SAFETY PROCEDURE
College Natural Sciences and Mathematics

ELECTRICAL SAFETY GUIDELINES (from memo 40) ________________________________________________________________________________________________________

This guide was composed with help from Cal/OSHA experts after the college was issued a series of electrical safety citations. Strict adherence to this guide is mandatory in order to keep our workplaces safe. Faculty and staff must frequently check their work areas for any of the unsafe conditions listed below. An unsafe condition must be fixed immediately. Tags are available from CNSM Safety to clearly mark unsafe equipment that has been taken out of service pending electrical repair or upgrade. The CNSM Shop assigns high priority to such repairs.

UNSAFE CONDITIONS - CORRECT IMMEDIATELY

1) BLOCKED ELECTRICAL PANELS: Do not block energized electrical panels. A minimum of 30 inches must be kept clear in front of these panels. Even the floor in front of the panel must be completely clear -- no storage is allowed within the 30" zone. Yellow tape can be applied to serve as a reminder.

2) LIVE WIRES: Never use electrical equipment with exposed high voltage contacts (frequently found on old or homemade items, or on electrical devices where the "back" or other safety panel has been removed).

3)  BAD CORDS: Never use power cords with broken/cracked insulation, tape-covered splices, or other makeshift repairs/connections. A functioning "strain relief" must be present on every cord so the wires can't pull loose.

4) OVERLOADED CIRCUITS: Avoid using multi-outlet plug adapters; use breaker equipped "power strips".

5) MISUSE OF EXTENSION CORDS: Flexible power cord may not be used as a substitute for a proper building power outlet. Power cords and extension cords MAY NOT be run through holes in walls, ceilings, floors, or be run through doorways or windows. Cords must not be attached to building surfaces with tape or nails, etc., or be run behind moldings, walls, ceilings, floors carpets etc. If extension cords must be used for other than a short fixed period of time, use fused/breaker equipped "power strips".

6) LACK OF GROUNDING: Don't use ungrounded, "two wire" metal devices (such as metal incandescent lighting fixtures or Variac power supplies) in unsafe locations or in an unsafe manner as listed below. Cal/OSHA REQUIRES "Three Wire" grounded power cords in each of the following cases:

- On metal equipment used by persons who must stand in water or on metal, bare earth, bare concrete, or other "conductive" locations.

- On metal electrical equipment mounted on ungrounded metal items (such as a light on machinery or steel table).

- On equipment that was originally manufactured with a "three wire" cord. ADAPTERS THAT BYPASS THE GROUNDING PRONG OF A "THREE WIRE" PLUG ARE FORBIDDEN.

NOTE: "Double insulated" U.L. approved "two-wire" metal devices like hand drills do not need to be grounded.

7) UNDERRATED ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT: Be cautious in using ordinary electric items in explosive, corrosive, or wet areas such as outdoors, or in "cold rooms" and aquarium areas. Special insulation, plugs, and outlets may be required; they look different and bear special markings.

8) EQUIPMENT MISUSE: Don't use electric/electronic devices that are designed to be securely mounted and grounded (such as "rack mounted" equipment) without such proper mounting and grounding (for example, used while unsecured upon a table). Do not modify or use a plug with the wide prong cut or ground down.

9) FLEXIBLE POWER CORDS USED TO SUPPLY POWER TO FIXED EQUIPMENT: Permanently mounted equipment must get power from conduit - Facilities Management electricians can do the job.

SFM 40r 12/86, rev. 5/97                                                                                        Back To Home Page