Safety, Energy Conservation and Applied Practice
Scope
Safety, Energy Conservation and Applied Practice tests isolation and lockout, shock response, fire safety, PPE, Indian electricity safety rules, energy audits, efficient lighting, power-factor correction and load management.
Core rules
- Before work: isolate, prove dead, lock out or tag, and test for absence of voltage.
- Do not work live unless unavoidable and authorised. Use insulated tools, gloves and eye protection appropriate to the task.
- For an electric shock, switch off the supply first or use an insulated object to separate the victim; then give first aid and call emergency help.
- Electrical fires need CO₂ or dry-powder extinguishers; water conducts and is dangerous.
- Energy conservation: replace inefficient lamps, avoid standby loads, improve power factor, schedule loads and audit energy use.
Worked example
Ten 100 W incandescent lamps are replaced by ten 20 W LEDs, used 6 h/day for 365 days. Saving per lamp = 80 W; total saving = 10 × 80 × 6 × 365 ÷ 1000 = 1752 kWh/year. At ₹6/kWh the annual saving is ₹10,512, and the connected load falls by 0.8 kW. Verify that the LED lumens and colour rendering suit the task; a lower wattage that gives poor light is not a real saving.
Traps
- Comparing kW with kWh and overstating savings.
- Ignoring standby power and fixed charges.
- Using water on an electrical fire.
- Touching a casualty before isolating the supply.