10 May 2022

How to Prevent Electrical Accidents in the Workplace

Have you considered just how many pieces of electrical equipment make up your workspace?

Whether it’s complex wiring, computer stations, machinery or even light switches, you will engage with electrical equipment extensively throughout the working day.

There are many issues and accidents that can arise, so it is important to know how to mitigate the possibility of electrical accidents.

Causes of electrical accidents

There are many, often common, causes of accidents involving electrical equipment. These can include:

Faulty wiring causing electrical fires
Poorly constructed and/or installed electrical equipment that causes issues as a result
Continuing to use cables that are frayed, loose or with exposed wiring
Overheating of equipment
Misuse

These are just a few examples that can lead to an accident in the workplace and need to be correctly assessed and fixed quickly to ensure a safe working environment for all.

Type of electrical accidents

These situations can lead to any number of injuries and ailments but the most common to be associated with electrical equipment malfunctions include electrical burns, thermal burns, and/or loss of muscle control.

How can these accidents be prevented?

When in the workplace environment, there are ways to mitigate issues arising due to electrical equipment.

The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 covers electrical safety in the workplace in the UK and requires companies to achieve electrical safety compliance in areas such as electrical safety at work, maintaining electrical equipment, and safe working practices.

These requirements help to mitigate the potential risks involved, with other factors helping this. Some are obvious:

Installation of wiring and equipment should only be done by qualified and licensed electricians.
Avoiding wet conditions around electrical equipment usage

But sometimes overlooked methods are just as important: