Portable Electric Tool Safety

As employees go about their work tasks that involve portable electric tools, they may not give much thought to the hazards electricity can pose. That is why it is so important to take the proper safety precautions at all times.

Causes of Shocks

Electricity travels in closed circuits, normally through a conductor. However, sometimes a person’s body – an efficient conductor of electricity – accidentally becomes part of the electric circuit. Shocks occur when a person’s body completes the current’s path with any of the following:

• Both wires of an electric circuit;
• One wire of an energized circuit and the ground;
• A metal part that accidentally becomes energized (such as a break in its insulation); 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 the ground.

Inspect Your Tools

Accidental grounding is one of the most common preventable incidents occurring when working with electricity. One way to avoid this is by reminding employees to always examine their tools for these conditions:

• Defective or broken insulation
• Improper or poorly made connections to terminals
• Broken or otherwise defective plugs
• Loose or broken switches
• Sparking brushes

If any of these conditions exist, they should have the tool repaired, report it to their supervisor and above all, not use it!

Additional Safety Rules

Here are some safety rules to go over with employees:

• Do not attempt to repair or adjust portable electric tools while they are plugged in.
• Do not use portable electric tools in the presence of flammable vapours or gases, unless they are designed for such use.
• Always use the required Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) for the job, even if it may seem unnecessary.
• Maintain tools regularly.
• When using a tool to handle energized conductors, check to make sure it is designed to withstand the voltage and stresses to which it has been exposed.
• Ensure your portable tool is equipped with a three-prong plug, the best way to guard against shock.

If an employee does receive a shock, it is important that he or she seeks immediate medical attention. Even if the victim does not exhibit signs of injury or stress, internal injuries may have resulted from the shock. Low voltage shocks can actually be fatal.

Knowing how to work safely with portable electric tools can save an employee’s life. Remind them to stay alert on the job, always check equipment prior to use and not take any unnecessary chances.

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