SAFETY TIP: Electrical Safety in the Workplace

The Electrical Safety Foundation International presents these tips for electrical workers to help avoid injuries, deaths and property damage caused by workplace electrical hazards:

– Complete a detailed job plan and communicate it to all co-workers.
– Know safety requirements and follow them.
– Understand the construction and operation of the electrical equipment and the hazards involved.
– Identify all possible energy sources that could pose on-the-job hazards.
– Before working on or around electrical systems or equipment, identify the load circuits and disconnect. Remember, in some cases, turning power off may cause other hazards. Such hazards and additional guidance should be addressed in your work plan.
– Select the appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE). Remember, PPE must be worn until the electrical system is in a safe condition.
– Never assume that the equipment or system is de-energized. Remember to always test before you touch.
–  Use lock-out / tag-out procedures.
– Make sure your test equipment is working properly both before and after you use it.
– If at any time the job becomes more hazardous than you had anticipated, stop and revise the plans.
Resources:

Learn more at www.electrical-safety.org.

OSHA NOTICE Lockout Tagout All Power Sources Sign

Following proper Lockout/Tagout procedures and use of Personal Protective Equipment can keep workers safe while on the job.