In today’s fast-paced and technology-driven world, electricity has become essential for making our work life more comfortable. We can now find different electrical equipment and appliances that help make life easier. However, even the smallest devices have electrical components such as wirings that have a high tendency to wear out and malfunction. Hence, it is vital to make sure that everything is fine around your building by regular electrical maintenance. Moreover, there are also specific standards that OSHA requires commercial sites to follow.
While some commercial building owners know their responsibilities regarding electrical safety, some don’t focus on such an aspect. To help them see the importance of workplace safety and provide some electrical safety tips, we wrote this article for you.
Why do you need electrical maintenance?
Electrical maintenance is essential to ensure the safety of your workplace. If there are any issues in your building, it may affect your employees’ performance and could even cause some serious incidents. Some cases of electrical hazards include improper installation of equipment. Faulty wiring is also dangerous if left alone for too long. Overheating outlets can also cause broader issues such as electrical shocks, explosion, and fire.
These are the reasons why electrical maintenance is essential to any commercial building. They can check any problems and malfunctions within the building and suggest some remedies. By educating your office workers about electrical safety, you can avoid future incidents.
Tips for Electrical Safety in a Workplace
1. Provide proper training for your employees
Having quarterly maintenance on your building is not enough to ensure the electrical safety around your facility. It is also crucial to give your employees some pointers to know what they could do to avoid electrical-related accidents. Give them proper training and seminars at least once or twice a year to educate them about the importance of electrical safety.
2. Identify potential electrical hazards
Before anything else, it is vital to identify the electrical hazards around your commercial building. This tip should be a priority in any establishment. Make sure that you do a proper inspection in every nook and corner with cables and wires. You should also call for a professional maintenance company to let them inspect if there are any problems. Ask them if there are areas that need repairs or replacement. If you do not have a proper access panel with an exposed flange, you can also install one. Having adequate access to such electrical parts will make future maintenance and repairs more convenient for everyone.
3. Switch off electrical appliances that you do not use
Inspect every machine and equipment and ensure that the same are correctly turned-off when not in use. It is critical to check if the employees turn them off correctly every time. It would also be best always to unplug them to ensure that no electrical currents are flowing in the appliances. Doing this when cleaning, repairing, or servicing any building parts is extremely important for your personnel’s safety and the building itself.
4. Do not force unfit plugs in outlets
There are different designs and sizes of plugs for every appliance. However, most people often force unfit plugs into an outlet, thinking that it would be fine. This act could cause some severe electrical incidents such as short circuit or electric shocks. Avoid this from happening by refraining from forcefully plugging any equipment.
5. Do not run electrical cords on places where people often cross
Electrical cords must be in a safe place where people do not usually cross. Carpets, doorways, and hallways are the areas you should avoid to prevent any tripping incident. However, if you cannot control this, you can secure them using cable clips or floor cord covers.
6. Clear the areas from all electrical panels
You should always maintain at least 3 feet clearance from your electrical panels. Obstructing the way to the electrical panels may prevent your personnel from shutting down the power source when there is an emergency. It can seriously endanger personnel safety.
7. Use equipment with proper insulation
If you are using or installing equipment on your building, make sure they have double insulation and proper grounding. It includes exposed flange access panels, electrical valves, and others.
8. Avoid overloading your extension cords
Commercial buildings use extension cords to provide more outlets for equipment and appliances in the offices. However, having six or more outlets does not mean that you can plug six devices at once. If you overload your extension cord, it can cause some short circuits or other electrical issues. Instead of overloading an extension cord, the best solution is to add more outlets around your office for your workers to use.
9. Buy trusted electrical equipment
Most commercial buildings tend to buy products at a lower price to match their budget. However, instead of thinking about money, you should pay attention to the quality of the items. Look for any signs that they have approval from the national testing laboratory. Also, make sure that you only buy electrical equipment from a reliable electrical liquidator to avoid faulty products.
10. Look for quality access panels
If you are looking for a high-quality access panel with exposed flange for your building, make sure that you check out Access Doors and Panels. We offer reliable products that ensure convenient access for maintenance. Our doors also use standard materials with fire-protection against electrical hazards.
Author
Chris Jackson
Best Access Doors, USA
Thanks for having this article, It’s a well-written blog and it is very informative. It sounds like hiring an electrician for this would be the safest option.