How To Ensure Electrical Health And Safety In The Workplace

 

There are many accidents that can happen in the office environment due to the result of contact with electrical appliances or equipment – as almost everything in today’s office operates on electricity. If improperly used or poorly maintained it’s all potentially hazardous and can cause serious shock and burn injuries. To keep everyone protected you need to be well educated and make sure your office is free from danger – here’s a guide on how to ensure electrical health and safety in the workplace…

Electrical Safety

Protecting employees by controlling or eliminating electrical hazards should be the goal to aim for. Take steps to make your workplace safer with:

Risk Assessments

Carrying out a risk assessment with a workplace safety site auditor is the way to start – looking at the type of equipment and the way it’s used. And also the environment it’s used in. It will include the kind of hazards that could develop, and the precautions taken to prevent them from happening. Your written programmes, employee training records, inspection forms, and injury logs will all be reviewed to identify any regulatory or safety gaps that may put workers at risk. Potential hazards could include:

• Fuses that aren’t fitted properly
• Sockets overloaded with adaptors
• Wires trailing across floors
• Cables not joined with the right cable connectors
• Exposure to faulty equipment or installations
• Contact with live parts causing electric shocks and burns
• Unsuitable equipment igniting flammable elements in the workplace

Maintenance and Checks

Health and safety in the workplace will be guaranteed if you regularly check equipment to make sure it’s safe. This should include frequent checks on electrics that are often moved and more likely to become damaged. If any item feels hot or is making a buzzing or humming sound you should unplug it immediately and mark it clearly not to be used.

Never place electrical equipment near water or wet surfaces – or use them when your hands are wet. Cover any exposed electrical components and wires, and inspect cords for defects. Before servicing make sure any machines are disconnected and turned off.

Staff Training

A thorough training programme on health and safety advice should be included as a part of new staff induction – and carried out at regular intervals during the year. This’ll ensure that electrical items are used correctly and are properly maintained. Encourage staff to report any damage or defects personally or by recording potential hazards on a health and safety chart – allowing further investigations to be carried out quickly.

Repairing Electrical Items

You should only repair your equipment if you have the required knowledge, skills, and tools to do the job safely. Remember that changing a fuse or rewiring a plug can be dangerous if done incorrectly. For electrical installation, it’s advisable to call in the professionals.

Emergency Procedures

You’ll need to be aware of just what to do in an electrical emergency:

• Don’t touch the power line or the electrocuted person or you could get a shock too
• Call emergency services immediately
• Contact your local electricity company – see below for details
• Keep the shocked person warm and lying down until the paramedics arrive

Get a 24 Hour Emergency Electrician

Electricians from Emergency Electrician London 365 will quickly resolve your electrical issues – and fix any faults or problems you’re having. You’ll get a response time within the hour – and electricians are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Every member of the team is registered with the National Inspection Council for Electrical Installation Contracting – so you know you’re in safe hands. You’ll be able to get a quote upfront without any hidden fees – and your problem will swiftly be dealt with by a fully qualified and time-served expert.