Electrical Safety
EOHS Office
2010
Standards
Electrical equipment shall be approved or listed
- CSA approved (
- ULC listed (
)
) UL, CUL
Canadian Standards Association
Underwriters Laboratories of Canada
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Legislation
Ontario Fire Code
-Reg-2.4.6.1 – Temporary electrical wiring shall
not be used where it presents a fire hazard.
- Electricity is the one of the major causes of fires in Canada!
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What to Look For During your Inspection
General Hazards
overload circuits
 power bars connected together
 electrical wiring run under chairs, doors or any
other object that could damage to cords

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Temporary Electrical Cords in Equipment
-Computers
-Lights
-Radios
-Appliances i.e..- Fridge
-Power bars
Other plug style devices
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Hazards: Temporary Electrical Cords
-Make sure electrical cords are in good condition
-Check computers, appliances and tools for wear and tear
-Cords that are found to have defects must be taken out of service
at once
-Do not attempt to fix damaged cords
-Extension cords are for temporary use only
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HAZARDS : TEMPORARY ELECTRICAL CORDS
Extension Cords
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Extension cords are a great way to extend a power supply,
however they can be dangerous
Extension cords should be used in conjunction with GFCI
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HAZARDS: ELECTRICAL OUTLETS
Check electrical outlets for damage
 Damaged outlets should be taken out of
service and replaced immediately.

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Machine Guarding Electrical Equipment
 Vacuum
pumps
 Hydraulic presses
 Cutting devices
 Grinders
 Rotating shafts
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Hazards: Machine Guarding Electrical Equipment


Covered, shielded, fenced, enclosed, or otherwise protected by means of
suitable covers to reduce the liability of dangerous contact by persons or
objects
All moving parts need to be properly guarded
Storage of Materials

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Oxidizers and flammable materials shall not be
stored near electrical outlets, panels or ignition
sources
 Oxidizer examples
Oxygen
Peroxides
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GFCI
Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters
 GFCI shall be located 1m from water sources
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Summary of Common Hazards
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Frayed wires can cause fires. Replace all worn, old or damaged
appliance cords immediately
Use electrical extension cords wisely and don't overload them
Keep electrical appliances away from wet floors and counters
Uses of GFCI protected outlets in appropriate areas
Report any damaged electrical outlets to your supervisor or
Physical Resources
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Questions to Ask During your Inspection
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Flickering lights. If the lights dim every time you turn on an
appliance, that circuit is overloaded or has a loose connection
Sparks. If sparks appear when you insert or remove a plug,
they could be a sign of loose connections
Warm electrical cord. If an electrical cord is warm to the touch,
the cord is underrated or defective
Frequent blown fuses or broken circuits. A fuse or circuit
breaker that keeps tripping is an important warning sign of
problems
Frequent bulb burnout. A light bulb that burns out frequently is
a sign that the bulb is too high a wattage for the fixture
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ELECTRICAL SAFETY
For any questions or concerns
contact the EOHS office
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Electrical Safety
Thank you!