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Electrical safety
Electricity is a vital source of power in contemporary, automated offices. However, electrical equipments can prove to be risky and can cause severe shock and burn injuries if not utilized or maintained in the proper manner.
Electricity moves by means of electrical conductors. The conductors can be in the form of wires or parts of the human body. Skin that is moist together with the majority of metals, present little resistance to the flow of electrical current and can without difficulty conduct electricity. When a portion of the body comes in contact with an electrical circuit a shock will occur. The electrical current penetrates the body at one place and leaves at another. The movement of electricity through the body can result in extreme pain, burns, damage to tissue, nerves, muscles and even death. Electrical mishaps generally take place due to defective or malfunctioning equipment, insecure installation or mishandling of equipment by office workers.
Ungrounded equipments
- Electrical hazards often result from equipments that are ungrounded.
- The majority of equipments that are fixed for example large, stationary machines must be grounded.
- Most of the office equipments that are presently used are manufactured with grounded, three-prong plugs as a safety measure.
- It is crucial that that the grounding prong should not be removed from any threeprong plug.
Insufficient or overloaded outlets are also sources of electrical hazards. Fires can result from overloading electrical circuits and extension cords. Space heaters, microwaves and refrigerators should by no means be plugged into an extension cord or multiple power tap intended as surge protector for computers.
Electrical hazards may also be caused by unsafe and non-approved equipment Workers should not utilize or carry to work coffee makers, radios, lamps which are badly maintained, insecure or poor in quality and not sanctioned by a recognized testing laboratory. These types of electrical devices can trigger electrical shorts and produce fire and shock hazards. Equipment and cords should be examined frequently and a competent individual should make any essential repairs.
Defective or incorrectly installed cords can also lead to electrical hazards in offices. Electrical cords should be checked on a regular basis for fraying and for uncovered wiring. Wires that are not properly covered can result in shocks. Damaged cords should be substituted with fresh ones.
Electrical cords should never be positioned on radiators, steam pipes, walls or windows. One should be cautious with connections behind furniture. Care should taken so that files and bookcases are not placed closed to plugs in electrical outlets since files and book cases can bend the cord at the plug by exerting pressure on them.
In order to minimize electrical hazards extension cords should not be used on a permanent basis should be unplugged while not in use. One should take appropriate measures to prevent the extension cords from spreading across walkways or aisles.