Top 3 Risks When Working on Energized Equipment
When working with electricity, no hazard should be overlooked. According to specialists, electricity always represents a risk to workers no matter the situation. Its quite simple, if the power is on, danger is present. The best protection against the risk of electric shock is to turn the power completely off before starting any task, since it doesn’t take much to cause an accident.
Canadian federal legislation requires that employers exercise due diligence against workplace hazards, which means making every reasonable effort to protect their employees.
How Is Your Electrical Safety Program?
According to the regulation, employers must implement and document a comprehensive electrical safety program to outline the activities adapted to electrical hazards, voltage, energy level, and circuit conditions in the workplace and surrounding area.
Learn more about electrical safety standards
What Are The Types of Risks When Working On Energized Equipment:
- Electrization and electrocution
The risk of electricity going through the body also known as “electrization”. This can sometimes cause external and internal burns, cardiac rhythm disorders and injuries to organs. In severe cases, when injuries lead to death, this constitutes an electrocution.
- Burns due to arc flash
Arc flash can be created by faulty equipment, unleashing a significant amount of energy that will burn the worker. The quantity of energy freed up by the arc is called “incident energy”. This depends on:
- The short-circuit capacity at the fault
- The circuit voltage
- Opening time for protection
- Explosion
An explosion is a very dangerous phenomenon for workers. It can rupture eardrums, crush the lungs and throw debris and molten metals that can cause severe injuries.
Analyzing Incident Energy
It is important that an analysis be conducted by experts to determine the potential energy exposure generated by arc flashes in order to prevent injuries, establish safe work practices and a proper arc flash perimeter as well as to define the appropriate level of personal protective equipment.
Need help preventing electrical risks? At SPI we know all about it and we offer you the products you need.
Control of Electric Risks: Working Offline
The essence of the Act on Occupational Health and Safety supports the elimination of the hazard at the source. Working offline is an efficient method to eliminate hazards and prevent accidents from occurring every year. Constraints sometimes make it difficult to work on de-energized equipment; work planning is also required. Standards, work methods and equipment allow workers to perform their tasks safely.
Our Partner in Electrical Risk Prevention: Intervention Prévention To go further in preventing electrical risks, SPI works closely with Intervention Prévention, our trusted partner specializing in electrical and machine safety. Their experts support organizations in analyzing incident energy, implementing compliant electrical safety programs, and establishing safe work methods aligned with Canadian regulations. From risk assessments to technical recommendations and documentation, this collaboration helps ensure safer work environments and stronger due diligence when working around energized equipment.
