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Department of Electrical Engineering & Computer Science

Electrical Safety
for Staff and Students in EECS Instructional Laboratories

NEVER WORK ALONE

If you will be working with energized circuits or equipment over 50 volts peak or 50 volts DC, make
sure that at least one other person can see you and hear you. In case of emergency DIAL 100 from
any institute phone [617-253-1212 from cell phones]; and notify the stock clerk or lab instructor on
duty.

VOLTAGE RULES

All EECS Instructional Laboratories lab kit voltages are below 50 volts peak or 50 volts DC. (OSHA
permits “unqualified persons” to work on such circuits with “awareness-type” training, which is what
this document is.)

If you intend to work on a project using power sources over 50 volts peak or 50 volts DC, you must
first secure permission from your Faculty or Staff Instructor; and take an Electrical Safety
Familiarization class from either David Lewis [38-501, 617-653-5629] or Karl Berggren [36-219,
324-0272] before any work on the project begins.

No power tools or energized machine tools are to be used in the Instruction Laboratories without
prior review by David Lewis and Karl Berggren and the Course Instructor.

PREVENT ACCIDENTS: FOLLOW THIS ADVICE

• Never hurry. Work deliberately and carefully.

• Connect to the power source LAST.

• If you are working with a lab kit that has internal power supplies, turn the main power switch
OFF before you begin work on the circuits. Wait a few seconds for power supply capacitors to
discharge. These steps will also help prevent damage to circuits.

• If you are working with a circuit that will be connected to an external power supply, turn the
power switch of the external supply OFF before you begin work on the circuit.

• Check circuit power supply voltages for proper value and for type (DC, AC, frequency) before
energizing the circuit.

• Do not run wires over moving or rotating equipment, or on the floor, or string them across
walkways from bench-to-bench.

• Remove conductive watchbands or chains, finger rings, wristwatches, etc., and do not use
metallic pencils, metal or metal edge rulers, etc. when working with exposed circuits.

• When breaking any high-voltage or high current inductive circuit open the switch with your left
hand and turn your face away to avoid danger from any arc which may occur across the switch
terminals.

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• When using large electrolytic capacitors be sure to wait long enough (approximately five time
constants) for the capacitors to discharge before working on the circuit.

• All conducting surfaces intended to be at ground potential should be connected together.

ADDITIONAL CAUTIONS

• The EECS Instructional Laboratories (38-500, 38-600, 38-601) are equipped with Ground Fault
Current Interrupt (GFCI) circuit breakers. Check for leakage paths to ground when breakers trip
repeatedly and the problem is not due to an overload.

• Any equipment used in the laboratories must be equipped with a standard three-prong AC plug
or a two-pronged polarized plug.

• All exposed non-current-carrying metal parts of fixed and portable equipment that may
accidentally become energized should be grounded.

• All electrical equipment or apparatus that may require frequent maintenance must be capable of
being completely disconnected from the power source.

• Do not bring into the lab or use in the lab equipment that does not conform to these rules.

ACTIVITIES REQUIRING SPECIAL CONSIDERATION

The "50 Volt" safety voltage, below which a student may work with the "awareness training" provided
by this document, is a necessary guideline, but not a sufficient condition to ensure safety in all
situations. For example, batteries may be below 50 volts, but may be capable of tremendous short
circuit currents that can cause arcs and injuries. Experiments under and over 50 volts can produce
excessive temperatures that can cause burns, electromagnetic forces that throw metal, blinding light,
and extreme magnetic or electric fields that can interfere with medical implants or attract metal
jewelry with tremendous force.

Course Instructors are responsible for ensuring the safety of experiments conducted in the EECS
teaching laboratories, whether or not these activities are over or under 50 volts.

For experiments over 50 volts, students must attend the Electrical Safety Familiarization class.
Further, before any experiment over 50 volts is energized, the physical experiment must be reviewed
by the Course Instructor. Such experiments should have an obvious electrical shutdown in case of
emergency. A procedure should be developed for using the experiment, and this procedure must be
clearly discussed by the Instructor with students conducting the experiment. Students should
demonstrate their understanding of proper procedures to the Course Instructor. Example
considerations for proper procedures would include, but are not limited to:

· Ensuring the presence of a clear and accessible electrical shutdown for the experiment in
case of emergency.
· Is the experiment mechanically secure? An open, line-operated chassis balanced on a stool
or rolling cart is not, for example, a satisfactory mechanical setup.
· Do the students, staff, and faculty involved in an experiment understand and follow a
procedure for using their experiment safely? For example, do they know not to move probes
or touch the circuit while it is activated?
· Are voltages above 50 volts or conductors carrying large currents adequately insulated and
mechanically mounted?
· Do the students, staff, and faculty have appropriate safety glasses, thermal protection, and
any other equipment necessary to protect from unique aspects of their experiments? Safety
glasses should always be worn for experiments over 50 volts.

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These are examples and guidelines, and are not exhaustive. No experiment should be
conducted or undertaken if the safety considerations associated with the activity are not
understood or cannot be determined by the participants. No experiment should be conducted or
undertaken if proper procedures have not been developed and promulgated to ensure safe and
effective activities in the laboratory.

If in doubt, do not do the experiment.

Students are expected to insist on person-to-person review with the Course Instructor for any
and every experiment that exceeds 50 volts before the experiment is activated.

Course Instructors should review any questions or concerns with Karl Berggren and David Lewis
prior to issuing a lab activity or experiment to students.

LASER LABORATORY SAFETY

• Students who intend to use laser systems must read the Radiation Protection Office (RPO)
Laser Safety Program Handbook before working with lasers. Copies of this handbook are
available from the 38-501 Stockroom.

• Students must attend the RPO Safety Training Seminar if they will be using Class III or IV lasers.

RIGHT-TO-KNOW LAW (OSHA HAZARD COMMUNICATION STANDARD)

• OSHA requires MIT to inform employees (and MIT requires students be informed the same as
employees) about potential exposure to hazardous chemicals and about the Institute's Hazard
Communication Program and the requirements of the Federal Right-to-Know Law. Your
supervisor/instructor and department are responsible for providing you with safety information
and/or training on: • MIT Policies and Procedures on Environmental Health & Safety • Material
Safety Data Sheets • Labeling requirements for all hazardous materials • The location of the
hazardous material inventory of your work area • Any operations in your work area that involve
hazardous chemicals and the associated health and safety hazards • Safety precautions and
procedures • Emergency procedures • The hazards of tasks done infrequently

• The OSHA Hazard Communication Standard and MIT's written Hazard Communication Program
are on file in the MIT Safety Office and will be made available to any member of the MIT
Community, upon request.

QUESTIONS ABOUT WORK/SCHOOL SAFETY

• Any questions about work or school safety should be brought to the attention of your immediate
supervisor or instructor. If problems arise that cannot be solved at this level, you should contact
the EECS Teaching Laboratories EHS representative:

David Lewis Rm. 38-501 617-653-5629 dlew123 @ MIT.EDU

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BASIC ELECTRICAL SAFETY PRACTICES

The Institute requires everyone who uses electrical equipment to understand these safety
precautions to comply with the OSHA Electrical Safety-Related Work Practices standard and MIT's
electrical safety policies. The following safe work practices can prevent electrical shock. Contact
your supervisor for additional safety training if your job involves repairing, installing or working on
energized parts.

A. Safe Work Practices

1. Turn off and unplug equipment (instead of relying on interlocks that can fail) before removing
the protective cover to clear a jam, replace a part, adjust or troubleshoot. Ask a qualified
person to do the work if it involves opening equipment and creating an exposure to energized
parts operating at 50 volts peak or 50 volts DC or more.
2. Don't use an electrical outlet or switch if the protective cover is ajar, cracked or missing. Call
FIXIT (x3-4948) and report this.
3. Only use DRY hands and tools and stand on a DRY surface when using electrical equipment,
plugging in an electric cord, etc.
4. Never put conductive metal objects into energized equipment.
5. Always pick up and carry portable equipment by the handle and/or base. Carrying equipment
by the cord damages the cord's insulation.
6. Unplug cords from electrical outlets by pulling on the plug instead of pulling on the cord.
7. Use extension cords temporarily. The cord should be appropriately rated for the job.
8. Use extension cords with 3-prong plugs to ensure that equipment is grounded.
9. Never remove the grounding post from a 3-prong plug so you can plug it into a 2-prong wall
outlet or extension cord.
10. Re-route electrical cords or extension cords so they aren't run across the floor, under rugs or
through doorways, etc. Stepping on, pinching or rolling over a cord will break down the
insulation and will create shock and fire hazards.
11. Don't overload extension cords, multi-outlet strips and wall outlets.
12. Heed the warning signs, barricades and/or guards that are posted when equipment or wiring is
being repaired or installed or if electrical components are exposed.
13. Do not move probes or connectors while an experiment is activated. Turn off the experiment,
set up the measurement, then activate the experiment.

B. Check for Unsafe Conditions (either before or while you're using equipment:)
1. Is the cord's insulation frayed, cracked or damaged, exposing the internal wiring?
2. Are the plug's prongs bent, broken or missing, especially the third prong?
3. Is the plug or outlet blackened by arcing?
4. Was liquid spilled on or around the equipment?
5. Are any protective parts (or covers) broken, cracked or missing?
6. Do you feel a slight shock when you use the equipment?
7. Does the equipment or the cord overheat when it is running?
8. Does the equipment spark when it is plugged in or when switches or controls are used?

C. If you observe any of these unsafe conditions:

1. Don't use (or stop using) the equipment.
2. Tag/label the equipment UNSAFE--DO NOT USE and describe the problem.
3. Notify your supervisor, FIXIT or the service company, as appropriate.

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Electrical safety is for everyone because even contact with the standard 120 volt AC electrical
circuits, which we constantly use, can be lethal under certain conditions.

I CERTIFY THAT I HAVE READ AND UNDERSTOOD "ELECTRICAL SAFETY FOR

STAFF AND STUDENTS IN EECS INSTRUCTIONAL LABORATORIES" AND "BASIC
ELECTRICAL SAFETY PRACTICES" AND I AGREE TO ABIDE BY THOSE RULES AT
ALL TIMES WHILE I AM ENROLLED IN ANY EECS LABORATORY COURSE, OR WHILE
TEACHING OR ASSISTING IN A LABORATORY COURSE.

TA’s & LA’S ASSIGNED TO ANY ONE OF THE LISTED SUBJECTS MUST, AS A CONDITION OF
EMPLOYMENT, ATTEND ONE OF THE ELECTRICAL SAFETY TRAINING LECTURES HELD
DURING THE FIRST WEEKS OF THE SEMESTER. EXACT TIMES AND PLACE WILL BE
POSTED. ALL OTHER STUDENTS: FILL OUT, SIGN, AND RETURN THIS PAGE ONLY TO
ONE OF THE EECS STOCKROOM WINDOWS at 38-501 or 38-601, IN ORDER TO RECEIVE
YOUR LAB KIT.

[No laboratory kits or supplies or equipment will be issued to students until this form is filled out and
signed and on file at the EECS stockroom in 38-501.]

SIGNED:

PRINT NAME:

MIT ID NUMBER:

DATE:

SUBJECT NUMBER: ___________________________(specify)