Electrical Safety Tips: Commercial Buildings

Since commercial buildings use substantially more electricity than residences, the opportunities for accidents is comparatively increased.  Of these accidents, fires rank high and electrical fires are consistently in the top five causes. In that case, you can quickly get in touch with an emergency electrician in caringbah to keep the situation under control.  It makes sense that safety is a paramount consideration for all.  Besides the primary mandate of keeping employees safe, accident-free projects have additional benefits such as decreased insurance and WCB premiums and an impressive reputation for the business.

Regular inspections should be part of any safety protocols set up for a commercial site or any site for that matter.  Faulty and outdated wiring is one of the leading causes of electrical fires. This is just one of the reasons why it is essential to have regular inspections from professionals like beaumontelectrical.com.au. Methodical and conscientious investigations can identify potential dangers so they can be repaired. Hazards that are not located or ignored will be the cause of future accidents.

Some of the following steps can be taken by staff to support the safety efforts of the company.

Monitor for damaged outlets.   Outlets, or receptacles, have neutral, hot, and ground connections.  These receptacles are prone to normal wear and tear.   When they wear out, the metal contact points lose their grip onto the cords. When this happens, the wall outlets build up heat. Over time this can cause blowups and fires. Signs that you need to replace your wall outlets include cracks, discolouration, flickering lights, plugs falling out, sparks or buzzing sounds, burning smell.

Worn and frayed cords are fire-starters.  When a cable is frayed, the wires are stripped and become visible. Without the protective covering, the electrical current is exposed. It can cause extreme heating, which can ignite combustible materials that may be close.  Things that may be close are curtains, carpet, rugs, papers on a desk.  So, cords must be checked frequently; replace frayed cords on all electrical items.

Most households and businesses use extension cords.  The problem is that extension cords are not all made to handle a massive load of electricity.  An overload can lead to shocks and/or fires.  Plugging one extension into another for further reach is even a bigger accident waiting to happen. Avoid extension cords as much as possible.  If additional outlets are needed, get an Commercial electrician to add them.  It could save things in the long run.

Commercial appliances vary in the watts used, and the types of devices depend on the kind of business. Varying fixtures and appliances have different electricity consumption.  They run on different amp levels in a circuit.  A circuit might not be able to handle too much current from all of the appliances at the same time. The extra current can cause the insulation to melt, which can start a fire.  So, circuits are connected to a circuit breaker, which stops the flow of excess current by tripping.   It is essential to install designated circuit breakers to handle different groups of fixtures and appliances.  Turn off appliances and unplug cords when not in use.

Check all equipment before using it.  Inspect the equipment thoroughly before plugging it in or turning it on. Examine the cords for any damage: cuts, cracks or fraying. Make sure that all tools that need to be grounded are grounded.

Education is a critical tool for protecting people and property.  One of the most effective ways to improve electrical safety is to share knowledge about best practises for safety protocols. Regular training should be a requirement for every employee who works with or near electricity.  Employees should learn such things as identifying safety hazards, safe distances from an exposed conductor, proper protocols for working with electricity in wet locations.  All employees need to know the tenets of Alberta’s Occupational Health and Safety guidelines

Just taking a few small precautions can create a safer working environment. If everyone takes a vested interest, it will reflect positive results.  It is often worth it to call in the professionals to give the commercial space an inspection.  They know what they are looking for.  Calgary’s Crew Electrical Services would be pleased to inspect your property.  If any issues are found, they have the expertise to fix it quickly and efficiently. Call us at 403-778-0720.