Page 402 - IGC BOOK

Emergency Procedures Following an Electrical Incident

Though we have all precautions, workers should know procedures to deal with any electrical
incident that may be foreseeable.
• Assess the situation carefully before approaching the casualty.

• Isolate the power supply and prove dead before approaching casualty.
• Do not touch the casualty as he may be still receiving enough voltage, which puts rescuer's
life at risk.

• Summon for help, include medical support.
• Remove casualty from the power circuit using a dry wooden log / timber or non-metallic
items.
• Check breathing

- If casualty breathing, place him on recovery position
- If not breathing, start CPR – cardiopulmonary resuscitation.

• Treat any minor burns
• Treat for physiological shock

Inspection and Maintenance Strategies

Any equipment which is faulty must be removed from its usage, must be replaced immediately.
Frequent inspection and maintenance of all electrical equipment including portable electrical
equipment, cables, cords, sockets should be done are regular intervals to ensure its integrity.

Effective maintenance of portable electric equipment can be achieved by a combination of:

• checks by the user.
• formal visual inspections by a competent person.

• where necessary a combined inspection and test, also known as a portable appliance test (PAT),
by an electrically competent person.

User Checks

The person using the electrical equipment should be encouraged to check for signs of physical
damage. These checks can be done either pre use or during the use to ensure that the equipment
in sound condition. For example:

• Damage to the cable, fraying or cuts.
• Damage to the plug or connector, e.g. the casing is cracking, or the pins are bent.

• Inadequate joints, including taped joints in the cable.

• The outer sheath of the cable is not effectively secured where it enters the plug or the
equipment. Evidence would be if the coloured insulation of the internal cable cores were
showing.

ENSIGN | Unit IG2 – Element 11 – Electricity 13