Improving Electrical Safety for Ontario Workers
Are you willing to
take the RISK?
60%
Improper procedure
is associated with over
of electrical worker incidents.
Inside:
Reversing the increasing
rate of injury in electrical trades
Reporting high risk for electrical
repair and maintenance work
Understanding the role of
business owners and supervisors
Working safely near powerlines
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Electrical Trades Experiencing
Higher
Rates of
Injury
What
can we do
to REVERSE
this trend
Overall, occupational
electrocutions and serious
electrical injuries in Ontario have decreased by
more than half from 2000-2004 to 2005-2009.
However during the same time incidents
involving electricians increased six-fold.
Take Safety Precautions
Every Day, Every Time
Only 57% of electricians say they always take
safety precautions when doing electrical work.
1.
Don’t cut corners. Improper procedure
is associated with over 60% of electrical
worker incidents.
2. D
on’t work live. The majority
of electrical injuries are linked
to working on energized
equipment such as breaker
panels, motor control
systems, and lighting.
3.
Use Personal Protective
Equipment (PPE) if you
must work live. Electric
arc flashes can happen in an
instant and the consequences
are devastating. PPE is critical
for your protection.
2
High Risk Repair & Maintenance Work
Electrical repair and maintenance
presents the GREATEST RISK
of electrical injury and 40% of
electricians frequently or almost
always conduct electrical
maintenance work.
Emergency Visits
In 2009, there were 1,674 emergency department
visits for electrical injuries in Ontario. More than
78% of those visits were for the most severe
types of injuries, including those requiring
resuscitation. And almost half of these visits
were for work-related injuries.
High Voltage Injuries
High voltage injuries expose workers to lethal
amounts of electricity and can cause severe
burns, partial amputation of limbs, and/or death.
Low Voltage Injuries
There are hidden dangers associated with low
voltage contact. Many electrical workers consider
low voltage contact to be just part of the job. But
research from Sunnybrook’s Ross Tilley Burn
Centre and St. John’s Rehab finds that seemingly
harmless low voltage issues may take months to
detect and can include irregular heartbeat,
speech impairment, difficulty walking, numbness,
nightmares, memory loss and weakness. All
electrical contact should be reported. For more
information on the impact of low voltage shocks
contact Sunnybrook’s Ross Tilley Burn Centre.
!
Improving Electrical Safety for Ontario Workers
ELECTRICAL SHOCKS
High voltage shocks cause immediate
injuries; seemingly low voltage shocks
can have potentially devastating
longer-terms consequences that
include “stroke like” effects.
What should have been a routine job,
turned your world upside down.
STAY SAFE!
Both the Ontario Electrical Safety
Code and the Occupational Health
and Safety Act define requirements
to keep workers safe when they
undertake electrical repair and
maintenance work.
1
nsure that warning labels are placed on electrical
E
equipment to warn workers of potential shock and
arc hazards.
2
Don’t work live. Electrical equipment should be
disconnected from the power supply, locked out and
tagged out when doing electrical repair and maintenance.
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The Role of Business Owners & Supervisors
80
STAY SAFE!
Probable Cause of Occupational Electrocutions in Ontario, 2001–2010
70
60%
Improper
procedure
Improper procedure is
associated with over
of electrical worker incidents.
60
50
1
Develop safe work
practices and policies
for electrical work.
40
2
3
Ensure workers follow
safe work practices.
30
20
Other/
Unknown
10
Human
error
Lack of
maintenance
Poor
design
0
Who’s responsible?
?
The majority of electrical incidents result from improper
procedures. Worker incidents (including those involving contract
workers) where safety procedures have not been followed can
result in charges to supervisors, managers, owner/operators and
co-workers by the Ministry of Labour, and/or criminal charges
under Bill C45.
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Improving Electrical Safety for Ontario Workers
Aging
equipment
Theft/
misadventure
Faulty
equipment
Source: ESA and Coroner’s records
Occupational Fatalities
What are
YOU doing to
protect your
workers and
contractors?
To protect workers
(including contract
workers) owners and
supervisors should:
Occupational fatalities from electrocution are a significant problem.
Studies show that the highest proportion of electrocution deaths is
among electricians and electrical helpers, utility workers, and those
undertaking repair and maintenance work in construction and
manufacturing industries.
Causal Factors
A review of causal factors associated with electrical workplace
incidents identified that these occur when safety requirements
and considerations break down.
!
Provide workers with
training and Personal
Protective Equipment.
4
Conduct a regular hazard
analysis to identify and
address potential hazards.
5
Adhere warning labels
to electrical equipment
that caution workers
of potential shock and
fire hazards.
6
Review and adopt
recommendations defined
in the CSA Z462 safe work
practices guidelines.
BE SURE TO REVIEW
both the Ontario Electrical Safety Code
and the Occupational Health
and Safety Act. They define
the requirements to keep
2011
Poc
workers safe when they
ke
O
OH&ntario t
undertake electrical repair
S
Reg Act &
ulat
ions
and maintenance work.
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Working Safely Near Powerlines
Operating Safely Near Powerlines
Look up! Look out!
Prior to starting work:
In the past 10 years powerline and
utility-related equipment accounted for
of all electrocutions. 68% were
occupational, and more than 65% were
construction-related.
53%
1. Perform a complete hazard assessment of the working area and
surroundings.
2.
Look up and look out for overhead conductors.
3.
Confirm voltage of overhead powerlines and equipment.
Supervisors and owners must confirm voltage for
overhead powerlines and equipment to ensure compliance
with the Occupational Health and Safety Act (OH&S Act)
“Limits of Approach”.
4.
Adhere to Limits of Approach identified in the OH&S Act.
5.
Request that lines be de-energized by the Local Distribution
Companyif you need to work within the Limits.
6.
Ensure signage exists to warn workers of potential hazards due
to overhead powerlines (as stipulated by OH&S Act).
7. Ensure spotters are used (as required by OH&S Act).
Know Your Limits
THE RISK OVERHEAD
1
2
Any contact with powerlines poses a
risk of injury or electrocution.
ost overhead powerlines do not have
M
protective insulation.
3
The majority of electrical
Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act (OH&S Act), General
Construction (O. Reg. 213/91) Section 186 specifies the ‘Limits of
Approach’ for working near overhead powerlines as follows:
ou don’t even need to touch high
Y
powerlines to risk death. In fact, metal
objects that come in close proximity
to uninsulated powerlines or bare
conductors present the same risks.
incidents occur when
workers don’t ‘Look Up!’
and ‘Look Out!’. Worker
incidents (including those
Nominal phase-to-phase voltage rating
Minimum distance
involving contract workers)
Up to 150,000 volts
3 metres
where safety requirements
More than 150,000 volts,
but less than 250,000
4.5 metres
have not been followed
More than 250,000
6 metres
supervisors, managers,
Always use the most current OH&S Act to understand the rights and duties
of all parties in the workplace.
can result in charges to
owner/operators and
co-workers by the Ministry
of Labour, and/or criminal
LIMITS OF APPROACH
charges under Bill C45.
Locate overhead powerlines, confirm voltage, and follow
OH&S Act guidelines.
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Improving Electrical Safety for Ontario Workers
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Improving Electrical Safety for Ontario Workers
We can help...
The Electrical Safety Authority is committed to reducing rates of
electrical injury and fatalities across Ontario. We work closely
with safety and industry stakeholders to increase awareness and
influence change. Our Continuous Safety Services program and
training programs can help improve worker safety in your facility.
WHO WE ARE ....
The Electrical Safety Authority has been given the mandate for
public electrical safety by the Ontario government.
To meet our safety goals we:
• identify and target electrical risk priorities;
• investigate electrical fatalities, injuries and fire;
• e
ducate on electrical safety regulations, the safe use of electricity,
and the dangers of unsafe practices, products and installations;
• a
dvance the safety system by influencing safety standards development
in conjunction with other safety organizations; and
• enforce a set of regulations related to electrical safety.
For more information:
visit www.ESASAFE.com or call 1-877-372-7233
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Improving Electrical Safety for Ontario Workers