The 6 most common electrical risks at your workplace
What is an electrical risk, and how can you deal with it?
Today of course, electricity is essential to modern life, both at home and at work. In fact, we sometimes take electricity for granted and forget how dependent we are on it. Yet some employees, such as engineers, electricians and power line workers work with electricity directly. Others, such as office workers and salespeople, work with it indirectly. More importantly, we tend to overlook the hazards electricity poses and fail to treat it with the respect it deserves.
So, what exactly is an electrical risk? Simply put, it is everything from minor injuries caused directly or indirectly by electricity to electric shock, electrocution or even death. In theory, working from the comfort of your air-conditioned office may seem perfectly safe. In practice, however, there are a significant number of dangers lurking around every turn. Here are just a few of them.
1) Faulty or damaged wiring
First of all, you should know that a faulty wiring system is extremely dangerous. In fact, loose cables or exposed wires can even cause electric shocks and fires. So if you happen to notice this situation, have a commercial electrician fix the problem as soon as possible.
2) Incorrect use of extension cords
Did you know that extension cords tend to develop cracks and other faults that can eventually lead to shocks? What’s more, when they’re incorrectly placed throughout the office, they represent a major tripping hazard for your staff working there. That’s the reason you don’t really see extension cords in an office building.
3) Overloaded circuits
Did you know that overloaded circuits are one of the most common electrical risks at the workplace? If too many devices are plugged into a circuit, the current will heat the wires to a very high temperature. Then if the wire insulation melts, it may eventually cause a fire in the area of the overload or even inside a wall.
4) Improper grounding
Every piece of electrical equipment, appliance or device must be grounded to obtain a low resistance path for dissipation of current into the earth. Ground fault current can be a huge threat to human safety, causing fires or electrical shock. Additionally, ungrounded electrical systems can be potentially hazardous to your electronics.
5) Loose fitting plugs
Be aware that loose-fitting plugs can potentially cause equipment to overheat and catch fire. This happens especially when the equipment is moved during cleaning, causing the plug to get loose from the socket.
6) Water spillage on electrical devices
Last but not least, remember that water and electricity can never go together! If you place any electrical device near a source of water, or you handle it with wet hands, it may be a recipe for disaster. This is because water greatly increases the risk of electrocution especially if the equipment has damaged insulation.
Be aware of all these electrical risks at your workplace
Ignoring these electrical risks may cost your job or even your life. A regular check for the potential electric hazards in your home should be part of your electrical safety checklist. With this mindset, you may actually be able to prevent many accidents from happening. Ultimately, this will reduce your stress levels and also lower your electric bill due to better energy usage. For your safety, investing in an electrician is one of the best decisions that you will make as a home or business owner.
If you need any commercial electrical services, call Jaric Electrical at 1300 452 742 and get personalised advice and solutions for your home or business.