Safety should be at the forefront of your business’ mind. Within ‘safety’ there are electrical hazards which you should be aware of. Although not the most common of workplace accidents, it is highly important you should know areas of electrical risk as 1 in 13 electric caused injuries result in death. Other hazards include shock and burns, electrical fires or electrical explosions. The severity of the injury will depend on the level of voltage, amount of body resistance to the flow, the path the electrical current takes through the body and the amount of time the current flows through the body. The hazards are often linked to where and how the electrical item is used. Carry on reading to know 5 ‘shocking’ electrical hazards which you should be aware of in your workplace.
1. Faulty wiring - Check all wires, plugs, extension leads, junction boxes, receptacles etc are in full working order and are not frayed, damaged or exposed. To make sure all are safe, it is good practice to hire an external agency to check your workplace’s electrics.
2. Poor training - All employees should be given information on all electrical related hazards in the workplace, including prevention methods and what to do in case of an emergency. Inadequate information and control mean the use of electrical items becomes unsafe.
3. Incorrectly replaced fuses - If fuses do not correctly fit into the fuse holder they could cause an equipment malfunction. Also, if the fuse holder is corroded it will cause the fuse not to fit and can create resistance or overheating.
4. Water and electricity - An example of a pair which should never go together. It is the impurities such as minerals and dust found in water which reacts with electricity causing further reactions. Avoid electricity being near any water at all costs.
5. Overloaded or damaged plugs, sockets or cables - Overloaded or damaged plugs could exceed the maximum current rating for that extension lead. This could cause the plug to overheat and possibly cause a fire or electric shock.
WINNS Services specialises in protecting health and safety rights and keeping the workforce safe. Having been established for over two decades, we pride ourselves on exceeding client expectations. To ask any questions about our services, please do not hesitate to give us a call on 01702 719100 or email us at info@winnsservices.co.uk
