Electrical Safety

Global Developments
in
Electrical Safety
Electrical Safety week, ICF,
Perambur, 13th June 2003
P.G. Sreejith
Cholamandalam AXA Risk Services Ltd.
www.cholaaxa.com
E-Mail: sreejith@chola.murugappa.com
Electrical Accidents-Statistics
India
Almost 12 people die due to electrocution every

day (Source -NCRB)
42 % of total fires occur due to electrical
sources (Source -OISD)
8% deaths that occur in factories are due to
electricity
Electrical Accidents-Statistics
United States
25% of all fires occur due to electricity

411 deaths from job related electrical accidents
per year (NIOSH)
Electrocution - the fifth leading cause of death
(1982 - 1990) NIOSH
Present Status - ES-India

ES Awareness is slowly growing
Use of HRCs /RCCBs is the rise, finer details are yet to be
understood by many
More ES workshops / seminars are conducted in India
Statutory regulations are enforced strictly (Karnataka,
Delhi - Use of RCCBs mandatory in residential buildings)
Many industries are re-aligning their Electrical practices
based on international standards (NFPA, IEEE, etc.)
Various ES Standards / organizations-US

NFPA - NEC (1897)
NESC (1913), from IEEE
NIOSH (Research example: development of voltage
detector that will signal the person if he gets close to
live power)-1970
OSHA (1970)
NFPA 70 E & B (1979) -approved by OSHA
Electrical Trauma Centre, Chicago (1990)
NESF(1994), by UL, NFPA, NEMA, CPSC
Global Developments in Electrical Safety

Electrical Safety Products
ES Auditing Techniques
ES System Certifications
Electrical Risk-Based Maintenance System
Electrical RM Programme
ES Products...
Residual Current-Operated Circuit Breakers (RCCBs)
Arc Fault Current Interrupters (AFCIs)
Glowing Connection Detector (GCDs)
Infra-Red Hotspot Detection Tool
Thermography Surveys
ES Products
Automatic Defibrillators
Complete Home ES Kit
Automatic Fire Detection & Extinguishing System
Electrical Product Safety Recalls
Linear Heat Sensing Cables (LHSC)
GFCIs & RCCBs

GFCIs - 5 mA, RCCBs - 30, 100, 300 mA
Delayed tripping RCCBs (200 mS)
AFCIs
Arcs - temperatures up to 20,000 degree C, Suns
outer temperature- 5000 degree C
No material on earth can withstand arc temperature
RCCBs cannot detect arcing faults
AFCIs - the innovative ES device after RCCBs
AFCIs detects arcing waveforms and trips
AFCIs - mandatory in all US homes from 2002 January
onwards
Arcing types
Arcing Waveforms
A loose wire at one terminal of

a light bulb.
Arcing generated by a loose

wire at a screw terminal.
GCDs
GCs are fires waiting to happen
Loose connections at socket terminals will cause
glowing connections
Use of GCDs- recommended by Forensic engineers
Glowing connections -will not detected by fuses,
MCBs, RCCBs, AFCIs
GCDs operate at 83 degree C
Glowing connection hazards were detected by a UL
study
Infra-Red Hotspot Detector

Used as part of effective EPM
Hotspot surveys on critical, high capacity motor
terminations, measurement of continuously running
critical motors
Uses infra-red technology, with laser sighting
Does not penetrate glass, plastic
Interpretation of readings - very critical
HFFR Cables
Halogen-Free Fire Retardant cables
Emits very low smoke, compared to PVC & even FRLS
cables
Increasingly Used by many instead of FRLS (Fire
Retardant low Smoke) cables
Thermography Surveys
Part of predictive maintenance
In the De-Terrified scenario, may be offered by general
insurance companies
Identification of potential survey points / equipment and
interpretation - very crucial
NFPA 70 E recommends Thermographic surveys
Automatic External Defibrillators (AED)

250,000 deaths every year due to sudden cardiac
arrest
AEDs - to be part of Emergency Medical Kit
For every minute that passes w/o defibrillation, the
chances of survival decreases by 10%
Has a voice prompt, cost USD 3000/UK - not a legal requirement, but a Statutory
requirement in US
No legal liability for deaths involving the use of AEDs
Linear Heat Sensing Cables

Advantageous than detectors, more effective
LHSC applications:
Cable trays in cable galleries
Transformers
Switch gears
Automatic Fire D&E System
Fire Trace - local flooding application inside electrical

switch gears / power panels- detects heat and the heat
-sensitive tube punctures, letting out Ozone-friendly
fire extinguishing gas
More ES Products
Non-Contact type voltage detector (magnetic field)
Plug-In Wiring Checker (detects 14 wiring defects,
ideal for testing sockets, BS 1363, faulty N, missing E,
reverse P& N)
Videoscanner, Metalliscanner (detects metallic pipes,
conduits, rebar, within 15 concrete)
Home ES Kit
Cutler Hammer, USA offers Home Safety kit,
comprising of:
Surge protector
GFCI
AFCI
MCBs
Electrical Product Safety Recalls

Part of product liability
Electrical products recalled:
Power tool battery packs (defective battery
fixings)
Building Wire (wrong earth wire identification)
IBM 15 PC monitor( overheating of electrical
components resulting in smoke)
3 pin plugs (improper earth connection)
ES Auditing Techniques
Electrical Risk Assessment using Semi-Quantitative
Risk Ranking (SQRR) technique
Usage of software to carry out Lightning Risk
Assessment, Hazardous Area Classification
Electrical HAZOP (Electrical Hazard & Operability)
studies
Electrical Hazard Spotting Exercises
Electrical Risk Assessment (SQRR

Technique)
Risk Ranking based on severity, probability
High Risk- Statutory Non-compliance, F&E hazards,
Shock hazards, Risks that could result in immediate
threat to life & property. Immediate correction
Medium Risk - Maintenance flaws,Operational issuescorrection at the next available opportunity.
Low Risk - Mainly improvement measures, long term
implementation
ES System Certification
Integrated Occupational Health & Safety Management
System certification (OHSAS 18001)
ATEX Certification (applicable to manufacturers / user
industries, applicable in EU, mandatory by July 2003)
UL certification for Lightning Protection (based on NFPA
780 standard)
Electrical Fires & Forensic Investigations
Electrical Fires & Forensic Investigations

Forensic studies are commissioned by insurance
companies in Japan, US, etc.
Product liability claims
Reconstruction of electrical fires
Major electrical equipment failures (MBD)
Investigation of Transformer fires
Bus duct failures
Electrical Risk- Based Maintenance

Risk & Reliability based Maintenance Schedules
Re-Aligning the Electrical Systems in Line with Specialized
International Standards to Improve electrical Safety (IEEE,
NFPA 70B)
Usage of Tools / Condition Monitoring Methods to have
Effective Predictive Maintenance System
Lightning -Common Myths

Lightning strikes only the tall objects/ structures
Lightning does not strike the same object twice
You are safe inside a metal bodied car during
lightning!
Electrical Risk Management

Programme
Identification of electrical hazards
Risk Ranking (SQRR of electrical risks)
Risk Mitigation / Control using ALARP (As Low As
Reasonably Practicable) principle
Continuous electrical hazard identification
HAC Risk Assessment
Extension to the existing HAC approach

Would be part of future European legislation
Presence of ignition sources considered in HAC
With this new HAC approach, the equipment
optimization is expected to increase
New HAC-based Risk

Assessment Matrix
Grade of Igniti on
Grade of Release
Continous
Continous
Frequent
Infrequent
Very Infrequent
Unacceptable
Unacceptable
unless low
consequences
Risk Assessment
required-look at
consequences
Acceptable
(e.g. Ex i
apparatus)
Acceptable (e.g.
Ex d apparatus )
Primary
Unacceptable
Unacceptable
Secondary
Risk Assessment
required-look at
consequences but
probably
unacceptable
Acceptable but
examine
catastrophic
releases
Risk Assessment
required-look at
consequences but
Acceptable
(E.g. Ex n
apparatus)
Acceptable
Acceptable but
examine
catastrophic
releases
Acceptable
Acceptable
Non-Hazardous
Risk-Based ES Audit
Electrical Safety Audits focussed on potential
risks
The audit methodology designed to identify all
potential electrical risks (FTA, ETA, HAZOP, etc.)
Semi-Quantification of events using available
failure data
Wrap-Up
Need for Electrical Safety is universal
ES awareness is increasing
Partnership between regulators, employers,
manufacturers- growing
Many injuries are prevented
Learning from experience- very essential
Innovative ES devices are being used by people
Much More to be done in the field of ES

in India!!
Technology can afford to get obsolete

but not a technocrat!!
www.cholaaxa.com

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Global Developments

Almost 12 people die due to electrocution every

25% of all fires occur due to electricity

Present Status - ES-India

Various ES Standards / organizations-US

Global Developments in Electrical Safety

GFCIs & RCCBs

Delayed tripping RCCBs (200 mS)

A loose wire at one terminal of

Arcing generated by a loose

Infra-Red Hotspot Detector

Automatic External Defibrillators (AED)

Linear Heat Sensing Cables

Automatic Fire D&E System

Fire Trace - local flooding application inside electrical

Electrical Product Safety Recalls

Electrical Risk Assessment (SQRR

Electrical Fires & Forensic Investigations

Electrical Risk- Based Maintenance

Lightning -Common Myths

Electrical Risk Management

HAC Risk Assessment

Extension to the existing HAC approach

New HAC-based Risk

Much More to be done in the field of ES

Technology can afford to get obsolete

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