Electrical Safety for Non-Electricians
US & Canada General Construction Electrical
Why it matters
You do not have to be an electrician to be electrocuted. Damaged cords and wet conditions kill general trades workers every year.
Key points
- Inspect cords and tools before use; take damaged equipment out of service and tag it.
- Use GFCI protection on all temporary power - test it before starting work.
- Keep at least 10 ft (3 m) from overhead power lines; more for higher voltages.
- Never bypass guards or remove ground pins from plugs.
- Treat every line as live until verified dead by a qualified person.
Discussion
Where is temporary power coming from on this site? When were the GFCIs last tested?
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