The Selection and Use of Electrical Insulating Gloves of Electricians ...

2.1.3.3 FallsEven low voltages at 80 a-c volts (Cooper, 1993) can cause violent muscular contraction.One may lose the balance and fall at height. Serious injuries, like bone fractures or evendeath may be resulted from the fall arising from electrical incident.2.1.3.4 ExplosionBlasts may follow when an electric arc occurs. As the surrounding air is being superheated,a rapid expansion of air with a wavefront could reach a pressure of 100 to 200 pounds persquare foot (Cadick, 2000). Such pressure is sufficient to explode enclosed electricalappliances.2.1.4 Systemic Approach in Electrical SafetyIn the symposium titled “Quest for Quality and Quantity in Electrical Engineering, HongKong (1988)”, the representatives of Electrical and Mechanical Services Department(EMSD) proposed a systems approach on the promotion of electrical safety in Hong Kong.It had been emphasized that many personnel and workers engaged in the electrical industryhad not received any proper training and they had only gained their knowledge from theirdaily work (EMSD, 1988). Legislation on electricity safety could only be directive. Toassist the industry, it was suggested that Government should publish some technicalguidelines in form of code of practice and guidance notes so that the industry can adapt tothe safety principles laid down in the legislation more easily. The focus on practicalguidelines to be issued is as shown in the block diagrams of Figure 5.12