Typical dangers in Amateur Radio can include:

  • High voltages and currents
  • Electromagnetic radiation
  • Trip hazards from cables and other items
  • High sound levels
  • Working at heights
  • Working with chemicals

Always be Aware of Safety

  • 12 mA of current can kill
  • 230 v mains can provide the voltage and current to electrocute a person
  • Vacuum tube equipment will have high voltages present
  • Always treat the circuit as if it is live
  • Never remove the covers from any equipment
  • Beware of old equipment, it may not be up to current safety standards
  • Look up and live when installing antennas
  • Never remove an earth from a piece of equipment
  • Always replace fuses with exactly the same type and rating of fuse, as per the manufacturers specifications

Electrical Earthing

  • The Australian 230 volt mains system has an earth (ground) to protect against electric shock, short circuits and faults.
  • The earth wire is usually green / yellow or green in some older installations.
  • The protective earth shall never be removed other than by a qualified electrician.
  • Power supplies have a protective earth via a standard 3 pin plug.
  • Some power supplies such as plug packs are double insulated and the earth pin is not connected.
  • Never connect earths to gas pipes.

Electric Shock

  • Switch off or remove the power
  • A casualty of electric shock must not be touched unless the power has been switched off
  • Call 000 to report the emergency
  • If you have a defribulator, switch it on and follow the verbal instructions

Construction workers carelessly connect wires causing unconscious electric shocks. Accident electrocuted, Electrical workers carelessly, causing electric shock accidents

Battery safety

  • Some batteries have toxic or corrosive chemicals or produce gases
  • Never short circuit a battery
  • Never dispose of a battery in a fire
  • Use protective fuses with batteries
  • Children should not play with batteries

Antennas and Safety

  • Electromagnetic radiation may be harmful if concentrated into a narrow beam of very high power
  • Electromagnetic radiation may burn or heat parts of the human body or organs
  • Keep distance between you and electromagnetic radiation
  • Antenna erection is potentially dangerous and should be carried out by suitably experienced persons
  • Antennas and their fittings must be suitably located and secured and must never be connected to, or sited close to, mains poles and lines
  • It is good practice to install lightning protection on antennas, disconnect antennas from any radio equipment prior to a thunderstorm and never operate during a thunderstorm

Some useful links on safety:

Electrical Saftey

  • Any mains operated equipment sold, hired or supplied must be approved by an Electricity Authority or their relevant authority. Approved equipment will have an approval label such as the one shown below:

  • It is necessary to check relevant requirements regarding unqualified persons wiring and testing mains operated equipment. This includes leads, plugs and sockets connected to the household mains supply.

Fuses

  • Fuses are to protect from high currents
  • Fuses have a predetermined current melt and open the circuit
  • High currents can burn
  • Replacement fuses must always be the same type and current rating as per the manufacturers specifications
  • Earth leakage breakers are sensitive to fault conditions and will trip
  • Most often installed in switchboards

Station layout for physical safety

  • The layout of an Amateur station should take account of physical safety issues.
  • Recall that trailing cables are trip hazards and dangerous.
  • Covers should be installed on all operational equipment.
  • Fire extinguishers should be of the appropriate type (i.e. suitable for electrical fires).

Power lead safety

  • Frayed or damaged power leads are dangerous and should be replaced or repaired by an Authorised person.
  • Never overload, piggy back or daisy chain power boards.
  • Always know the location of the mains power switch and the master switch to be able to turn off the power in an emergency.

Broken power cord for home electrical appliances, electric tools. Damaged cable insulation. Close-up, soft focus.

Safe use of headphones

  • Excessive volume when wearing headphones can cause damage to human hearing

Station Security

  • An operable Amateur station must not be accessible to unauthorised persons

CCTV security camera for home security & surveillance.