6.1 Electrical Safety practices on board ships
•Electrical safety includes the following:-
–safe system design, construction, use and maintenance of maritime electrical installations
–safe procedures and safety measures for work on or near maritime electrical installations
–power supplied in a safe manner–high quality power supply
–protection against lightning
–protection to prevent power cuts causing danger to life or health
–De-energizing the circuit must be correctly completed by opening the circuit breaker, opening the switch, or removing the fuse. The circuit must then be locked out or tagged out.
–Insulating materials (such as mats and gloves) be periodically tested or inspected
–All electrical tools or equipment undergo a visual inspection before use
–All portable electric hand tools and temporary lighting systems use Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI)
–Electrical equipment and tools be used with proper circuit protection for the voltage and amperage
–Always use intrinsically safe equipment especially in places where the presence of spark can lead to disaster.
–When carrying out maintenance or repair on any equipment make sure to switch off power from the main electrical panel and also make sure to put a notice near that switch which says that “work in progress – do not switch on”.
–Wear proper protective gear when working with electrical machineries and follow all instructions, relevant checklists etc.
–Extension cables should be secured properly without any knots of unnecessary bends. If possible try to roll it up in a nice manner uniformly and store in a dry place.
