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Electrical Hazards
Electrical hazards have been identified in the Ministry of Labour’s Safe at Work Ontario strategy as one of the hazards requiring attention to reduce injuries and create safer workplaces.
Roughly half of electrical incidents causing injury were caused by working directly on energized electrical equipment. This includes deaths and serious burn injuries from arc–flash. Other causes of injury include malfunction of a multi–meter (often caused by using volt⁄ohm meters without fused leads), working close to live equipment (for example, moving an aluminum ladder against electrical wires), and faulty equipment.
Repair and maintenance are the most prevalent type of work when a worker is electrocuted, such as live work on 347–volt lighting systems. Regulations permit work on live electrical equipment only in very limited circumstances where it is not practical to do the work any other way. In all other circumstances, the power supply must be disconnected, locked out of service, and tagged before any work is done. Written procedures must be established.
Twenty–one per cent of the fatalities from electrical hazards in the last 10 years have been workers in the electrical trade such as electricians and line workers. However, 79 per cent of occupational deaths have been workers in other occupations including maintenance, millwright, apprentice, labourer, operator, supervisor, driver and heating, ventilation and air conditioning technician. Nearly all industrial subsectors have recorded electrical injuries over the last 10 years.
How We Can Help
A variety of information, products and services related to electrical hazards is available to assist you.
Web Resources
Visit our Free Downloads section for forms, publications, tools and other resources including the following:
Training
Our comprehensive portfolio of health and safety training solutions includes:
Products / Self Study
- Lockout/Tagout: Self-Study Training Program
Use the program to help your employees to recognize types and sources of hazardous energy; understand common errors when it comes to locking out energy sources; learn about the roles and responsibilities of workplace parties; identify types of lockout/tagout devices; and understand and apply a 7-step procedure for proper lockout/tagout.
- e-Learning Training
Increasingly, workplaces are turning to health and safety e-learning as a complement to other learning methods, such as classroom instruction, and conferences and workshops.
All you need is a computer, access to the Internet - and you are ready to go! IAPA e-learning course offerings are designed to help you learn at your own pace and in your own environment at your own convenience.
Consulting Services
Our consultants work together with clients to identify and assess health and safety needs based on the client’s readiness and capacity. General Consulting Services include:
- Assisting with development of a basic health and safety program
- Providing health and safety information
- Identifying and facilitating solutions
- Assessing training needs
Conferences & Events
Our health and safety conferences throughout Ontario provide excellent opportunities for networking and learning on lifting devices and other key topics. Visit Partners in Prevention 2010 Ontario Health & Safety Conference & Trade Show and the Conferences & Trade Shows section for more information.
Partner Sites
Farm Safety Association (FSA) - FSA provides health & safety information, resources and assistance to firms within the agricultural, horticultural and landscaping industries. Click the link to access their website for more information.
Ontario Service Safety Alliance (OSSA) - OSSA provides health & safety information, resources and assistance to firms within the service sector. Click the link to access their website for more information.
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