Electrical Hazards
On barges and other vessels, employees who work with or around electrical equipment in wet or damp locations have an increased risk of getting shocked or electrocuted due to:
- exposed energized electrical parts
- open lighting parts (such as broken bulbs, exposed conductors, etc.)
- damaged insulation on power cords
Barge Grounding Clamp and Cable
Electrical equipment (unless this equipment is explosion proof or intrinsically safe) must not be used on hot barges until they are gas free (such as barges that have contained flammable/combustible material including gasoline, methanol, styrene, toluene, etc.).
Non-explosion proof or non-intrinsically safe electrical equipment may be used on a barge after it has been determined the barge is gas-free.
Static electricity can be generated in barge cleaning operations by:
- friction of different metals
- movement of grain
- transfer of liquids
- mechanical ventilation (such as pneumatic, non-sparking, air movers)
- vessel docking
- atmospheric conditions
- movement of water around the vessel
- clothing (such as nylon or polyester fabrics, conductive shoes)
- conductive tools (such as shovels, scrapers, wrenches, and wire brushes)
- high-pressure washing
Knowledge Check Choose the best answer for the question.
6-3. Movement of grain, transfer of liquids, docking, and mechanical ventilation may all be sources of _____ on a barge.
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