## GROUND-FAULT CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER (GFCI)

*Make sure*  
*electrical tools*  
*empower you*  
*rather than*  
*overpower you.*  
!

In a normal electric circuit, the current flows to a tool, appliance, or light fixture  
through a hot wire and back to the circuit breaker through a neutral wire. There  
should not be any current lost; that is, the current in the hot wire should be  
identical to that in the neutral wire. Any difference is dangerous because it  
indicates a current leak. If the leaking current flows through a high-resistance  
conductor or device, it could generate enough heat to start a fire.  Electrical  
leaks can also cause a tool or appliance to become charged with electricity. If  
you touch the device, your body can provide the path to ground and you could  
suffer a serious shock. These hazards can be reduced by grounding the devices or  
stopping the flow of electricity when a leak is detected. Today we will talk in detail  
about the second option.

## About the second option: Electrical tools

A ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) is a device designed to protect you from  
electrical shock. A GFCI monitors the current in the circuit’s hot and neutral  
conductors. If the two currents are not identical, a leak must exist. When such a  
leak is detected, the GFCI, which works like a fast-acting circuit breaker, will trip  
and shut off the power in 1/40 of a second. This eliminates the potential of you  
being shocked or a fire being started.

If an assured equipment grounding conductor program is not in place, then all  
equipment that can be plugged into a 110-volt receptacle must be protected by a  
GFCI. You can use a GFCI plug-in device or an electric circuit that has a GFCI built  
into it either at the receptacle or at the circuit breaker. To ensure that GFCIs are  
working properly, you should follow the manufacturer’s instructions for testing.

Some of you may think that GFCIs are just a nuisance because they trip all the  
time. Actually, they are doing exactly what they are designed to do, which is  
to protect you from electrical shock. There are several conditions that will trip  
a GFCI. They include wet or defective power tools, improper installation, an  
overloaded circuit, excessive lengths of temporary wiring, and long extension  
cords. To avoid having a GFCI trip, inspect electric tools for damage before you  
use them and avoid working in wet or damp areas. And if it does trip, don’t be  
irritated -- be glad you weren’t shocked!

According to OSHA, electrical shock is one of the leading causes of construction  
accidents. It only takes a small amount of electric current (50 milliamperes) to  
cause ventricular fibrillation of the heart. No one wants to be an electrocution  
statistic or worse yet, a fatality.

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## MEETING ATTENDEES

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