidential
and proprietary to Berkley Agribusiness Risk Specialists, a division of
Continental Western Group®. Information in this publication is subject to
change at any time. This document provides general information only,
is not legal advice and is not a statement of contract. Any statement
regarding insurance coverage made herein is subject to all provisions and
exclusions of the entire insurance policy. | Copyright © 2014 Continental
Western Group®. All rights reserved.
Diabetes — What to look for?
“He who has
health, has
hope; and
he who has
hope, has
everything.”
Diabetes is a serious disease and can also be
a confusing one. It can be related to diet, but
also to heredity and other risk factors. It can
often be prevented, but sometimes it cannot.
of diabetes can be subtle – the Centers for
Disease Control estimates that 8.1 million
people have the disease in the U.S., but are
unaware of it.
Diabetes is caused by the body’s inability to
properly produce or use insulin, a hormone
that converts sugar, starches, and other food
into energy. There are two types of diabetes:
The symptoms, which commonly develop
because of high blood sugar, include:
•
•
Arabian Proverb
The symptoms of
diabetes commonly
develop because of
high blood sugar.
4
Type 1 diabetes is most often diagnosed
in children, teens, or young adults. With
this type, the body makes little or no
insulin because the body’s immune
system has destroyed the cells that make
it.
Type 2 diabetes is much more
common. It most often occurs in
adulthood, but because of high
obesity rates, teens and
young adults are now being
diagnosed with this disease.
It develops because the
body does not use insulin
the right way. Initially,
the pancreas makes up
for this by making more
insulin. Over time, it
can’t keep up and blood
glucose levels rise.
Before getting diabetes, a person typically
has prediabetes. This condition develops
when blood glucose levels are high, but not
high enough to be called diabetes. The signs
Copyright J. J. Keller & Associates, Inc.
Excessive thirst: The kidneys try to get rid of
the excess glucose in your blood, excreting
it to urine. Frequent urination brings dehydration, and a person craves more fluids to
quench thirst.
Being tired much of the time: The body’s
inability to use sugar for energy contributes
to fatigue.
Sudden vision changes: As the body’s fluid
levels change, the ability to focus is impacted.
Tingling or numbness in hands and feet:
Excess blood sugar may cause nerve damage,
leading to a tingling or burning sensation.
Unexplained weight loss: Sugar isn’t reaching cells, and the body starts burning muscle
and fat. This is more frequently a symptom of
type 1 diabetes.
The signs of type 1 diabetes usually occur
within a few days or weeks of the disease. The
signs of type 2 diabetes may be mild and may
go undetected. If you are experiencing signs
of diabetes, see a health care professional for
diagnosis and information about treatment.
October 2015