As we rely on our modern electrical devices, it is important to remember that there are potential electrical safety hazards in any home, school, or office. Fortunately, these hazards can be eliminated or reduced by staying aware and taking steps to eliminate their dangers. In this lesson, you will learn about the potential dangers involved with using electrical devices.

Have you ever received an electrical shock when you touched a television, car, or another person? That is an electrical charge. Many objects become charged when they are rubbed, touched, or put next to other objects.

Every time you use an electrical device, there is a chance that you could receive a shock. The chance of it happening is very small, but it could happen. The shock usually comes in the form of a short circuit. A short circuit means that the electrical current stops following its normal path and takes a different path. This path may be to another device, or it may be through your body if you happen to be holding the electrical device at the time.  

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The level of shock you receive depends on two things:

• the amount of voltage
• the amperage

Voltage refers to the amount of potential energy between two points on a circuit. Amperage (A) refers to the strength of the current.

Obviously, high voltage is more dangerous than low voltage. For example, you are more likely to be injured seriously or even killed by 10,000 volts than by 110 volts. However, even low voltages can cause serious injury or death if the shock carries high enough amperage (or amps).

An electric current is a flow of electric charge. Current in the range of 0.015 A to 0.020 A causes pain and a loss of muscle control. If you are holding the source of the shock, you may not be able to let go! Current as low as 0.1 A may be fatal!

You should take electrical safety seriously! Every electrical product sold in Canada must have a label stating the voltage it requires as well as the maximum current it uses. The higher the voltage or current, the more dangerous the device is when a short circuit occurs. Short circuit means that the device becomes dangerous because the cycle of flowing energy has been interrupted. The electrical energy could harm you or start a fire.

You have probably noticed that some devices come with a plug that has three prongs. The third prong is a wire that connects the device with the ground wire of the building it is plugged into. The ground wire is an extra path for the electricity to go in case of a short circuit. Do not cut off this prong for any reason! That third prong might save your life some day!

Here are a few things to remember that will help keep you safe when using electrical devices.

1. Never handle electrical devices when you are wet or near water unless they are designed to be used that way.
2. Whenever you unplug something, pull on the plug and not the cord. This can cause the wires inside the cord to break or snap and cause a short circuit.
3. Do not use any power cord that is frayed or broken.
4. Stay away from power lines (especially if they have fallen to the ground).
5. Always unplug any electrical device before looking inside or adjusting it.
6. Do not overload an electrical circuit by plugging several things into one outlet. Use a power bar for your computer and printer, for example. Avoid the octopus shown in the photo below!
   
7. Do not put anything into an electrical outlet other than the plug-ins that it was designed for. You could get zapped!

 

 
Avoid an electrical octopus!

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Remember that, when a short circuit gets large enough, it can burn anything around it.