At work, at home, at play, electricity powers our world. Electricity is the most common energy source used today and it is very safe - as long as we remember to treat it with respect. Today's workplace covers a broad spectrum of environments. Office buildings, industrial plants, construction sites, and retail businesses are a few examples that illustrate the span of what can be considered the workplace. While working environments differ, they all depend on electricity for many aspects of their operations.
The following list of safety reminders is a compilation of generally accepted practices and should be adapted or modified to address the unique aspects of your working environment, your company policies, and local and/or state and federal regulations.
General Safety Tips
- Keep up to date. It is always important to keep your building's wiring up to date. As your business adds or replaces electrical equipment, it is important that your electrical system is capable of safely handling these changes.
- Inspect regularly. Whether you're working indoors or out, inspect cords and plugs regularly and replace damaged ones. Prevent damage by pulling the plug, not the cord, when unplugging equipment.
- Don't overload. Overloading means overheating and that could cause damage or fire. Limit the amount of equipment plugged into each outlet. Don't exceed the recommended wattage when replacing light bulbs or the recommended amperage when replacing fuses.
- Extension cords are for temporary use. If you must use an extension cord, make sure it is the right capacity for the tool or equipment with which it is used. Keep slack in flexible cords to prevent tension on electrical terminals. Use extension cords with polarized plugs.
- For outdoor use, select tools and equipment with heavier wiring, special insulation and a three-prong, grounded plug.
- Look up above! If you're working with long poles or piping, ladders or antennas, keep yourself and your equipment at least ten feet away from the power lines at all times. Consider all overhead lines to be energized. Be especially careful when setting or removing a ladder. A metal ladder is conductive and should not be used around electricity.
- Indoors or outdoors use appliances, tools, lighting and extension cords approved by a nationally recognized testing laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories.
- Water and electricity don't mix. Water and your body are excellent conductors of electricity. Be sure that outdoor outlets and outlets nears wet areas (kitchen, lavatory, garage, etc.) have ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) to prevent serious shock injuries. If you're using equipment that sprays water, avoid spray contact with overhead lines. Never step into a flooded area if water is in contact with electrical outlets, equipment, or cords.
- Lock out accidents. As a general practice, unplug tools and equipment before cleaning, adjusting, or repairing them. Lock the power switch in the "off" position and pull fuses to prevent another person or a time clock from starting equipment under repair. Replace guards over augers, chains and belts before unlocking or re-fusing the power switch. Always follow the lockout, tagout and grounding procedures appropriate for your work environment.
- Wear protective clothing and equipment and use insulated tools in areas where there are possible electrical hazards.
- Beware of hydrogen gas. A small amount of hydrogen gas is almost always present in a battery case. Flames, smoking, or sparks from jumper cables can touch off an explosion that will send battery acid and case fragments flying. Use jumper cables properly, making the last clamp on (and first clamp off) to the motor or frame, rather than to the terminals of the weak battery.
- Prevent stray voltage. On a farm, insufficient or improper grounding, unbalanced electrical loads or faulty electrical equipment may cause stray voltage. Have a licensed electrician test the wiring and connections in your farm buildings and equipment. Stray voltage may also be caused by off-farm sources. If your electrician confirms that the neutral-to-earth voltage problem is caused by an off-farm source, please call us at 1.800.477.4747.
- Protect yourself. Electrical safety is important wherever you work, but it is especially important if you work out of doors with cranes, harvesters, or other tall equipment. Before beginning work, always survey the job site carefully. Anticipate electrical hazards and plan around them. State and federal safety standards exist to protect workers and provide safe working conditions near power lines. Follow them.
- Before you dig, call Miss Dig at 1.800.482.7171. State law requires that you contact Miss Dig at least 72 hours before beginning any excavating work. Miss Dig will arrange to have the utility locations marked, free of charge.
Other Considerations
- Frequently blown fuses or tripped circuits are symptoms of electrical problems, usually overloaded outlets or circuits. Don't ignore the symptoms; you could be ignoring a fire hazard. Consult a licensed electrician for assistance.
- When replacing lamps and bulbs, verify that the replacement matches fixture requirements.
- Adapt this list of reminders to fit your working environment.
- Establish a written electrical safety program for implementing important safety tips.
For more information, order or download one of our informative safety brochures.
