World day for safety and health at work – how can electricians prioritise their safety?

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As a professional electrician, you play a crucial role in ensuring homes, offices, hospitals, venues, and all manner of other services used daily operate in a correct, efficient and – most importantly – safe manner.

However, it is a profession that by its very nature is fraught with risk. Electrical workers are exposed to potentially dangerous situations and environments every day. As a result, this has long been recognised as an issue that needs a centralised, industry-wide consistent approach to tackle.

The National Electrical Code (NEC) was established back in 1897 to help protect workers from the dangers of electrical hazards and today, industry standards and practices are contained within NFPA 70E. Initially released in 1979, the NFPA 70E Standard has continued to be updated since, highlighting the standard for electrical safety in the workplace.

On the 28th of April each year, we celebrate World Day for Safety and Health at Work. The International Labour Organization focuses on a timely theme related to occupational safety and health – this year, it will be exploring and raising awareness of the impacts of climate change on occupational safety and health.

Climate change is something that will impact so many different facets of our personal and professional lives.

As an increasing number of people are going to require electricity and new alternative energy equipment needs to be installed, there will be an increased need for electricians. The number of electrician jobs is projected to climb by nine percent through 2026, according to the BLS.

This makes developing safety procedures, guidelines, work practices, and standards even more crucial, given more people will be risking injury to provide electricity to the masses.

At Schneider Electric, we believe we have a responsibility to support ongoing education around safety in the workplace for professional electricians. To coincide with World Day for Safety and Health at Work, we want to share some top tips for creating a safe working environment and safety-conscious routines when working with electricity.

Utilise Safety Clothing & Equipment

Ensuring you’re outfitted with adequate and dependable safety gear should be a cornerstone of workplace safety and the first part of any routine for those dealing with electricity in a professional sense.

Insulated gloves are a perfect example – serving as a vital shield, safeguarding your hands from potentially hazardous electrical currents. Equally essential is the inclusion of flame-retardant equipment, given the ever-present possibility of fires and sparks in everyday tasks.

Remember, your personal protective equipment acts as your frontline defence should any unforeseen circumstances arise.

Test Before Touching

Ensuring the safety of a circuit or any electrical equipment or component before handling it is of paramount importance.

The most convenient method to gauge the voltage strength is by employing a multimeter, a fundamental tool found in every electrician’s arsenal.

Multimeters offer precise readings, usually in volts, indicating the voltage intensity within the electrical component. This information is crucial in determining whether it’s safe to proceed with handling.

Furthermore, multimeter readings serve as invaluable insights during troubleshooting, shedding light on potential underlying issues.

Follow Procedures to the Letter

For novice electricians, encountering challenges and learning from occasional mishaps is inevitable. But, regardless of how much experience you have, errors can still occur in any profession, at any time.

While such experiences may result in physical discomfort, they often serve as invaluable lessons, reinforcing the importance of avoiding repeated mistakes and highlighting the need for continued personal development.

Comprehensive training programs are available, that equip electricians with the necessary skills and knowledge to perform their duties proficiently whilst also highlighting the need to prioritize safety, while effectively completing tasks.

At Schneider Electric, we’re here to help, with both on-demand and in-class training courses, and webinars available to access via the mySchneider Electrician Programme.

Only Use Equipment for its Specific Purpose

Tools are meticulously crafted by manufacturers to fulfil specific roles or with certain tasks in mind, and deviating from their intended use can result in damaged equipment or even personal injury.

It’s important to recognize that each tool serves a unique purpose; for instance, attempting to substitute a screwdriver for a multimeter is not only ineffective but also potentially hazardous.

Schneider Electric is committed to driving innovation and accelerating sustainability, with a purpose firmly rooted in these values.

We also prioritise safety for end-users and development stages, constantly working with home builders, electricians and even designers to provide the best digital technologies for our ever-changing world.

Specialized safety products, like Residual Current Circuit Breakers (RCCBs), Surge Protection Devices (SPDs), and Arc Fault Detection devices (AFDDs), ensure maximum safety for electrical panels by preventing power wastage, electrocution, power surge damage, and electrical fires caused by faulty appliances and circuits.

Schneider Electric offers a range of RCCB, SPD and AFDD products to ensure round electrical protection, such as The Easy9 and Resi9 ranges, as well as the Acti9 Active family of all-in-one protection devices with in-built residual circuit devices, miniature circuit breakers, and AFDDs.

Read our recent blog ensuring electrical safety at home.

For more information on Schneider Electric’s range of solutions, visit www.se.com