May is upon us, which means it is time for National Electrical Safety Month. TheElectrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) has been celebrating National Electrical Safety Month every year in May for many years. Each year there is a theme, with the 2014 theme being: Back to Basics with Electricity Safety Illustrated.
Not only is it important for individuals to remember proper electrical safety, but businesses as well. Every year, there are 438 deaths and over 1,400 injuries caused by home and business fires, totaling more than $1.47 billion in property damage.
ESFI is a non-profit organization that promotes public awareness of electrical hazards in the workplace, at schools, and at home. They sponsor the National Electrical Safety Month every May.
The ESFI offers resources for every important group, including for business owners and their employees, as well as children, older adults, homeowners, and consumers. These resources and the celebration in May is in place to inform others of the importance of electrical safety and preventing the common electrical hazards existing in your business or home. Resources provided by the ESFI educate on creating a disaster plan in the workplace, common hazards that occur in the spring season, and how flooding and lightning can be disastrous to your business.
Among the included resources are a National Electrical Safety Month quiz, understanding the difference between ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) and arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs), tips for looking out for counterfeit electrical products, and understanding tamper resistant receptacle (TRR) technology. National Electrical Safety Month not only allows your business to thrive and avoid potentially dangerous and hazardous situations, but help out your fellow community as well. You educate your employees to prevent hazards in the workplace, while they also use this education to bring home to their families.
How to Improve Your Electrical Safety
All of the resources and tips you need to improve electrical safety in the workplace is provided by EFSI. These resources include a list of standards and best practices, de-energize tips, an office safety checklist, electrical safety self-assessment, Arc flash awareness, and personal protective equipment. They also provide the following tips:
- Develop a safety plan, communicating it to your employees.
- Learn more about how electrical equipment works and the hazards involved, with any electrical equipment you have in the workplace.
- Identify the different hazards in your workplace provided by energy sources.
- Have electrical testing equipment checked and be sure it works before using it.
- Stop using any hazardous electrical sources in the workplace.
- Always use proper personal protective equipment at all times.
Aside from following these important tips and utilizing resources for National Electrical Safety Month, protect your business with business insurance in the event of an electrical fire or other electrical risks.
