Electrical Hazards: Understanding the Dangers of Electricity and Safety Measures

Dangers of Electricity

CORE

1 Identify electrical hazards including
• damaged insulation,
• overheating of cables,
• damp conditions.

2 Demonstrate understanding of the use of fuses.

SUPPLEMENTARY

3. Demonstrate understanding of the use of circuit-breakers.

• P1 Identify electrical hazards including

• damaged insulation,
  • overheating of cables,
  • damp conditions.

Insulation can be unsafe if it is damaged or if it is wet because impure water will conduct electricity and deliver an electric shock if you were somehow unfortunate enough to encounter one.

Overheating can cause too much current flowing and can cause fires.

• P2 Demonstrate understanding of the use of fuses.

If too much current flows through a circuit, the fuse breaks the circuit. This protects the wiring and the appliance if anything goes wrong. The fuse contains a piece of wire that melts easily.

• P3. Demonstrate understanding of the use of circuit-breakers.

Does the same job as a fuse, but it works in a different way. A spring loaded push switch is held in a closed position by a spring loaded soft iron bolt.

An electromagnet is arranged so that it can pull the bolt away from the switch. If the current increases beyond a set limit, the electromagnet pulls the bolt towards itself, which releases the push switch into the open position.