4 important safety measures while working with electrical equipment

When working with electrical equipment, many important safety measures must be in place to protect you and your staff.

Here, we explore four key safety measures you should implement to ensure your electrical equipment is safe to use.

1 – Adhere to Electrical Safety Regulation

First things first, you need to ensure that all electrical equipment used by your business adheres to the relevant electrical safety regulations.

This includes making sure that the equipment is capable of doing the job, is in good condition, and is suitable for the electrical supply.

You may need to look into electrical standards and approved codes of practice through the Health and Safety Executive. For instance, guidance is available on power, machinery, electrical appliances, and electromagnetic compatibility.

2. Do regular maintenance and testing

It’s extremely important to ensure that all machinery and equipment used by your business is operating safely and efficiently – so regular testing and maintenance is important.

Not only will this minimise health and safety risks to staff, but also ensure your company operates smoothly with less downtime due to breakdowns or equipment failure.

It’s worth undertaking preventative maintenance regularly to check whether your tech is operating safely and fix any minor issues before failures occur. Of course, you should make sure this is carried out by a qualified technician!

3. Undertake safety training

When operating any machinery or tech, it’s important to read the manufacturer’s guidelines to ensure you’re using it properly and for its intended purpose.

You might be able to partake in online or in-person training from the manufacturer to give yourself the necessary tools to use the equipment.

You will also need to provide safety training to your staff members on how to operate electrical items safely. For example, they need to know how to use and operate the equipment, any hazards that are present, and what they need to do to minimise risks.

4. Wear Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

If working with heavy machinery or electrical equipment, your employees need to use personal protective equipment (PPE). For instance, staff members may need to wear work gloves, safety glasses, helmets, high-visibility vests, knee pads, and earplugs while operating heavy machinery.

Make sure that the PPE provides the right level of protection for the job and that it fits the wearer correctly. They should be able to work comfortably while wearing the PPE without it affecting the task at hand.

Keep a regular stock of your PPE and replace any items that are damaged or faulty.

By adhering to electrical regulations, doing regular maintenance and testing, undertaking safety training, and wearing the right PPE, you can help make sure your workplace operates safely and efficiently.