Electrical Hazards and Accidents: Their Cause and Prevention

How to prevent electrical hazards in the workplace is the focus of this guide. It spells out proper design, maintenance, and operating procedures for minimizing the risks of electrical fires, accidents, and injuries on the job. Coverage of the latest electrical standards helps you comply with the current National Electrical Code (NEC)?? and OSHA requirements. NEC requirements and procedures are provided for grounding an electrical distribution system, selecting proper conductors, sizing the feeder, and effective branch circuit overcurrent protection. Safety considerations are explored for single and three-phase systems, fuses, plugs, and ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs). The guide also clarifies factors that influence soil resistivity, and it analyzes correction factors for special situations such as high ambient temperature environments. Human responses to electric shock are covered in detail. Among the important areas addressed are the approximate electrical impedance of the human body, thresholds of shock perception, let-go currents, asphyxia, ventricular fibrillation, and respiratory arrest. A bounty of solutions to help you solve electrical safety problems related to: Hazardous locations -- Find out how to assess potential ignition sources, ventilation requirements, surface temperature conditions, and conduit and cable sealing requirements. Current-carrying conductors in fire environments -- See how to evaluate insulation behavior, conductor melting temperatures, and the effects of nicks and broken strands, as well as how to make investigations at the scene of a fire. Lightning protection -- Equip yourself to determine the probability of lightning strikes in specific locations, and mitigate the effects of a direct strike on buildings, equipment, and personnel. How to provide voltage surge protection is also discussed. Static electricity -- Learn about the fundamentals of electrical charge induction and mechanisms for static charge ignition. Numerous case histories provide valuable insights into accident provention. In addition, the guide provides a review of electricity basics ranging from definitions of terms to the physics of the electric arc. It provides full-scope coverage of all electrical safety issues in the workplace. Electrical Hazards and Accidents: Their Cause and Prevention is an essential source for facility engineers, electrical engineers, plant engineers, plant managers, electricians, regulatory managers, and accident and insurance investigators.