As all businesses are slowly going back to work after the COVID-19 outbreak, it is more important than ever to make sure electrical appliances in the work place are in a safe, working order. According to the HSE (Health and Safety Executive), 1017 people have been injured, including fatal injuries, due to unsafe electrical hazards at work in the last 5 years.
Faulty and/or damaged electrical appliances can pose all sorts of risks to employees such as fires, electrocution and death. The most common hazards are:
- Broken or exposed wiring
- Overloaded/overheated outlets
- Poorly installed and maintained electrical equipment
- Long extension leads that can easily be damaged
- Electrical equipment being used near sources of water
It must be stressed how important it is to be aware of how to reduce your risk to electrical hazards. We have put together our top tips for the workplace to ensure electrical safety of the employees:
Check electrical outlets/sockets
- If an outlet is warm in temperature, then this can be a sign of unsafe wiring and could lead to a potential fire
Check extension cables
- An extension cable current level rating should match the rating of the appliances/equipment being used
- Regularly check cables for cuts or exposed wires – if you spot an exposed wire, you should stop using this cable immediately
- Keep all cables away from heat, water and sharp objects
- Do not hang extension cables as this could lead to breaks internally
Ensure lightbulbs are the correct wattage
- Lightbulbs need to be the correct wattage for the light fitting in order to work correctly and safely
Make sure plugs fit outlets
- Don’t not force plugs into outlets
- Don’t not overload your circuits
Electrical DO’s and DO NOT’S
To ensure electrical safety in the work place, we advise that you DO NOT…
- Use damaged sockets
- Use broken electrical cables
- Remove a plug by pulling the cable – always unplug using the plug itself
- Attempt to fix an electrical device whilst it is still plugged in
- Double up adaptors as this could cause electrical shocks
We advise that you DO …
- Disconnect devices that are giving off a strange smell
- Turn off electrical appliances if not in use
How GlenFarrow can help
Not only do we recommend customers to do their own checks in the workplace, but it is also a legal requirement for commercial properties to comply and meet electrical safety standards to keep their customers and employees safe.
An EICR (Electrical Installation Condition Report) needs to be conducted by a qualified electrician at least once every 5 years (dependent on type and use of the building this could be more often!) EICR’s are conducted to check the condition of electrical installations and examine whether a property complies with national safety standards.
This applies to commercial properties including:
- Houses of multiple occupation (e.g. hotels)
- Offices/shops
- Construction sites
- Farms/industrial factories
- Public buildings (e.g. cinemas, hospitals, schools)
- Warehouses and more
Our qualified GlenFarrow electricians are able to carry out EICR checks on all commercial properties. To book a free site survey or find out more about our electrical services, call Rob Black on 01775 722327.
