How to avoid electrical hazards at work?

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Never miss with electricity

Electrical hazards are around us every where, i.e at home, at work and even at markets and shops. So its important to know electrical hazard around you. In this article I will discuss how to avoid electrical hazards at work.

However I’m an electrical engineer with more than ten years experience, I never miss with electricity at home or at work.

Electricity doesn’t know what kind of expert you are, It always wait the chance to chock you or even kill you.

Electrical Hazards Examples

Hazard examples are listed below:

Damaged insulation of electric cords
Repairing an electrical panels while it is energized
Working near overhead power line with heavy truck

Working in electrical work with wet hands
Using old damaged electrical equipment without any safety inspection
Working with hand tools not properly insulated or designed for electrical work

Using electrical measurement tools like AVO-meter with lower voltage rating than the measured source.
Unqualified/unauthorized person work in electrical high voltage panel
Working under rain in an electrical panel

Extension connections without any calculations, that can cause overloading.
Connecting non explosion proof electrical equipment in a classified zone.
Using explosion proof electrical equipment but under the requirements of the zone, like connecting zone 2 device in zone 0 area

Energizing a current transformer while its secondary is open, this is really dangerous hazard that can cause an explosion.
Connecting low voltage device on high voltage source, this will cause device burning and short circuit

Electrical hazards at work

Electrical hazard at work is dangerous and the degree of the hazard depends on the workplace nature. For example working at office has less hazard than working at workshop, construction site or electrical power plant.

How to avoid electrical hazards at office

Always deal with electricity with safety rules to be safe, The following tips are important to avoid electrical hazard if you are working at office.

Don’t fix or maintain any electrical issues or devices at work unless you are electrician or electrical engineer. “Always ask professionals for help“.

Never overload outlets with many devices, Just use one device at one outlet. If it is necessary to use more than one device at the same outlet so you must ask an electrical engineer to check if this is safe.
Check any new devices voltage and current before connecting it to the power. Some devices are designed to work at special voltage so double check before connection.
Read users manual for new devices and check for any electrical safety precautions.

Switch off any unused devices, And its much recommended to unplug unused devices.
If you are using electrical space heaters at office, Make sure it :
- 1 meter away from any flammable material.
- Has auto power off in case of falling on the floor.
- Has a timer for its power off, In case you forget it working and left the office this timer will switch it off.
- Only use high quality space heaters.