ELECTRICITY HAZARDS IN THE WORKPLACE

Almost everything in a workplace today operates on electricity. in other words, electrical equipment used in the workplace is potentially hazardous and can cause serious shock and burn injuries if improperly used or maintained.

There are many electrical hazards which can exist in a workplace. These are among the most common:

Inadequate wiring.

This hazard exists when a conductor is too small to safely carry the current flowing through it, such as using a portable tool with an extension cord that has a wire too small for the tool. The tool will draw more current than the cord can handle, causing overheating and a possible fire.

Overloads.

The current will heat the wires to a very high temperature if you plug too many devices into a circuit. This may cause a fire. Similarly, if the wire insulation melts, arcing may occur and cause a fire in the area where the overload exists, even inside a wall.

Ground faults.

Electrical currents flow in a circuit. So, if there is a fault (opening) in the circuit, a person can become part of the circuit by touching a wire or holding the energized equipment, such as an electric drill. This is most likely to occur when the engineers do not ground the circuit.

Overhead power lines.

Most people don’t realize that overhead power lines do not have insulation.

Live parts.

Some electrical equipment is “live,” meaning you can come into direct contact with the current. Consequently, we should guard these against accidental contact and mark entrances with conspicuous warning signs.

As an Employer it is YOUR responsibility to ensure:

• Extension cables and other flexible leads which are particularly prone to damage to plugs and sockets and to their connections are visually checked, maintained and where necessary replaced before using portable equipment. The ends of flexible cables should always have the outer sheath of the cable firmly clamped to stop the wires (particularly the earth) pulling out of the terminals
• Use the correct cable connectors or couplers to join lengths of cables together and do not allow taped joints.
• Do not overload socket outlets with the use of adaptors
• Fixed electrical equipment should have a clearly identified switch to cut off power in an emergency

As with every workplace, protecting employees by eliminating or controlling hazards should be everyone’s goal, employer and employee alike. Therefore, a good first step is to conduct a safety assessment of your workplace. Having a professional walk through your facility, can help identify hidden hazards, and create a plan to correct those issues. At LuxxorPower, we ensure that electricity is supplied in the safest manner.