Dangers
Electricity cannot be seen, heard or smelt. This makes hazards hard to detect.
The three most common electrical hazards and causes of injury are:
- electric shock, causing injury or death;
- arcing, explosion or fire, causing burns; and
- toxic gases from burning or arcing, leading to illness or death.
These three hazards may be present individually or together.
Example of all three combined:-
A fault occurs in the main switch-room of a large shopping centre. It’s possible that the ground may become ‘live’ as a conductor. There could be an explosion. Burning of PVC and epoxy resins may create a hazardous atmosphere.
Last updated July 16, 2009
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