Tips to protect your workplace from electrical hazards

Electricity is the main force used to power and drive everything is our homes and place of work, but it’s often taken for granted as it can’t be seen and only really noticed when it’s no longer there. The very real and ever present danger of electricity is forgotten until something goes wrong, causing a shock or fire and you need the services of an electrician on Gold Coast.

Some important tips to protect your workplace from electrical hazards are:

Power cords

There’s a wide range of electrical appliances used in the workplace and often, there just isn’t enough power outlets available or near enough, so extension cords and strip connectors are commonly used. It’s important when using these that they are not overloaded and that the circuit they’re connected to is properly earthed and protected by a circuit breaker.

Safety switches such as RCDs or residual current devices immediately switch off any electrical supply when they detect electricity is leaking into the earth. This stops the possibility of receiving an electrical shock. If they are not already fitted to the electrical circuits in your place of work ask your local electrician on The Gold Coast for advice and to fit them for you.

Precautions to take:

•         Do not tangle power or extension cords
•          Avoid running electric cords under rugs or mats as they could be damaged without you knowing
•          Don’t allow power cords to go from one room to another
•          Always use the shortest possible extension cord
•          Extension and power cords should be only a temporary measure, used until your local electrician on The Gold Coast installs a new suitable power outlet for you
•          Check the power rating of the appliance you use to ensure it matches the rating of the power cord you’re using
•          When using multiple appliances on one strip connector the total rating must be considered when every appliance is operating
•          Workplace Health and Safety Regulations must be taken into account

All power cords and extension leads and cables must be protected so they cannot be damaged by water, weather, foot or vehicle traffic. Ask your local electrician on The Gold Coast to advise you on the best location and other safety aspects. 

Testing

The electrical wiring should be inspected regularly by a registered electrician who will inspect, test and tag any extension cables and power cords to ensure they are safe and comply with the current regulations.

Before using any power cord it should be visually inspected for damage

Never roll up or coil an type of electrical cord or lead while it’s plugged in, always ensure it is disconnected first to avoid any possible shock.

Before you do any digging in the ground, it’s advisable to call “Dial Before You Dig” a national referral service that is free and offers a single point of contact regarding the location of any underground asset such as electrical cables or water that could be present in your area

Although electrical safety is largely common sense, awareness and education, because electricity is not visible extreme caution is required when dealing with it. If in doubt, you have safety concerns, or wish to have your electrical circuitry checked or altered call your friendly electrician on The Gold Coast.