Electrical Safety Interview: 50 Questions and Sample Answers
1. What is electrical safety?
Answer: Electrical safety refers to precautions and practices used to prevent hazards like shocks, burns, fires, and electrocution when working with electrical systems.
2. Why is electrical safety important?
Answer: Electrical safety prevents injuries, fatalities, fires, and equipment damage, ensuring a safe working environment.
3. What are the main hazards of electricity?
Answer: The main hazards include electric shocks, burns, fires, arc flashes, explosions, and electrocution.
4. What is an electric shock?
Answer: An electric shock occurs when current passes through the human body, causing pain, burns, or even cardiac arrest.
5. What is electrocution?
Answer: Electrocution is a fatal electric shock that results in death due to high voltage exposure.
6. What is an arc flash?
Answer: An arc flash is a sudden release of electrical energy due to a fault, causing extreme heat, fire, and explosions.
7. What causes an arc flash?
Answer: Arc flashes are caused by faulty equipment, dust, corrosion, loose connections, or accidental contact with live parts.
8. What is grounding, and why is it important?
Answer: Grounding provides a safe path for electric current to flow into the earth, preventing shocks and equipment damage.
9. What is bonding in electrical systems?
Answer: Bonding is connecting metal parts together to equalize voltage and reduce the risk of electric shocks.
10. What is the difference between grounding and earthing?
Answer: Grounding connects electrical systems to the earth for safety, while earthing connects non-current carrying parts to the ground.
11. What are the different types of electrical hazards?
Answer: Electrical hazards include shock hazards, fire hazards, arc flashes, static electricity, and power surges.
12. What are the standard voltage levels for household and industrial use?
Answer: – Household: 110V-240V
- Industrial: 480V and above
13. What is the safe limit of current for the human body?
Answer: 1 milliamp (mA) can be felt, while above 50mA can be fatal.
14. What is a circuit breaker, and how does it work?
Answer: A circuit breaker automatically cuts off power when excessive current flows, preventing fires and equipment damage.
15. What is an RCD (Residual Current Device)?
Answer: An RCD detects leakage current and shuts off power to prevent shocks and electrocution.
16. What is a fuse, and how does it protect an electrical system?
Answer: A fuse melts when excessive current flows, breaking the circuit and preventing overheating or fires.
17. What is the difference between a fuse and a circuit breaker?
Answer: A fuse blows out and must be replaced, while a circuit breaker resets automatically after tripping.
18. What is lockout/tagout (LOTO) in electrical safety?
Answer: LOTO is a safety procedure that isolates power sources before maintenance, preventing accidental energization.
19. When should lockout/tagout be used?
Answer: It should be used during maintenance, repairs, or servicing of electrical equipment to ensure worker safety.
20. What is an electrical insulator?
Answer: An insulator is a material that does not allow electricity to flow through it, such as rubber, glass, or plastic.
21. What is an electrical conductor?
Answer: A conductor is a material that allows electricity to flow, such as copper, aluminum, or silver.
22. Why is PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) important in electrical work?
Answer: PPE protects workers from shocks, burns, and arc flashes, reducing the risk of injury.
23. What types of PPE are used for electrical safety?
Answer: Insulated gloves, arc flash suits, face shields, safety boots, and rubber mats.
24. What is the purpose of an electrical safety audit?
Answer: To identify hazards, assess risks, and ensure compliance with safety standards.
25. What are the key steps to follow before working on live electrical equipment?
Answer: – Turn off power if possible
- Use insulated tools
- Wear proper PPE
- Follow safety procedures
26. What are the main causes of electrical fires?
Answer: Overloading, short circuits, loose connections, faulty wiring, and improper grounding.
27. How can electrical fires be prevented?
Answer: – Use proper circuit protection
- Avoid overloading outlets
- Inspect wiring regularly
- Follow maintenance schedules
28. What should you do if someone gets an electric shock?
Answer: – Turn off the power immediately
- Do not touch the victim with bare hands
- Call emergency services
- Provide CPR if necessary
29. What is a GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter)?
Answer: A GFCI detects current leakage and shuts off power to prevent shocks and electrocution.
30. Where should GFCIs be installed?
Answer: In wet areas like bathrooms, kitchens, outdoor outlets, and industrial settings.
31. What is static electricity?
Answer: Static electricity is the buildup of electric charge on a surface due to friction.
32. What is an electrical short circuit?
Answer: A short circuit occurs when electricity flows along an unintended path, causing overheating and fires.
33. What is an overcurrent?
Answer: Overcurrent happens when too much electrical current flows, which can cause overheating and damage equipment.
34. What is an overload in an electrical circuit?
Answer: An overload occurs when more devices are connected than the circuit can handle, causing overheating.
35. What are the safe work practices for using electrical tools?
Answer: – Use double-insulated tools
- Inspect for damaged cords
- Avoid wet conditions
- Use proper grounding
36. What are the dangers of working with high-voltage electricity?
Answer: High voltage can cause severe burns, internal injuries, arc flashes, and fatalities.
37. What is a transformer, and how does it work?
Answer: A transformer changes voltage levels in electrical systems using electromagnetic induction.
38. Why should extension cords be used with caution?
Answer: Overuse or damage can cause overheating, shocks, and fire hazards.
39. What are electrical safety signs, and why are they important?
Answer: Safety signs warn workers of electrical hazards, reducing accidents.
40. What precautions should be taken when working near overhead power lines?
Answer: – Maintain a safe distance
- Use non-conductive ladders
- Follow safety regulations
41. What is the purpose of an electrical panel?
Answer: An electrical panel distributes electricity safely to different circuits in a building.
42. Why should damaged electrical cords be replaced immediately?
Answer: They can cause electric shocks, fires, and equipment malfunctions.
43. What is surge protection?
Answer: A surge protector prevents voltage spikes from damaging electrical devices.
44. What should be done before resetting a tripped circuit breaker?
Answer: – Identify the cause of the trip
- Ensure the circuit is safe
- Reset it cautiously
45. What is an electrical load?
Answer: An electrical load is the amount of power consumed by electrical devices.
46. What is an electrical switchgear?
Answer: Switchgear controls, protects, and isolates electrical equipment in a power system.
47. Why should live electrical work be avoided?
Answer: Live work increases shock risks, burns, and fatal accidents.
48. What is an earth leakage circuit breaker (ELCB)?
Answer: An ELCB detects ground faults and shuts off power to prevent shocks.
49. What is a step potential?
Answer: Step potential occurs when a person standing near a faulted electrical source experiences a voltage difference between their feet, leading to shock.
50. What is the most important rule of electrical safety?
Answer: Always assume electrical equipment is live until proven otherwise, and follow proper safety protocols.
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