Experts point out that there is a special type of socket that can detect imbalances in electric current and automatically cut off the electricity before an electric shock occurs, and state that residual current devices are mandatory in swimming pools.
Head of Occupational Health and Safety Department Dr. Lecturer Rüştü Uçan: “Underground electrical installations in city streets and avenues must be laid at a depth of 80 cm.”
Occupational Health and Safety Expert Dr. Lecturer Nuri Bingöl: "To cut the electric current, we must immediately break contact with the cable using an insulated material. Wood can be used for this purpose as it does not conduct electricity; however, the main thing to do, if quickly accessible, is to cut off the electricity source."
Dr. Lecturer Rüştü Uçan, Head of Occupational Health and Safety Department at Üsküdar Üniversitesi Faculty of Health Sciences, and Occupational Health and Safety Expert Dr. Lecturer Nuri Bingöl evaluated electric shock incidents from pools and water puddles and explained the necessary safety precautions.
Electrical equipment used in pools must be protected by Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters
Head of Occupational Health and Safety Department Dr. Lecturer Rüştü Uçan provided information on existing OHS standards and regulations for electrical safety in ornamental pools, stating, “There is a special type of socket that can detect imbalances in electric current and automatically cut off electricity before an electric shock occurs. Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) protection is required for all electrical equipment and all outdoor outlets used in a pool. When using pumps, tools, and lights near water, use a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) to protect yourself from electric shock. Never connect portable generators to household circuits.”
Dr. Lecturer Rüştü Uçan noted that in ornamental pools, hazard zones are created during the project phase for electrical installations and said that residual current devices are mandatory in these pools.
How should underground electrical installations in city streets and avenues be?
Emphasizing that underground electrical installations in city streets and avenues should be laid at a depth of 80 cm, Dr. Lecturer Rüştü Uçan said, “After the facility is commissioned, periodic inspections must begin. Periodic inspections must be performed for any renovations or changes made to the facility. Insulation control is the most important step of periodic inspection. When intervention from other institutions such as water, sewage, or natural gas is required for the facilities of the electricity distribution company, coordination must be ensured, and compliance checks and insulation tests must be repeated after the work is completed.”
Residual current devices must be used in kitchens, WCs, and bathrooms
Stating that the use of 30 mA residual current devices is mandatory in apartment panels in homes, Dr. Lecturer Rüştü Uçan said, “In non-residential areas, damp and wet places, kitchens, WCs, and bathrooms, 30 mA residual current devices must be used.”
Regarding electrical leakage in small home appliances, Dr. Lecturer Rüştü Uçan also noted that periodic inspections for small home appliances and these tests in non-residential areas must be carried out, stating that these tests are called PAT testing (Portable Appliance Testing).
First aid for electric shock...
Dr. Lecturer Rüştü Uçan pointed to first aid in electric shock, saying, “First, the electricity should be turned off at the fuse. If you have a first aid certificate; gently touch the person with the back of your hand, not the palm, and speak to them. If there is no response, start CPR (CPR is performed as 2 breaths and 30 chest compressions). If there is an electrical burn, you can treat it the same way as other burns. Hold the burned area under running water for at least 20 minutes and then cover it with a sterile gauze pad or a clean cloth if available.”
What should be the regular maintenance and safety precautions in wet areas?
Dr. Lecturer Uçan stated that with the warming weather, people's demand for using wet areas increases, and that when regular maintenance and safety precautions in wet areas are not taken into account with increased users and frequency of use, it poses a threat to human health.
Regular inspection of swimming pools is important
Dr. Lecturer Rüştü Uçan noted that 'swimming pools' are among the most preferred for wet area use, stating, “Swimming pools also bring responsibilities such as regular inspections, periodic maintenance, and taking safety measures around them. Swimming pools are generally inspected for compliance monthly by Provincial Health Directorates. While the primary responsibility for ensuring minimum conditions related to swimming pools lies with the operators, in common swimming pools belonging to collective living areas, the site management is held responsible.”
A safety barrier should be created around the pool
Emphasizing that the precautions to be taken around the pool are also extremely important, Dr. Lecturer Rüştü Uçan warned, “Safety barriers/railings at least 120 cm high should be created around pools. Thus, the pool should be separated from other common use areas in a noticeable way.”
Compliance of electrical installations with regulations should be monitored annually
Dr. Lecturer Rüştü Uçan emphasized that the insulation of pool materials must be done, and that the compliance of electrical installations with regulations should be regularly checked annually by authorized companies or the Chamber of Electrical Engineers, and monitored by the operator or site management.
Dr. Lecturer Rüştü Uçan said, “It must be ensured that the electric current inside or around the pool meets the condition described as safe voltage, below 50 Volts. 12-volt (AC) lighting and cleaning robots should be used in pools. Filter systems used for internal pool cleaning should be implemented in a way that does not create a vacuum, and the suitability of filter covers (that they are not broken, cracked, or gapped) in the pool for water purification should be regularly checked.”
Dr. Lecturer Rüştü Uçan concluded his words as follows:
“In addition to all these, the implementation of health and safety measures in pools, their daily regular execution, monitoring by the site management or operator, and recording of the work performed are required.”
Dr. Lecturer Nuri Bingöl: “Tests and inspections of underground cables are very important”
Occupational Health and Safety Expert Dr. Lecturer Nuri Bingöl referred to the incident in Izmir where two people lost their lives due to electric shock from a puddle while walking on the road, emphasizing the great importance of tests and inspections of distribution companies and underground cables in such incidents.
Dr. Lecturer Bingöl stated that residual current devices are extremely effective life-saving devices, saying, “These devices are designed to protect human lives by cutting off the circuit in less than a tenth of a second when they detect a leakage current above 30 milliamperes, thus providing very strong protection.”
Intervention for a person caught in electric current must be made within two seconds
Dr. Lecturer Nuri Bingöl emphasized that in case of electric shock, if a person caught in the current is not intervened within two seconds, the probability of survival significantly decreases.
Stating, “To cut the electric current, we must immediately break contact with the cable using an insulated material. Wood can be used for this purpose as it does not conduct electricity; however, the main thing to do, if quickly accessible, is to cut off the electricity source,” Dr. Lecturer Nuri Bingöl also emphasized that hitting the head of the person caught in the current with a piece of wood is not a correct intervention method.