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810 Hand and Power Tool Safety
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Portable Tool Use with Extension Cords

In construction, extension cords suffer a lot of wear and tear. Most often, the damage is only to the insulation, exposing energized conductors.

Worker using a router
If you find a cord like this, destroy it.

When a person handling the damaged cord contacts the exposed wires while holding a metal tool case or contacting a conductive surface, serious electrical shock can result, causing a fall, physical injury, or death.

Extension Cords-Who Can Repair Them?

When a worker at a construction site inspects an extension cord and determines that it needs to be repaired, any worker who is qualified can do the repair. The worker does not have to be a licensed electrician to repair a typical extension cord. However, the worker must have adequate knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAs) to repair the cord correctly, understand the hazards involved in making the repair, and be able to describe what could happen if the repair is done wrong. The employer is responsible for determining if the person is qualified. The basis for the determination is normally from the electrical industry perspective. (Source: OR-OSHA)

Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.

3-6. What basic requirement must be met before a worker is qualified to repair extension cords?