High Voltage Safety Precautions
It is human nature to become careless with routine procedures. To illustrate the results of unsafe practices and to re-emphasize the need for good safety habits, particularly around high voltage or high current circuits, consider the following incident.A technician was electrocuted while attempting to bypass an interlock circuit in the vicinity of high voltages on a piece of electrical equipment. This was the direct result of violating a basic safety practice and indirectly an individual lack of equipment knowledge.
Many pieces of electrical equipment employ voltages which are dangerous and may be fatal if contacted. Practical safety precautions have been incorporated into electrical systems; when the most basic rules of safety are ignored, the built-in protection becomes useless.
The following rules are basic and should be followed at all times by all personnel when working with or near high voltage circuits:
l.CONSIDER THE RESULT OF EACH ACT— there is absolutely no reason for an individual to take chances that will endanger his life or the lives of others.
2. KEEP AWAY FROM LIVE CIRCUITS-do not change parts or make adjustments inside the equipment with high voltages on.
3. DO NOT SERVICE ALONE—always service equipment in the presence of another person capable of rendering first aid in an emergency.
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July 25, 2008