Final answer:
In high voltage maintenance areas, safety measures such as insulating gas, the three-wire system, and personal protective equipment like insulated shoes are used to augment electrical safety and reduce risks.
Step-by-step explanation:
Electrical Safety in High Voltage Maintenance Areas
To enhance safety near electrical apparatus or circuits in high voltage maintenance areas, it is essential to employ additional safety measures. One of the critical precautions is the use of insulating materials and tools designed to withstand high voltages. Large circuit breakers found in power-distribution systems might employ insulating gas, which helps to extinguish the sparks that occur when interrupting a high-voltage flow. Other key measures include the three-wire system, which utilizes live/hot, neutral, and ground wires, and grounding both the neutral wire and the case of the appliance to protect against both thermal and shock hazards.
Additionally, personal protective equipment (PPE), such as insulated shoes, is crucial for workers to prevent a direct path of electrical current through the body, significantly reducing the risk of electric shock. Specific settings, like hospitals, require even more stringent electrical safety protocols to protect microshock-sensitive patients from currents as low as 0.1 mA, which could potentially cause ventricular fibrillation.
Implementing these safety measures ensures that work in high voltage areas is conducted with the highest degree of safety, reducing the risk to personnel and equipment.