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February 6, 2024

How to Protect Yourself from Electrical Hazards

Electrical Hazards IEC Rocky Mountain

Many people who may be considering a career as an electrician are worried about the dangers of the job. Electricity can be life-threatening if it isn’t properly respected. We’ve put together this guide to help you understand what those dangers are and how electricians avoid them. 

Different Types of Electrical Hazards

The first step to protecting yourself from electrical hazards is understanding what those hazards are. When working with electricity, there are three broad categories of danger you may face:

Shock and Electrocution

This is the type of injury that most people consider when they think about working with electricity. An electrical shock occurs when electricity passes through your body. You’ve likely felt a small charge from static electricity at some point in your life. That relatively small amount of electricity is harmless. The equipment electricians deal with daily is powerful enough to be life-threatening. 

Arc Flash and Arc Blast

You don’t need to be touching a wire for electricity to hurt you. When an electrical fault occurs, the current can jump through the air from one conductor to the next. An arc flash is the actual electrical energy that makes the jump. An arc blast is a shockwave-like heat that results from the rapid expansion of air around the flash. These can cause burns or other injuries. 

Fire and Explosions

Faulty wiring, overloaded circuits, and other electrical problems can cause a fire. An electrician working in a poorly maintained building, or one who doesn’t follow the proper procedures and safety rules when installing electrical equipment, may find themselves in the middle of an electrical fire.  

Level of Electrical Hazards

Although some electrical appliances have a life-threatening load of electricity running through them, others are less deadly. All electricity that electricians work with is potentially dangerous. The danger rises with the voltage.

  • Low Voltage but High Risk: Even systems under 50 volts can cause harm, leading to shocks, burns, or secondary injuries from involuntary movements.
  • High Voltage Dangers: High-voltage encounters increase the danger. The risk of severe burns, powerful shocks, and arc flash incidents all go up when the voltage does.

Electrical Safety: The Basics of How to Protect Yourself

All this talk of the dangers shouldn’t lead you to believe that becoming an electrician is an inherently dangerous job. Electricians are trained to deal safely with electricity. The first step in doing so is to understand the risks. By knowing the types of accidents that can occur, it’s easier to avoid these situations. 

When working with electrical equipment, wearing the proper safety equipment is one of the best ways to stay safe. This includes insulated goggles, face shields, and flame-resistant clothing. The tools you use should also be rated for the voltage they’ll be exposed to, Electricians are trained in proper safety procedures as well. They know how to ensure that any circuits are de-energized before work begins, how to keep a safe distance from live parts, which tools are safe in a given situation and which aren’t, and more. 

While this training can be boiled down to basics, such as always making sure the power is off before working on an electrical system, there are other, less-known hazards that electricians know to avoid.

Interested in Electrical Work? Think About Becoming an Electrical Apprentice

As you can see, the best way to avoid getting hurt while working with electricity is to receive the proper training. An apprenticeship in electrical work allows you to learn the ins and outs of electrical safety under the watchful eye of an expert electrician. Apprenticeships are a great way to learn a new career because they pay you to do the work while you’re learning to do it. 

Choose IECRM in Colorado for an Electrical Training Apprenticeship Program

If you’re looking to start training as an electrician in the Colorado area, IEC Rocky Mountain offers an extensive training program that allows you to work as an apprentice while you study. This dual education approach gives you the best combination of formal training and on-the-job experience, allowing you to quickly become an experienced electrician and begin a lucrative career in the industry.

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IECRM Self-Pay Tuition Policy

 

Self-pay students who are employed with a member company must register and pay through the member company using the IECRM Flashpoint Enrollment Portal/Process in order to qualify for member rates.

Self-pay students that are employed with a member company but that do not register and pay through the member will be charged the non-member rate for tuition, books and applicable fees.


Self-pay students who are employed with a member company and require a payment plan will not qualify for the member rate and will be charged the non-member rate for tuition, books and applicable fees.


Self-pay students who do not work for a member company will continue to be charged the non-member rate for tuition, books and applicable fees.


To maximize association/membership benefits, ALL member companies are encouraged to register and pay for all enrolled apprentices utilizing internal payment arrangements and processes between employer and employee.


We value our IECRM members and apprentice community. We encourage all apprentices to be enrolled in the four-year apprenticeship program, earning, and learning their way toward Journeyworker licensure. We encourage all members to utilize the member discount for tuition, books and applicable fees to ensure the long-term support and success of the next-generation electrician.


(Payment Plans are available, please reference the Self Pay Payment Plan Policy.)


Self-Pay Payment Plan Policy


We offer the following arrangements for students that are unable to pay in full at the time of registration.


● Self-pay students will be charged the non-member rate.
● A 50% down payment of total semester tuition, books and applicable fees are due at registration.
● Remaining balance can be divided up to 3 additional monthly payments ($10.00 processing fee applies on each installment)
● All payments that are declined will incur a $20.00 NSF fee.

 

We encourage all students who are employed with a member company to work with their employer to register and pay through the IECRM Flashpoint Enrollment Portal/Process. This will ensure the student is paying the lowest possible rate for tuition, books and applicable fees.