| As summer approaches, swimming pools across the country will be reopening. It is important that you don’t overlook electrical safety.. If you, or anyone you know has a pool, you might want to consider reading (and sharing) this blog so that you can better understand the issues and electrical hazards associated with swimming pool safety. Electricity and a wet body are a recipe for disaster! That’s why all swimming pools and spas are required to have GFCI protection and proper equipotential bonding. Yet there are still electrical injuries and fatalities occurring every year. These accidents happen for a variety of reasons: Installations are not up to the current codes and standards. GFCIs are not tested periodically as required by the manufacturers. Corroded and neglected and improper bonding terminations. Electrical Equipment Failure. Transient, or neutral-to-earth voltage. Most of these conditions can be detected by routine inspection(s) and addressed by a qualified person such as a licensed electrical contractor. If you are the qualified individual tasked with performing a pool inspection, be sure that you understand electrical fundamentals, bonding and grounding, NEC requirements related to swimming pool bonding, Neutral-to-Earth (NEV) voltage related to utility wiring, and how to determine that swimming pools are properly bonded. Always document your inspection findings in a written report delivered to the customer. If you find any unsafe conditions such as equipment not GFCI protected or unbonded metal parts, encourage your customer to shut down the pool, explain the hazard(s), and advise the customer what needs to be done before anyone uses the pool again. What is electrocution? Electrocution is death by an electrical shock. Wet skin or wet surfaces, such as grass or a pool deck, can greatly increase the chance of electrocution when electricity is present. How do I know if I or someone else may be receiving an electrical shock? Swimmers may feel a tingling sensation, experience muscle cramps, and/or not be able to move at all and/or feel as if something is holding them in place. You may see unsettled or panic behavior by others in the water, one or more passive or motionless swimmer in the water, swimmers actively moving away from a specific area or from a motionless swimmer, and/or underwater lights that are not working property (e.g. lights are on when they should not be on, lights flickering), the pool operator or lifeguard received earlier complaints of tingling or other odd sensations. What should I do if I think I’m being shocked while in the water? Move away from the source of the shock. Get out of the water. If possible, exit without using a metal ladder. Touching a metal ladder may increase the risk of shock. For detailed information on How to Verify the Electrical System of a Pool is Safe in Accordance with the NEC, visit www.mikeholt.com/pools. Circulate this information to your friends, family and customers – summer is almost here and thousands of people will be getting out of the heat by jumping into the pool! |