Stay Current: Essential Tips In Your Workplace

May is National Electrical Safety Month! This month is all about helping to raise awareness about critical electrical safety issues.

While electricity is generally safe and reliable, it can pose a danger if used improperly. Misuse of electricity can lead to physical harm, such as shocks or burns, but it can also be costly. By recognizing proper electrical safety practices and maintaining facility-wide procedures with appropriate training and education, you can reduce the risk to your staff and facility.

Electrical Safety Tips for Your Workplace

These operational, maintenance and educational procedures will help make your workplace safer:

• Require employees to use personal protective equipment (PPE) while performing any job functions on or near electrical equipment.
• Inform all employees of the location of potential electrical safety hazards and ensure continual communication of these hazards as they change.
• Mandate electrical safety training for employees to ensure they have the skills and experience required to perform work around or near electrical equipment.
• Establish and provide training for an effective lockout/tagout procedure for working on electrical circuits and equipment.
• Ensure workers are utilizing safe work practices (de-energize live equipment, discharge capacitors, lockout/tagout and so on) to prevent shocks, electrical burns, or other injuries.
• Allow only trained or approved personnel to perform maintenance or work on electrical equipment.
• Ensure all portable electrical tools are grounded and insulated properly.
• Install and cover electrical boxes and fittings in accordance with the National Electrical Code and other regulations.
• Educate your workforce in the use of fire protection equipment as well as fire and electrical emergency response procedures.
• Develop and communicate procedures to replace and dispose of damaged or defective electrical cords, circuits, and other hazardous electrical equipment. Have your electrical system and equipment inspected regularly by a qualified electrician.
• Contact your local building inspector to ensure your facility meets fire and electrical safety codes and regulations in your area.