WRITTEN BY GARY SMITH, APARTMENT BUILDING MANAGEMENT WORKERS COMPENSATION SELF INSURED FUND
Are you and your staff electrical safety aware? Even if your answer is “yes,” you are still highly recommended to read on and make use of a great online electrical safety resource!
Over the last ten years, more than 30,000 workers have been injured in workplace electrical accidents. While electrical hazards are not the leading cause of on-the-job injuries and accidents, they are disproportionately fatal and costly. These injuries not only disrupt the lives of the workers and their families, but also impact the productivity of employers. The good news is that most on-the-job electrocutions and electrical injuries can be prevented by following a few basic steps.
The Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) is recognized as a leading authority on workplace electrical safety (http://www.esfi.org/workplace-safety) and provides the following in a workplace safety series:
• Industrial Codes and Regulations
This section identifies and explains codes and regulations that are relevant to all workplaces including the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), National Electric Code (NEC), and the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, In. (IEEE).
• Standards and Best Practices
Increasing awareness of electrical safety hazards and understanding the importance of following a comprehensive electrical safety program are the critical first steps for improving the electrical safety of your workplace. Under this section, ESFI provides The How Do You Know? video modules to demonstrate how safe electrical practices are vital to everyone in your business. You can use these short video modules to help you communicate the importance of electrical safety to your managers and employees. The topics covered are Electrical Safety Awareness, Arc Flash Awareness (Beware, arc flash can even occur in branch circuits!), De-energizing, Lockout/Tagout, Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and Testing Before you Touch.
• Workplace Injury and Fatality Statistics
To better promote electrical safety in the workplace, ESFI provides statistical data on occupational electrical injuries and fatalities to help decision-makers better allocate safety resources for maximum impact. ESFI’s work builds on earlier work by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), providing new information on electrical incidents as it becomes available. The data in their reports cover U.S. occupational electrical accidents, including the total number of electrical injuries and fatalities, the industries and occupations in which they occurred, and the rates of electrical injury and fatality for selected industries.
• Electrical Safety Self-Assessment
The Electrical Safety Self-Assessment is an electrical safety evaluation tool. It will guide you through a series of questions that will help you assess the effectiveness of your electrical safety program, and identify areas that may require further examination. Think of it as a checklist for your electrical safety program. The Self-Assessment questions focus on three distinct areas: facilities, personnel, and procedures.
• Overhead Power Line Safety
Recognizing the hazards of downed power lines or maintenance work within the proximity of overhead power lines is not always self-evidence. Use this section’s information to make sure you and your staff is fully aware.
Additionally, the ESFI provides electrical safety information for your home, seasonal hazards, your kids, and they include their programs and initiatives, and resource library.
Be sure to spend some time getting familiar with this great online resource and “amp” up your next electrical safety awareness training!
Should you require assistance with electrical safety training, please contact Gary Smith, CRM, at (517) 338-3367 or Gary.Smith@cmi-yorkrsg.com.
References:
1. Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) at http://www.esfi.org/