Page 677 - The City and Guilds Textbook: Plumbing Book 1 for the Level 3 Apprenticeship (9189), Level 2 Technical Certificate (8202) and Level 2 Diploma (6035)

Chapter 11 Electrical principles and processes for building services engineering

What to do if a colleague suffers an

electric shock

If you see someone who appears ‘frozen’ on a circuit or is lying unconscious,
the very first thing you must do is shut off the power supply. If you touch that
person without doing this, you are basically continuing the circuit and making
yourself ‘live’. If you cannot find the source of power, use something non-
conductive to dislodge the victim from the circuit, such as a wooden board
or heavy-duty plastic. Once you have removed the victim from the source of
electrical power you must then check for vital signs and carry out first aid. Even
if apparently unharmed, because the victim has been in direct contact with
electricity it is advisable for them to seek medical advice at a hospital, as the
rhythm of the heart may have been affected.
SUMMARY

As a plumber you will often come across electrics in your career. During this
chapter we have covered the electrical knowledge that a plumber would
be expected to know in order to safely carry out basic electrical tasks. This
includes understanding electrical supplies used in domestic plumbing systems,
the components used in electrical installations, procedures for safely isolating
electrical supplies, identifying critical faults, and undertaking basic electrical
tasks.

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