Electrical Safety Month

5/9/2016 (Permalink)

May is National Electrical Safety Month and a good time review electrical safety practices. Increasing electrical safety awareness, following electrical safety guidelines, and using tools and technology designed to address electrical hazards are all components of a safety program. What causes the top electrical hazards? Many are the result of the growing use of electrical power, combined with electrical systems that are over 20 years old. Wiring hazards are both a major cause of electrocutions and home fires, killing hundreds and injuring thousands each year. Misuse of surge suppressors, power strips and extension cords is also a cause of electrocutions and fires. Contact with power lines and major appliances contribute to hundreds of deaths annually, both at home and in the workplace. Eliminating these electrical hazards will help reduce deaths and injuries. Eliminating electrical hazards begins with education and awareness. A focus on electrical safety, both at home and in the workplace, can prevent the hundreds of deaths, thousands of injuries and billions of dollars in economic losses that occur each year because of electrical hazards. Use of tools and technology can also make our reliance on electrical power less hazardous. Investing in ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs), arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs), circuit testers and where necessary, personal protective equipment (PPE), can significantly reduce risk.

Electrical safety tips to help avoid tragic and costly injuries:

Use appliances and equipment according to the manufacturer's instructions. 

Replace damaged electrical equipment or have it repaired at an authorized repair center. 

Make sure power strips, cords and surge suppressors are designed to handle the loads for their intended use.

Avoid overloading circuits by plugging too many items into the same outlet.

Use ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) protection when working where water is near electricity to protect against electric shock.

AVOID OUTDOOR ELECTRICAL HAZARDS AT WORK AND HOME

Warmer weather brings an increase in outdoor work in many parts of the country, both on the job and at home. Increasing electrical safety awareness can help ensure those activities do not result in injuries and deaths, according to the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI).

ESFI notes that following safety rules can reduce electrical deaths and injuries:

Ladders—even those made of wood—that contact a power line can prove fatal.

Unplug outdoor tools and appliances when not in use.

Inspect power tools and appliances for frayed cords, broken plugs and cracked or broken housing and repair or replace damaged items

Water does not mix with electricity. Avoid damp conditions — including wet grass — when using electricity.

Content Credit: ccd.fnal.gov/