According to HSE – the national independent watchdog for work-related health, safety and illness – over 200 people are killed at work each year and over one million are injured. That’s why it’s important to familiar yourself with the occupational hazards of your job and to stay safe at work. Here are four health and safety tips that should prove useful for electricians:
Wear the correct personal protective equipment (PPE)
Whether you’re rewiring a home or repairing a fuse, it’s essential to wear the right PPE for the job you are doing. Each task is hazardous in its own way, so you must assess the risks and come adequately prepared. Never carry out a job unless you have the right equipment to hand and always replace items that are cracked, chipped or broken – for optimum safety. People search far and wide for a reputable home emergency repairs company and will expect electricians who are sensible and organised.
Download the ESC Safe Isolation App
Regulation 14 of the Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 requires the electricity supply to be effectively isolated while work is carried out on or near electrical equipment (other than in certain specific circumstances) and that suitable safety precautions are taken. To help you comply with the rules, the Energy Saving Council has released a Safe Isolation App which will show you how to achieve safe isolation step-by-step. It’s available on Apple and Android operating devices and is easy to download.
Don’t rely solely on socket-outlet test devices
Did you know that no socket-outlet test device can be relied on alone to provide full assurance that a socket outlet is safe to use. Even the best – with additional components and technology – can’t detect an open ring final circuit, a loose electrical connection, a case of unsatisfactory insulation resistance of circuit conductors or a reversal of the neutral and protective conductors, so additional skills must be used to confirm.
Know what to do if someone receives a shock
Electricians are at risk of electric shocks, so make sure you know what to do in an emergency situation. If you think someone is receiving a shock, separate the person from the source of electricity as quickly as possible. You can do this by turning off the power supply, or by removing the source of electricity with a piece of insulating material. Never touch the person receiving the shock, or you could receive one too. Once that’s done, call the emergency services and administer first aid if necessary.
If you’re an electrician, stay on the ball at all times and keep safe at work.