Electrical Safety

What can you do to prevent ELECTRICAL ACCIDENTS?

• Ground your equipment. Grounding drains the dangerous current leaks into the earth. An electrical device is grounded if the cord has a 3-wire plug & requires a 3-way receptacle to accommodate it. Equipment grounding is especially important on metal surfaces. (Equipment need not be grounded if it is double insulated; a label usually indicates this.)

• Always remove cords from receptacles by the plug; pulling cords damages them. Do not pinch cords in doors, drawers, equipment, etc. this causes damage.

• Don't allow electrical cords on hallways floors where they’re walked on, or oil / grease spilled on them; this increases, damage & the possibility of accidents.

• Inspect electrical equipment before using it. Look for broken / bent plugs, frayed cords, bare wires, smoke, sparks from switches or controls, liquids spilled in or on equipment, or erratic operation. If you notice these defects, or if you feel a tingle at controls, don't use it; send it for repair. It’s not just a shock hazard, defective equipment can cause property fires.

• IF YOU SEE IT, REPORT IT:
o Bare wires or conductors.
o Missing junction box covers.
o Broken receptacles & covers.
o Holes in electrical panels, junction boxes or receptacles where knockouts have been removed.
o Spliced electrical cords.
o Cords with missing ground prongs.