Workplace Safety 

Don't Take Power Line Safety For Granted!

A quick review of a few basic power line safety concepts, combined with overall awareness can help reduce the number of accidents each year.

This brochure also lists a number of valuable power line safety resources. Click here to download this brochure.
 

Taking Care on the Job Saves Lives

May is Electrical Safety Month, and since electrical hazards are found everywhere in a commercial business, Ocala Electric Utility wants customers to take electrical safety seriously. OEU believes strongly in electrical safety education. As you can imagine, it is an essential daily practice for our employees, and because they face potentially dangerous work every day each OEU employee receives approximately 40 hours of safety training each year.

OEU is just as concerned about public safety and the safety of our customers. According to the National Electrical Safety Foundation (NASF), workplace safety has a direct correlation with education. Each year we address electrical safety through various communication programs including public speaking, articles in Current Matters newsletters, visiting with school groups, posting information on ocalaelectric.com, distributing electrical safety brochures and participating in community events promoting electrical safety.

Electrical accidents rank sixth among all causes of work-related deaths in the U.S.

In the workplace, electrical safety conditions should be monitored closely and taken very seriously. OEU encourages customers to understand the basic principles for electrical safety, have an appreciation for the power of electricity and practice plenty of "good sense" when dealing with electricity. Often, businesses and even large corporations have electrical work performed by their employees for which they may not be totally qualified to perform. Though most tasks are considered minor or temporary electrical work, they should always be performed in a safe manner, and according to all applicable codes and standards.

The following guidelines ensure a safer work place:

Electrical Hazard Prevention

Reducing and eliminating exposure to electrical hazards requires constant attention. Safety is everyone's responsibility - employers and employees - safe electrical environments make good personal as well as business sense.

• Be aware of physical barriers around energy sources such as fences and insulators on conductors.
• Keep work areas clean and dry.
• Cluttered work areas and benches invite accidents and injuries.

Establish management policies:

• Who is responsible for electrical safety at your workplace?
• How is electrical safety dealt with at the site?
• How is the staff trained?
• What are the qualifications for people working on and around electrical equipment?

Ensure the implementation of policy documents:

• Be sure they are site and task specific
• Make sure that all employees can recognize hazards
• Plan guidelines and educate employees about how to respond to electrical accidents

Safe Work Practices

Set up a schedule to walk through your business on a regular basis to look for potential electrical dangers. It only takes a few minutes to look for and correct electrical safety hazards - a few minutes to prevent one accident because it can take a lifetime to overcome severe injuries from electrical shocks.

Be safe when working around electricity by:

• Planning every job
• Asking yourself, "Do I have the skills, knowledge, tools and experience to do this work safely?"
• Thinking about what could go wrong
• Always using caution when working near electricity
• Following all instructions and warnings
• Never doing repairs unless authorized and qualified
• Turning off electricity before inspecting or repairing
• Testing every circuit, every conductor, every time before touching it
• Using proper personal protective equipment
• Avoiding overhead and underground hazards
• Using caution when electricity is around water
• Knowing the location of and how to use fire equipment

Evaluate all equipment on the worksite by:

• Insulating metal and other conductors of electricity
• Checking for exposed or defective wires
• Guarding equipment with exposed parts
• Grounding all electrical systems
• Isolating the equipment from energy sources
• Using circuit protection and lockout/tagout devices
• Properly maintaining electrical equipment
• Always using appropriate tools as directed by the manufacturer
• Using non-conductive tools whenever possible
• Using personal protective equipment as a last line of defense in case something goes wrong
• Reporting equipment problems immediately

Electrical Safety Documents

Many national organizations are committed to developing standards, regulations and guidelines that include electrical safety requirements. Employers should encourage their workers to familiarize themselves with any documents that are required to be posted in the workplace and the organizations responsible for their development.

Electrical Safety Principles

It is easy to think that it is alright to practice electrical work simply because we have "seen it done a million times" and have never had a bad experience. Remember it only takes one touch to put you or an employee in sudden danger - the danger of electrical shock or death. If you are not already doing so, OEU encourages you to start electrical safety training classes at your place of business.