Tips for Avoiding Electrical Shock when
Working on Electrical Wiring
By Mark J. Donovan
Working with electricity can be
dangerous as electrical shocks can injure and even kill you. Consequently it is
important that you exercise some important safety precautions to prevent
electrical shock. Chief amongst them is to first turn off power to the
electrical circuit you plan on working on at the main circuit breaker panel.
Furthermore, place a piece of electrical tape over the turned off circuit
breaker to warn anyone that you have purposely turned power off to the circuit.
In addition to turning power off to
the electrical circuit at the main circuit panel, it is also important to
confirm that the power is indeed off at the electrical box itself using a neon
bulb tester or multimeter. Occasionally more than one circuit breaker can be
feeding power to an electrical outlet or light switch, and thus to prevent
electrical shock it is just as important to verify power is off at the
electrical box itself.
If you need to use a ladder when
working on electrical wiring never use an aluminum ladder, as aluminum is a good
conductor of electricity. Use a wooden or fiberglass ladder instead.
Always wear a pair of good rubber
soles shoes as rubber is also a poor conductor of electricity.
When it comes to tools, always use screwdrivers and pliers that have insulated
handles.
Avoid working on electrical circuits
in wet or damp areas. Where it cannot be avoided wear rubber boots and gloves.
Also, make sure your hands and gloves are dry prior to inserting your hands into
an electrical box or appliance.
Finally, when working in a wet or damp area, make sure any electrical power
tools are plugged into Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) outlets. GFCI’s
are designed to quickly turn power off to a circuit if they sense the slightest
loss of current in the circuit, thus preventing life threatening electrical
shock.
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