If not used properly, electricity can cause electrical shock and burns to your employees. It can also create fires and explosions that destroy property. All electrical installations should be performed by licensed electricians to the standards of the National Electric Code®. The following information may help your organization address some common electrical hazards.
Exposed wiring is one of the most common electrical hazards, and in many cases it is the easiest to correct. Areas to check for exposed wiring include:
The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) recommends taking the following actions:
Extension cords are used in almost every organization to temporarily power items such as fans, power tools and lighting fixtures. Consider the following when using extension cords:
Inspect all extension, tool and appliance cords on a regular basis for damaged insulation, exposed wiring and damaged plugs. Cords with missing ground prongs should be repaired or replaced as soon as possible to maintain proper grounding.
Additionally, three-prong to two-prong adapters should not be used to connect a three-wire, grounded electrical device to a non-grounded circuit. If you use two-prong extension cords in your facility, they should be removed and replaced with grounded three-prong extension cords as soon as possible.
Power strips and surge protectors are commonly used to provide electricity to multiple pieces of equipment from one electrical outlet. While very handy, these devices can be serious electrical hazards if not used properly. If power strips or surge protectors are present in your facility, follow the guidelines:
When working with electricity, it is important to understand the principles of a proper lockout/tagout program. Lockout/tagout is a system to prevent the release of energy or operation of machinery or equipment. The system also warns other employees that equipment is being worked on.
According to OSHA regulations, lockout/tagout should be used whenever an employee is required to remove or bypass a guard or other safety device or is required to place any part of his or her body in the "point of operation" of the machine or where an associated danger zone exists during the machine's operating cycle. Lockout and tagout should always be performed together. While a lockout-only system is generally effective, a tagout-only system does not provide the maximum protection for employees and contractors.