Portable generators may be connected to fixed wiring. Only use safetytested electrical cords design and rated for heaver, outdoor use to connect appliances to your generator. Health, safety and environment regulations revision 1 issue date 29. Generator installation safety, safety tips diesel service.
Its important to know the dos and donts when using your home generator. Use a good quality extension cord from the generator directly to the appliance you want to use. A generator can be a great backup plan if the power goes out, but it must be used safely. Generac power systems portable generator safety tips.
It is essential to determine the constant wattage which is the sum total of the wattages of each individual appliance that you seek to keep functional. Keep your generator outside portable backup generators produce the poison gas carbon monoxide co. Never use a generator inside a house, basement or crawl space not even inside a garage with the door open. Read the safety alert about charging batteries with small portable generators. How do you reference multiple references from the same paragraph ie l21, l21, l24 or hse l21,l21,l24 or hse l21, hse l22, hse l24 or finally is it hse l21 1999, hse l22 1998, hse l24 1992 i really have no clue and the reference pdf from anglia ruskin university a first class publication does not give me any hints either. Utility transformers can then stepup or increase this backfeed to thousands of volts enough to kill a utility lineman making outage repairs a long way from your house or business. The following precautions are provided to reduce shock and electrocution hazards.
Managers, supervisors, employees, health and safety professionals, safety representatives and trade union representatives. Generators can be expensive, noisy, and can pose safety hazards. All generators create an electrical field by spinning a shaft that rotates wire coils armature between the north and south poles of magnets. Electrical safety at places of entertainment page 2 of 15 health and safety executive introduction 1 electricity can kill. Guidance this fire safety guidance note assumes the generator will be a modern domestic or small worksite petrol generator with an integrated starting mechanism and an integral. Start building or improving your workplace safety program. Co is an odorless, colorless gas that kills without warning. A portable generator can be an incredibly useful tool whether youre using it at home, professionally in a commercial setting or on a camp site for leisure activities. It covers equipment that is connected to the fixed mains supply or a locally generated supply. A doublepole, doublethrow transfer switch is the recommended device to keep a generator from. This guidance gives practical advice to employers and selfemployed people on how to control exposure to diesel engine exhaust emissions in the workplace, and protect the health of employees and others who may be exposed. Keep your generator in a wellventilated, dry area away from air intakes to the home and protected from direct exposure to rain and snow. Many generator parts are hot enough to burn you during operation and while the generator is cooling after turning off. The generator should be installed in close proximity to the location of the transfer switch and the fuel supply, to reduce the required length of cabling and piping respectively.
Electric generator safety follow these guidelines to make sure that your generator is working safely some customers prepare for the possibility of power outages by buying an electric generator as a standby system to keep lights and appliances running until service is restored. Gs50 outlines the risks and your legal duties and general advice on managing electrical safety. Backup power can keep the lights on, help appliances stay running, save perishable food, and power essential equipment and electronics during a power outage. The hse committee of the board supports and provides advice to the board in these respects. Any advice or comment in this handbook is given in this general context and should not be relied upon as a substitute for legal or other professional advice. We can provide advice on picking out the right size generator, and how to use it safely. A proper generator safety checklist will minimize your physical risks when operating a generator. Can u be more clear as to what welding is to take place e. A generator may help power lights and other necessary appliances around the home or business until power is restored.
Control of diesel engine exhaust emissions in the workplace. Generator safety lcec lee county electric cooperative. Portable electric generator safety safety toolbox talks. Factsheet occupational safety and health administration. Instead, connect individual appliances that have their own outdoor rated power cord directly to the receptacle outlet of the generator, or connect these cordconnected appliances to the generators. If the chainsaw is to be operated in a dangerous or hostile environment, the userclient is responsible for. Following are tips to keep you, your family, and utility workers safe while using a generator. This policy represents the hses national position and takes precedence over all. Generator safety the portable generator manufacturers association is a great resource for information on how to run your generator safely. I do not think that hsg141 has been withdrawn but it does not really give guidance re electric arc welding on site in any case call the hse help line whilst it still exists for more detailed advice re hsg141 and to see if something more appropriate exists. Event safety electrical safety health and safety executive. Taking the proper precautions can help protect you, your family, your neighbors and our crews working to restore power. Diesel genset risk assessment issue 1pg of 2october 2014. Use of petrol generators at openair and other events.
Plug appliances directly into the generator or use heavyduty, outdoor rated extension cords, not to exceed the number of outlets on the generator. The instructions recommended within this document apply to normal risk conditions. Place the generator under a canopy or overhang to keep. Portable unit supplying selected electrical equipment. When possible, place the generator 510 feet away from the house. Carbon monoxide deaths, or neardeaths, and burns happen too often. Detailed professional advice should be obtained before taking or refraining from action in relation to any of the contents of this guide, or the relevance or applicability of the information herein. A generator that is directly connected to existing wiring can backfeed onto the power lines coming from the electrical grid. An approved generator transfer switch, which keeps your house circuits separate from the electric coop, should be installed by a professional.
The board is responsible for the oversight of hse matters including key hse risks andor impacts arising out of the activities and operations of origin and its related companies. Dont connect your generator directly to your homes wiring at the breaker panel or meter. Garages, or even partially enclosed areas, can trap co gases and put you at risk of deadly vapours. The generator should be placed on a level surface, which is noncombustible and nonconducting, a little above ground level to prevent contact from rising water levels.
Keep the generator away from windows and doors that lead into a house or building. A portable generator works by converting mechanical energy to electrical energy, in much the same way that a utility power plant does itexcept on a smaller scale. In the case of a portable generator, only a limited number of appliances can be energized in the event of a power failure. If you start to feel sick, dizzy or weak while using the generator move away immediately and get some fresh air. Generator safety customer safety is very important to honda, so we want to point out hazards of improper generator operation. This guidance note contains advice on preventing electrical danger and compliance with occupational health and safety law as it applies to electrical equipment used in entertainment workplaces. Never store a generator with fuel in the tank where gasoline vapors might reach an open flame, spark or pilot light.
This policy is mandatory and by accessing any information technology i. However, generators can be expensive to run and maintain, noisy, and, most importantly, may pose a serious safety hazard if not used and installed according to the manufacturers instructions. This document is produced to provide practical guidance on managing safety and health on construction sites and to meet legal obligations. To locate the osha consultation program nearest you, call 18003216742 osha or visit oshas small business web page. If you run a portable generator in a power outage, follow these safety guidelines. Generator sales spike when disaster strikes, but theres plenty to know before youre in dire straits. Here are generator safety tips from consumer reports, which says that generator misuse can be deadly. Make sure a generator has 3 to 4 feet of clear space on all sides and above it to ensure adequate ventilation. It also gives more specific advice on ways to prevent electrical danger at fixed electrical installations. It claims the lives of hundreds of people every year and makes thousands more ill. Portable and mobile generators and connected systems introduction. Generator safety tips n ever connect a standby generator into your homes electrical system. Do not use a generator outdoors if its placement near doors, windows, and vents could allow co to enter and build up in occupied spaces.
If youre thinking about installing a generator for backup power at your home or business, call us. Hse plan and construction priorities 202021 appointed cdm 2015 principal designers remain focus of hse inspections. Generators produce high levels of carbon monoxide quickly. Hse web communities construction discussion forum hsg141. This video goes stepbystep through the pgmas safety tips regarding carbon monoxide gas exposure, and how to keep you and your loved ones safe while using your portable generator. Only a qualified professional, such as a licensed electrical contractor, should install a permanent standby generator.
Allow generator and engine to cool entirely before adding fuel. Check that the generator is positioned in a dry location, preferably supported above ground level or in an area from which water will drain. Never use a generator in an enclosed or partially enclosed space. Safety with generators northwest territories power. This guidance is for managers, electricians, technicians and users and gives sensible advice on maintaining portable electrical equipment to prevent danger. Lusail real estate development company lredc construction hse general requirements document no. Search through a sampling of our popular safety resources by topics below. Connecting a portable electric generator directly to. Never attach a generator directly to the electrical system of a structure home, office, trailer, etc. If at all possible, avoid connecting the electrical output of the generator into the house wiring.
Generators can produce high levels of carbon monoxide co. Safety and health topics web pages provide information on specific safety and health hazards, as well as specific hazard information on different industries. Carbon monoxide co poisoning, electrocution, and fire are hazards that can be avoided by following instructions. Its important to understand how to safely operate your generator or battery before an emergency occurs. Safe generator use the following information was developed by the american red cross with technical advice from the centers for disease control and prevention, the national fire protection association publisher of the national electric code and the u. Generator safety west kentucky rural electric cooperative. Even if your generator is outside, exhaust can still enter through vents, windows, and doors. You should also take some time to find out how big a generator you may need. The information may not be applicable in all circumstances and any queries should be directed to the appropriate enforcing authority.
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