115 Electrical Safety for Employees: Basic

Sections

High Voltage

OSHA and the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Electrical Safety Guidelines classify high voltage as over 600 volts.

OSHA requires high voltage warning sign for powerlines over 600 volts.

OSHA also requires permanent warning signs for high voltage lines that read, "DANGER-HIGH VOLTAGE - KEEP OUT," be posted.

Sometimes high voltages lead to additional injuries. High voltages can cause violent muscular contractions. You may lose your balance and fall, which can cause injury or even death if you fall into machinery that can crush you. High voltages can also cause severe burns.

At 600 volts, the current through the body may be as great as 4 amps, causing damage to internal organs such as the heart. High voltages also produce burns. In addition, internal blood vessels may clot. Nerves in the area of the contact point may be damaged. Muscle contractions may cause bone fractures from either the contractions themselves or from falls.

Real-Life Accidents

Employee Is Killed From Electrical Shock

At 4:30 p.m. on November 1, 2022, an employee and two coworkers were installing a sign on the outside of a building, approximately twelve feet above ground, using a JLG boom lift with an elevated basket. After the installation, the employee wanted to take a picture of the finished work and used the controls to elevate the basket. The employee contacted overhead power lines carrying 8 KVA and suffered an electrical shock, killing him.

One Employee Is Killed, Two Others Receive Electrical Shock

At 12:08 p.m. on July 15, 2021, three employees worked to install thirty-five-foot-long rebar. At some point, the rebar contacted an energized, overhead powerline operating at 16,000 v phase to phase. All three employees were electrocuted. Employee #1 was killed and Employees #2 and #3 were hospitalized and treated for electrical shock and burns.

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

1-7. The U.S. Department of Energy and OSHA both classify high voltage as over _____.

50 volts

120 volts

240 volts

600 volts

You forgot to answer the question!