Electrical safety procedures for a safe workplace

By law, every business has a responsibility to ensure a safe workplace for its staff. One crucial element of this is electrical safety, with injury and death from electrocution an avoidable, but all too frequent, occurrence in Australian workplaces.

Malcolm Richards, CEO of Master Electricians Australia, talks about the basic electrical procedures you can adopt to ensure a healthy and happy office environment that's not only good for staff wellbeing, but also for your bottom line.

Put safety on the agenda 

According to Malcolm, safe electrical procedures should be the business of every member of staff. "There should be a component of your occupational health and safety (OH&S) induction program that's dedicated to electrical safety," he says.

While all workplaces are different, there are some basics that can be covered in most offices, such as the location of safety switches and procedures for when the power goes off. Also provide some commonsense rules for the use of electrical equipment, such as:

• Keep electrical equipment away from water taps and sinks unless designed for this purpose
• Keep electrical equipment away from combustible materials and excessive heat
• Make sure power boards are used sensibly: only one per power point
• Regularly inspect electrical leads, casings and plugs around your workstation for damage and wear and tear

Test and tag regularly

Because many electrical faults and hazards are invisible to the naked eye, a regular program of testing and tagging by a qualified professional is essential.

"Testing and tagging is actually a regulatory requirement," says Malcolm. "Rules vary from state to state, but generally all equipment should be tested and tagged every 12 months."

Equipment used in wet areas, like toasters, kettles and hand dryers, may need to be tested more frequently, so check with your local authority to be sure.

Install safety switches

Safety switches save lives, so apply them liberally. "I strongly suggest that, in an office set-up, you have a safety switch on every circuit," says Malcolm.

If cost cutting is your concern, bear in mind that, in some states, a safety switch on each power board eliminates the need to test and tag that device. Check in your state to see what the rules are.

Don't be complacent

In the modern, fast-paced workplace, electrical devices are subject to an enormous amount of wear and tear. But, by making electrical safety procedures a regular part of your OH&S training, you can prevent costly, life-threatening faults.

"Ongoing safety meetings should have electrical issues on the agenda," says Malcolm. "Ultimately a safe, well-designed office will result in happy and productive employees."

Talk to an electrical contractor today about devising electrical safety procedures appropriate for your workplace.