DID YOU KNOW: May is Electrical Safety Month
According to the United States Department of Labor, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) reports that following proper Lockout/Tagout procedures prevents an estimated 120 fatalities and 50,000 injuries each year.
There are four main types of electrical injuries:
> Electrocution (fatal)
> Electric shock
> Burns
> Falls caused because of contact with electrical energy
Here are some important steps to take to prevent critical injuries:
- Plan the job – Make sure you understand the construction and operations of the electrical equipment so you can plan before you start.
- Ensure all participants are qualified for the job – Communicate with your workers and ensure all participants are aware of the electrical equipment.
- Identify potential hazards – Identify all possible energy sources that could pose on-the-job hazards.
- Protect yourself and wear correct PPE – Use appropriate protective equipment as a defense, (hats, gloves, goggles, work boots, flame-resistant shirts and pants or arc flash equipment if you are working on thinks energized, safety glasses, and face shields if warranted).
- Lockout/Tagout – Use Weifield standard protection procedures.
- Test the circuit – Verify that the equipment or system has been de-energized.
- Verify the testing device – Make sure your test equipment is working, before and after you use it.
If at any time the job becomes more hazardous than first anticipated, stop and revise the job plans.
Additionally — those who are not trained under the supervision of a qualified electrician, or in accordance with electrical safety procedures, shall at all costs avoid contact with energized electrical equipment and systems.
Never assume the equipment or system is de-energized. Hazardous conditions still exist and make sure you always test before you touch! Remember to think — safety first.
Weifield’s employees need to make sure we always test every circuit every time we begin working on a new circuit or and existing circuit that has been deenergized.
Work Safe – It’s that simple!
