Electricity can cause serious injury or death through shock, burns, or fire. Even small circuits can be dangerous under certain conditions. Before touching or probing any circuit, understand the following principles:

• Voltage and current awareness: High voltage is not the only danger — even 12 V systems can supply dangerous current if contacted with wet skin or open wounds.
• Isolation: Always isolate test circuits from mains power when possible. Use isolation transformers or differential probes for safe measurement.
• Capacitors: Large electrolytic capacitors can retain lethal charge after power is removed. Always discharge safely with a resistor before handling.
• Ground faults: Poor grounding or floating metal cases can create hidden shock paths. Verify all grounds and bonding connections before operation.

Your workbench and surroundings are the first line of defense. A safe and organized environment minimizes the risk of electrical shorts, accidental contact, or component damage.

• Keep your bench dry, clean, and free from clutter.
• Ensure proper lighting — shadows and glare can cause wiring mistakes.
• Use a rubber or anti-static mat on your work surface and avoid working on conductive tables.
• Route cables neatly to prevent tripping hazards and accidental disconnection during tests.
• Always have a clearly marked power cutoff switch or emergency stop accessible.

PPE provides an extra margin of safety when working with potentially hazardous circuits:

• Eye protection: Always wear safety glasses when soldering, cutting leads, or testing energized circuits.
• Heat protection: Use heat-resistant gloves when handling hot components.
• Footwear: Insulated shoes reduce the risk of shock.
• Hearing protection: For high-power RF or ultrasonic testing setups.

Measurement errors can damage instruments or cause electric shock. Follow these practices:

• Use properly rated test leads and probes.
• Start with the highest range on meters.
• Never change connections while energized.
• Check oscilloscope grounding carefully.
• Prefer differential or isolated probes.

Modern electronics are increasingly sensitive to static discharge.

• Use an ESD wrist strap.
• Work on anti-static mats.
• Store ICs in anti-static packaging.
• Maintain proper humidity.

Fire hazards in electronics often result from overheating components.

• Never bypass fuses.
• Ensure adequate ventilation.
• Use flame-retardant enclosures.
• Keep proper fire extinguishers nearby.

Rechargeable batteries and capacitors can store dangerous energy.

• Never short lithium cells.
• Monitor charging temperature.
• Use balancing circuits.

Soldering introduces risks from heat and fumes.

• Use ventilation.
• Handle leaded solder safely.
• Never leave irons unattended.

Good circuit design minimizes risk even before hardware is built.

• Fuse power rails.
• Use isolation.
• Separate voltage domains.

Despite best efforts, accidents can still happen.

• Disconnect power immediately.
• Seek medical help.
• Document incidents.

Electronic safety combines awareness, discipline, and environment control. A well-prepared engineer knows that preventing an accident is always easier than recovering from one.