| A | B |
|---|
| Aerial Lift | a mechanical device used to provide temporary access for people or equipment to locations above the ground where electrical work needs to be done; may also be known as a “cherry picker” or a “scissor lift” |
| ampere | the unit of measure for electrical current flow |
| arc | the flow of a high amount of current across an insulating medium, like air |
| arc-blast | a violent electrical condition that causes molten metal to be thrown through the air |
| arc-flash | a dangerous condition associated with the possible release of energy caused by an electric arc |
| circuit | an arrangement consisting of a power source, conductors, and a load |
| conductor | a material that allows electrical current to flow easily through it; examples are copper, aluminum, and silver |
| current | the intensity of electron flow in a conductor |
| double insulated | an electrical power tool type constructed so the case is isolated from electrical energy and is made of a nonconductive material |
| electrical shock | the sudden stimulation of nerves and muscles caused by electricity flowing through the body |
| grounding | an electrical connection to ground (the earth) |
| ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) | a device that protects people from dangerous levels of electrical current by measuring the current difference between two conductors of an electrical circuit and tripping to an open position if the measured value is 6 milliamperes or higher |
| hazard | a potential source of danger |
| insulator | a material that does not allow electrical current to flow through it; examples are rubber, plastic, and glass |
| load | a part of an electrical circuit that uses electric current and voltage to perform some function; an example would be a compact fluorescent lamp (produces light) or electric motor (produces mechanical energy) |
| National Electrical Code (NEC) | a document that establishes minimum safety rules for an electrician to follow when performing electrical installations; it is published by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) |
| Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) | a federal agency that establishes and enforces workplace safety rules |
| ohm | the unit of measure for electrical resistance |
| Ohm's law | the mathematical relationship between current, voltage, and resistance in an electrical circuit |
| personal protective equipment (PPE) | equipment for the eyes, face, head, and extremities, protective clothing, respiratory devices, and protective shields and barriers |
| polarized plug | a two-prong plug that distinguishes between the grounded conductor and the “hot” conductor by having the grounded conductor prong wider than the “hot” conductor prong; this plug will fit into a receptacle only one way |
| power source | a part of an electrical circuit that produces the voltage and current required by the circuit |
| resistance | the opposition to current flow |
| Safety Data Sheet (SDS) | a form that lists and explains each of the hazardous materials that electricians may work with so they can safely use the material and respond to an emergency situation |
| scaffolding | also referred to as staging; a piece of equipment that provides a platform for working in high places; the parts are put together at the job site and then taken apart and reconstructed when needed at another location |
| shall | a term used in the National Electrical Code® that means that the rule must be followed |
| ventricular fibrillation | very rapid irregular contractions of the heart that result in the heartbeat and pulse going out of rhythm with each other |
| volt | the unit of measure for voltage |
| voltage | the force that causes electrons to move from atom to atom in a conductor |
