When working with electricity, you must respect its power and the dangers associated with it. If the power is on, it is not safe or smart to work on an electrical circuit. That’s why you’ll hear me preach time and again to turn off the power to the circuit that you are working on! Even experienced electricians have felt electricity’s wrath at one time or another, no matter how careful they are.
Is This Electrical Project For You?
There are some projects that are much more dangerous to work on like electrical meters, disconnects and panels. If you are not comfortable working with electrical circuits or are just unsure of your electrical knowledge, some of these tougher projects should be left to the professionals. After all, they are specifically trained to work with household voltages, not to mention commercial and industrial application voltages.Hidden Dangers Of Electricity and Electrical Components
There are some projects that are much more dangerous to work on like electrical meters, disconnects and panels. If you are not comfortable working with electrical circuits or are just unsure of your electrical knowledge, some of these tougher projects should be left to the professionals. After all, they are specifically trained to work with household voltages, not to mention commercial and industrial application voltages.Appropriate Safety Gear
To avoid serious injury due to working with electricity, electrical devices, tools, boxes, wire, panels and equipment, always wear the appropriate safety gear. These include safety glasses, rubber-soled shoes, gloves, and dust masks. Here are seven quick safety tips to consider when you are tackling an electrical project.The First Step to Electrical Safety is Turning Off the Power
First, always turn off the power to the circuit that you’ll be working on at the main service panel or disconnect feeding the circuit that you are going to be working on. Remember, no power to the circuit means that you are safe to proceed to work on that circuit or device connected to it. But, how do I know the circuit is off for sure?Electrical Testers and Testing
That brings me to my next step, testing. You should always test devices, panels, etc… before touching anything to make sure it is off. A non-contact voltage tester can detect if the circuit is on before you ever take a switch or outlet out of the box and expose any wires. Simply take off the cover and hold it next to the device. Some of these testers require you to hold a button down to work, so test the tester on something you know is working before performing this test, like a lamp cord.Safety When Turning ON Circuit Breakers
And speaking of safety, let us not forget a great tip about turning on and off breakers in an electrical panel. Always stand to the side of the panel and turn your head when you turn on the circuit breaker in the event that something blows up or flashes sparks.Protect Your Hands Around Electricity
Hand protection is the next safety method. Gloves can protect the hands from sharp edges of cables, boxes, panels, and tools. Gloves also protect your hands from cold weather, water, and extreme conditions. Rubber gloves and high voltage gloves can protect you from electrical shock.Safety Glasses for Electrical Safety
Safety glasses protect your eyes from dust and debris when sawing and drilling. This is especially true when working overhead. They can also protect you eyes from fragments and things when cutting wires.Dust Masks for Electrical Safety
Dust masks are also on the safety list. They are designed to keep dust out of your lungs when sawing and drilling or when sweeping the work area.Ear Protection For Electrical Safety
The last safety tip is ear protection. Too often we overlook ear protection. Drills, saws, generators and other power tools make a lot of noise and over time, these noises can damage your ears and cause a loss of hearing. Ear plugs can save your ears and they are inexpensive to buy. So protect them with earplugs, you’ll thank me later.
Well, those are some great tips to help protect you and keep you safe. God gave you eyes, ears, hands and feet, so take time to protect them! You only have one heart that wasn't designed to receive electrical shock, so please be careful! The life you save may be your own!
