Additionally, if it’s determined that an employer did not follow proper electrical safety practices, it may be the target of regulatory penalties, lawsuits, or even criminal prosecution.

Electricity is incredibly common in the modern workplace, as are electrical hazards. With that in mind, it’s crucial that employees engage in proper electrical safety practices. Here’s how.

Safety policies exist for a reason. To keep your employees safe, establish safety rules that encompass the following areas:

According to an OSHA training document, an electrical hazard is anything that has the potential to directly expose an employee to unshielded electric current, resulting in an electric shock or burn. Even voltages as low as 3 milliamperes can cause indirect or secondary injuries; the higher the voltage, the greater the chance of a fatality. Electrical hazards, which are associated with electrical systems, also have the potential to cause fires and explosions, as well as short circuits and injury from exposure to live parts.

To protect your employees from electrical hazards, always ensure that anyone who’s not both properly trained and wearing the right personal protective equipment (PPE) stays far away from live currents, especially if they’re greater than 50 volts. This is best accomplished through the use of physical barriers.

Although most people don’t have to deal with life-threatening electrical hazards in their workplace, that doesn’t mean they aren’t at risk. Improperly-maintained electrical cords and appliances can cause electric shocks and even cause a fire. For that reason, make sure everyone knows how to properly maintain their electrical equipment.

A little knowledge goes a long way. If your employees must deal with electrical hazards as part of their day-to-day, proper safety training should be a cornerstone of your onboarding process. It’s imperative that everyone is adequately trained, from workers to project managers and site supervisors.

We enable a data-focused approach that gives you company-wide visibility into employee safety, allowing you to track and monitor every hazard, electrical or otherwise. You can also track corrective actions, schedule follow-ups, and empower everyone in your workplace to take a more active role in safety and maintaining a safe working environment. Start your 14-day free trial today to learn more.

Electrical equipment is so ubiquitous in our day-to-day lives that it’s easy to forget how dangerous it can be when it’s improperly used, handled, or maintained. Electricity is part of the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s “Fatal Four,” representing the third leading cause of workplace annual workplace deaths. The good news is that most people don’t routinely have to deal with the most common hazards of electricity, but it is important to be aware and take precautions, such as proper grounding and the use of electrical tools, to reduce the risk of injury.

There’s also Insulating Protective Equipment (IPE), commonly used by contractors and engineers working on power lines. IPE includes, but is not limited to:

The nature of electrical hazards varies by industry, as do their requisite safety precautions. With that said, there are certain general best practices every workplace can — and should — follow.

Electrical safety is a catch-all term for any precaution that mitigates electrical hazards. Typically, electrical safety practices are defined and enforced by a government or industry regulator such as OSHA. Employers are expected to adhere to electrical safety regulations and train their employees accordingly.

We spend so much time around electricity, it’s easy to forget how dangerous it can be. To help your employees avoid a potentially tragic accident, it’s best to be proactive and build a safety compliance checklist. That’s where we come in.

PPE is essential for anyone who routinely works with or around electrical hazards such as wiring or power lines. Where electrical hazards are concerned, protective equipment typically comes in two flavors. Electrical PPE is the most common, and includes:

Professionals working in the construction, utility, and manufacturing sectors face far greater risks. They must routinely work around electrical lines, exposed wiring, and high-voltage equipment. For these employees, a thorough understanding of electrical hazards can be a matter of life or death.

First and foremost, always keep cabinet doors on electrical panels tightly secured, and ensure there are no openings with exposed wiring. Depending on the nature of an electrical hazard, you may also want to use barriers, shields, or insulation parts for added protection when performing electrical maintenance or repairs. Secure any exposed parts and maintain proper guarding mechanisms and proper signage at all times alerting people to the nature of a potential hazard, especially when performing electrical work. Safety barriers and signs must also be installed to warn nearby non-electrical workers of the hazards present in the area.