OHS guidelines for electricians

WorkSafe Victoria has compiled a list of the most common injuries and hazards for people working in the electrical trades, along with suggested solutions to minimise these injuries. The statistics are drawn from the 771 claims received from the electrical trade in Victoria between July 2002 and July 2007.

• Back (48%) — Muscle strain and disc injury from lifting objects (eg, boxes, cartons, crates, bags, drums), powered tools, equipment and other materials.
• Shoulder (17%) — Traumatic joint/muscle injury or strain from pulling cables or from lifting materials or equipment.
• Arm (8%) — Traumatic joint/muscle injury and strain from lifting objects (eg, boxes, cartons, crates, drums) and equipment or other materials.
• Neck (4%) — Muscle strain as a result of lifting and putting down boxes, cartons, crates, bales and heavy bags.
• Leg (3%) — Traumatic joint/muscle injury and strain from lifting heavy objects.

WorkSafe expects employers to have safety solutions in place to protect workers from injury and illness. Below are some common solutions known to reduce the risk of injury and illness; employers should work together with their employees and health and safety representatives to determine the most effective OHS solutions for their workplace.

Slips, trips and falls

Areas of risk: knee, back, leg, shoulder, forearm/wrist and face/ear.

Possible safety solutions:

• Use the highest level of fall prevention (eg, work from scissor lifts or step platforms instead of ladders).
• Ensure all working areas and access ways are clean, level, well-lit and in good repair.
• Remove unwanted material and construction waste regularly from site so it doesn’t accumulate.
• Ensure construction materials, power leads, tools and equipment are handled and positioned carefully to avoid creating tripping hazards.

Using hand tools

Areas of risk: hand, fingers, forearm/wrist and face/ear.

Possible safety solutions:

• Ensure power tools are suitable for the task and are lightweight, low vibration, noise restricted and fitted with clutches.
• Tools should be ergonomically designed so they are comfortable to use.
• Cable strippers should be used in preference to knives.
• Avoid working in front of face and always strip cable away from the body.
• Rotate workers through a variety of tasks so workers aren’t undertaking the same task or holding the same postures for extended periods.
• Work gloves should absorb impact energy, provide protection from sharp edges and be puncture resistant.

Lifting, pushing, pulling and handling materials

Areas of risk: back, shoulder, abdomen, hand, fingers, forearm/wrist and leg.

Possible safety solutions:

• Have bulky materials delivered to the final work location or use mechanical load shifting devices (eg, hand trucks, cable trolleys) to move materials around site.
• Heavy or awkward objects/loads should be mechanically lifted and have lifting points or handles fitted.
• Order materials in smaller size containers (ie, 100 m cable drums instead of 500 m).
• Avoid manual cable pulling. Where possible, use cable rollers suitable for the size of cable, avoid pulling cables around tight bends and where necessary, mechanically pull the cable.
• Sharp edges of metal trays and ducts should be covered to avoid wounds/lacerations. Fit protective caps to the end of all thread droppers and exposed rebar.
• Use appropriate personal protective equipment (eg, gloves, long trousers, boots and safety glasses) and rotate workers through a variety of tasks.

Working at ground or floor level

Areas of risk: knees, back

Possible safety solutions:

• Use tables, benches or stands to bring work to waist height or use tools with extension handles to avoid bending.
• Provide mechanical aids and wear personal protective equipment (eg, knee pads) and rotate workers through a variety of tasks.

Noise

Areas of risk: face/ear

Possible safety solutions:

• Prevent hearing loss by using (hired, subcontracted or directly owned) noise-insulated equipment (eg, silenced hammer drills) and separate workers from noisy activities.
• Ensure hearing protection is supplied and worn when using power tools. Place warning signs in areas of excessive and continual noise.