Electrical Safety at the Workplace: Tips

Electrical safety should be a priority in the workplace, especially if the workplace is home to heavy-duty electrical equipment. The last thing you need is an accident that puts employees at risk. There are all kinds of electrical hazards and dangers out there. The best way to prevent trouble is to be aware of these potential hazards and recognize them.

On the Factory Floor

The factory floor is where you’ll find power tools and all kinds of machinery. Needless to say, they all present a potential electrical hazard. So, you need to make sure that your employees are trained appropriately on how to use and manage these machines/tools.

Even the slightest error can lead to significant consequences and you could be looking at an injured worker. Here are a few safety practices that you can communicate to your employees.

You can probably print them out as a checklist and put them up on the notice board.

• Use the appropriate tools for the job.
• Make use of extension cords that have the proper ratings. Never use the wrong extension cord for your tools.
• Never use cords and outlets with exposed wiring.
• Check for outlet temperature. Hot or warm outlets indicate that there is a wiring issue. This must be checked.
• Locations of circuit breakers and wiring panels must be known to all factory workers.
• Check cords for damages.
• Circuits that are located near water or outside must be protected using a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI).
• Portable cord & plug power tools must never be used without their guards.
• Cords must be checked for proper insulation.
• Ground wires must be checked for proper connection and operation.
• The location of embedded or buried electrical circuits must be identified before cutting/digging.
• The cause of a circuit breaker or fuse operated trip must be identified before repairs or replacements are made.

Inside the Office

The manufacturing side of things obviously needs more attention, but that doesn’t mean you ignore the office. Here is a checklist for that as well.

• All appliances must be turned off. Check for this before the end of the day.
• Only appliances that have grounded plugs must be used and they should be connected only to grounded outlets.
• An energized or plugged device must be moved only after it is switched off and unplugged.
• Never use damaged electrical cords.
• Never use force to connect a plug to an outlet.
• Do not connect one extension cord into another. This will overload the circuit.
• Do not remove the grounding prong from a device or extension cord.
• Do not place cords or devices in hazardous locations, such as areas with a high chance of spillage.