No matter how safe or low risk you think your office is, electrocution and electrical hazards are a significant risk. Capable of causing harm to your employees, it’s important to ensure your workplace is free from electrical hazards.
To help you keep your workplace safe, we’ve put together a helpful guide to help you identify and mitigate risks in the workplace.
The most common electrical hazards to look out for are:
- Poorly installed electrical equipment – this could be anything from desk lighting and monitors to the office computer
- Faulty wiring or defective equipment
- Misuse of equipment (such as overloaded outlets)
- Unsafe installation
How to prevent electrical hazards
Electric shocks can seriously harm your employees, so it’s important that you ensure your workplace is free from electrical hazards. As well as burns and electric shocks, electrical hazards can also cause explosions and falls injuries, so it’s never been more important to mitigate your risks.
Luckily, it’s relatively straightforward to prevent electrical hazards in the workplace. Read on to find out how.
Installing and maintaining safe equipment
Under the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, employers are responsible for ensuring all electrical equipment has been installed and maintained properly.
When installing your equipment, it’s firstly paramount that a competent person is undertaking the installation. That means they must be specially trained and certified to carry out the work. As part of the installation, your designated person should ensure that all electrical wires are adequately insulated and that any damaged cords are taken out of service immediately, especially in wet environments.
Once your equipment is properly installed, it’s important to make sure that electrical equipment is maintained to prevent accidents. All the electrical devices in your office should be regularly checked for damage. If they show signs of damage, it’s crucial they are removed immediately and given to a competent professional for repair.
Whilst your chosen person is carrying out repairs, it’s important that they are wearing high visibility clothing so they can be seen at all times. They should also be wearing appropriate work clothing whenever they are onsite to protect themselves.
Increase employee awareness of electrical hazards
It’s not just electricians that are responsible for mitigating risks in the workplace. In fact, a core component of ensuring a safe workplace is ensuring your staff know how to identify faulty equipment and how to use equipment correctly. Although it may sound simple, showing your colleagues how not to overload sockets and identify fraying electricity cables and rattling plugs can go a long way in preventing accidents.
In conclusion
The bottom line is that no business can afford to forget about electrical safety at work. As an employer, it is your duty to prevent and mitigate against electrical risks in the workplace. But the good news is that by correctly installing, using and maintaining equipment, you can create a safer workplace for all involved.
