Industrial Electrical Safety Tips For Your Workplace

Industrial electrical hazards in the workplace are a major concern, since the last thing you want is for an employee to suffer a shock or major injury. The following tips can help you minimize these hazards in your workplace so that you can avoid injury and increase safety.

Tip #1: Label all shock hazards

It's often required that possible electrical hazards be clearly labeled, but bad daily habits can obscure some of these labels. Make sure that dirt and grime doesn't cover warning signs, especially in outdoor areas that are more prone to damage. Replace labels if they become hard to read. Also, make sure no one is hanging jackets, hats, or other items on warning signs, since this will also obscure them.

Tip #2: Provide insulated tools

Anyone working near equipment that could carry a charge should be using tools with rubber grips and insulated handles. For example, someone working on a catwalk near live electrical wires should be using insulated tools. This way, if a wire comes in contact with the metal catwalk just as the worker is tightening a bolt, the insulated handle will protect them from the electricity arcing through the catwalk frame to the bolt.

Tip #3: Require proper clothing

Rubber-soled shoes should be required of all staff on a site where there is a risk for electrical shock, since the soles will provide a ground that prevents a current from continuing through the body. Employees with a higher risk of coming in contact with an electrical current should also be wearing shock-proof gloves and overalls. Flame-resistant clothing is also wise, since electrical burns can be just as devastating as an electrical shock.

Tip #4: Always test before moving forward

For workers that only work on powered-down equipment, it can be easy to overlook the electrical hazard these items can pose. They may assume that simply powering down the equipment and shutting off the circuit renders the item safe. Make sure everyone is fully trained on how to perform a tag-out procedure to ensure that any stored energy in the equipment has been discharged before they begin work. Also, provide them with the necessary tools and meters to verify that the equipment is fully de-energized. All equipment should be treated as fully powered until these procedures are completed.

For more help, consult with an industrial electrical construction contractor for advice on how to increase the electrical safety in your workplace.

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