What Must Be Done to Be Safe?
Use the three-stage safety model: recognize, evaluate,
and control hazards. To be safe, you must think about your job and plan
for hazards. To avoid injury or death, you must understand and recognize
hazards. You need to evaluate the situation you are in and assess your
risks. You need to control hazards by creating a safe work environment,
by using safe work practices, and by reporting hazards to a supervisor
or teacher.
If you do not recognize,
evaluate, and control hazards, you may be injured or killed by the electricity
itself, electrical fires, or falls. If you use the safety model to recognize,
evaluate, and control hazards, you are much safer.
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| Report hazards
to your supervisor or teacher. |
(1) Recognize hazards
The first part of the safety model is recognizing the hazards around you.
Only then can you avoid or control the hazards. It is best to discuss and
plan hazard recognition tasks with your co-workers. Sometimes we take risks
ourselves, but when we are responsible for others, we are more careful.
Sometimes others see hazards that we overlook. Of course, it is possible
to be talked out of our concerns by someone who is reckless or dangerous.
Don’t take a chance.
Careful planning of safety procedures reduces the risk of injury. Decisions
to lock out and tag out circuits and equipment need to be made during this
part of the safety model. Plans for action must be made now.
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Use the
safety model to recognize, evaluate, and control hazards.
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Identify
electrical hazards.
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Don't listen
to reckless, dangerous people.
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| OSHA regulations,
the NEC, and the National Electrical Safety Code (NESC) provide a
wide range of safety information. Although these sources may be difficult
to read and understand at first, with practice they can become very
useful tools to help you recognize unsafe conditions and practices.
Knowledge of OSHA standards is an important part of training for electrical
apprentices. See the Appendix for a list of relevant standards. |
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| Always lock
out and tag out circuits. |
(2) Evaluate hazards
When evaluating hazards, it is best to identify all possible hazards first,
then evaluate the risk of injury from each hazard. Do not assume the risk
is low until you evaluate the hazard. It is dangerous to overlook hazards.
Job sites are especially dangerous because they are always changing. Many
people are working at different tasks. Job sites are frequently exposed
to bad weather. A reasonable place to work on a bright, sunny day might
be very hazardous in the rain. The risks in your work environment need to
be evaluated all the time. Then, whatever hazards are present need to be
controlled.
(3) Control hazards
Once electrical hazards have been recognized and evaluated, they must be
controlled. You control electrical hazards in two main ways: (1) create
a safe work environment and (2) use safe work practices. Controlling electrical
hazards (as well as other hazards) reduces the risk of injury or death.
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Evaluate
your risk
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Take
steps to control hazards: Create a safe workplace. Work safely
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| Use the safety
model to recognize, evaluate, and control workplace
hazards like those in this picture. |
The three stages of the safety model are •••
Stage 1—Recognize hazards
Stage 2—Evaluate hazards
Stage 3—Control hazards
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