Activities | Science | Robotics and electronics

Electricity safety

This activity aims to alert participants to the dangers associated with electricity and introduce preventive behaviours and solutions. 

After a first theoretical part including discussion, participants apply a questionnaire to IPT students and staff on the levels of awareness of the academic population on this matter. Once all the questionnaires are completed, they create a table with the results. 

Activity duration:

• theoretical part; 1 hour
• discussion:  30min
• practical part: 1 hour 

Material:

• projector;
• projection screen;
• computer;
• multimedia presentation of the topic;
• sheet containing problems to solve;
• discussion notes sheet
• questionnaire

Safety precautions applicable to electricity:  The electrical supply we receive in our own homes or in public places is a commodity we can no longer live without thanks to the wide range of services and comfort that it brings to our daily lives.  Electricity is a product of undeniable usefulness but has some risks that should be avoided for the sake of health and wellbeing.   Here are some of them:

• never pull an appliance by the supply cable or hose;

• take special care when using electrical appliances in the bathroom, prefer battery operated devices;

• never put metallic objects such as knives and forks in plugged-in electrical appliances;

• do not use appliances with damaged electrical cabling; to prevent electrical shock, wrap insulating tape around the cable joints;
• do not plug in or unplug with your hands or body wet;

• do not plug many appliances to the same electrical socket;

• do not stand close to fallen electricity poles;

• do not climb a tree without ensuring it is far away from electrical wiring;

• do not throw away objects into areas with electrical wiring.

Source: http://agrupamento-fajoes.pt/ficheiros/d285180ISAKI61NYO.pdf

Activity instructors: Manuel Barros and Carlos Ferreira (UDE)