Statistically speaking, the most likely cause of an accidental structural fire is an electrical fault. This holds true for homes, offices, and factories alike. Basic conditions of employment stipulate employees’ rights to work in a safe environment. A safe environment is not only related to security.
The environment needs to be free of hazards that could injure employees. This includes electrical faults. Electrical faults can cause a fire or an injury such as electrocution to an employee.
As office employees, here are some basic tips for electrical safety at work:
1. Check electrical outlets regularly
Loose covers, signs of damage to the plug points, and loose switches make an electrical outlet dangerous. Employees should make a habit of inspecting plug points in the workstation and common areas on a regular basis.
Electrical outlets are not meant to last forever. There will come a time where replacement is necessary. Employees are advised not to wait for a routine electrical inspection if there is a chance an outlet is faulty.
Mark the outlet with a ‘Do Not Use’ sign. Report the matter to the officer in charge of maintenance as a priority. Replacing a faulty electrical outlet can prevent a fire. For a qualified electrician, replacing an outlet is a simple task that can save many lives.
2. Do not overload electrical outlets
One of the most dangerous things office workers can do is to overload electrical outlets. Very often, there are too few plug points to use to plug in a computer, cell phone charger, printer, and other devices.
Using a multi-outlet bar to allow the use of multiple devices is a necessity. The danger comes in when a multi-outlet bar is used to plug in another multi-outlet bar. This can cause a dangerous overload of electrical demand. All it takes is one spark from an overloaded outlet to start a devastating fire.
Office workers should use only one multi-outlet bar per electrical outlet. Employers should buy multi-outlet bars that meet the required safety standards. There should be a ban on bringing additional multi-outlet bars or daisy chains into the office space.
3. Avoid the unnecessary use of extension cords
Electrical outlets may not be installed in areas that are optimal for use in the office. The result is that extension cords are used to supply electricity to office stations. Extension cords are safe to use under certain circumstances.
The logic used in offices is to put a rug over an extension cord so that workers won’t trip. This is a bad practice as it can result in a failure to spot damage to the cord.
Ellen Beck, a writer at EssayOnTime, states, “It’s better to buy a single extension cord that is long enough to supply electricity to a workstation. Plugging one extension cord into another is not a good idea.”
Office workers who use an extension should regularly check the connections, both at the wall and the outlet at the end of the extension cord. Beck advises employees to report any bare wiring immediately.
4. Pay attention to the signs
Check that the plugs in the outlet are not hot. Plugs that are heating up are an indication that there may be a fault with the electrical wiring. The plug or the electrical outlet might show signs of discoloration due to the overheating.
Listen to the electrical outlet. If a humming sound is detected, there is a chance the outlet is in danger of tripping or catching fire. Another sign of potential electrical problems is when the outlet emits a spark when something is plugged in.
Ensure that the electrical outlet never comes into contact with water. If there is a leak or an accidental spillage of fluids, switch the outlet off straight away. Water combined with electricity will produce anything from a slight shock to a fatal electrocution. Even touching a live electrical outlet with wet hands poses a significant danger.
5. Insist on surge protection
An electrical surge has many potential causes. A surge can be triggered by lightning, a power supply fault, plugging in an additional device, or overloading an electrical outlet. Surge protection should be fitted to each electrical outlet to protect equipment, devices, and appliances from harm caused by a surge.
The installation of surge protection can be an expensive undertaking. The commonly adopted view is that the likelihood of a surge is so small, the costs outweigh the benefits. This is not true.
The initial financial outlay may be large. The cost of replacing items damaged by a surge can be as large. Putting measures in place to mitigate the risk of a fire that causes fatalities or destruction of the building are also factors to consider.
6. Switch off
At the end of the workday, all non-essential electrical outlets should be switched off. This includes the outlets that supply power to kitchen appliances, lamps, radios, and space heaters. This practice saves electricity and minimizes the potential for faults.
Taking the time to switch off outlets gives an employee a chance to inspect the outlet for any potential faults.
During the day, unnecessary use of electricity should also be avoided. Space heaters are a real danger. They use large amounts of electricity and make big demands on the electrical outlet.
7. Leave it to the professionals
An employee should never try to fix an electrical fault. This is a recipe for disaster that can have fatal consequences.
A qualified, responsible maintenance officer or electrician should be the only person who engages with the office electrical supply. Years of training and experience with electricity gives them the capacity to work safely with electricity.
Check state and local regulations regarding electrical safety in offices. Regular inspections are required. Certificates of compliance should be obtained at specified intervals. As a collective, insist that the employer fulfill the requirements to ensure employee safety.
To Conclude
Electrical safety is the responsibility of all employees in an office. Employees are at the frontline of recognizing and reporting faults. Education about electrical safety should form part of the company handbook. Prevention and early intervention by taking a few minutes to ensure the safety of a workspace can save lives.
About the Author
Serena Dorf is a social media savvy Los Angeles-based content writer. She is passionate about writing, personal development, and marketing. In her free time, she is reading classic American literature and learning Swedish. Feel free to connect with her on Twitter.
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