Promoting Electrical Safety Around the Office | SERVPRO® of Western Dutchess County

8/6/2020 (Permalink)

Overloading outlets is a huge fire risk in any business, don't take the chance!

Most Wappingers Falls, Fishkill, Beacon and Poughkeepsie business owners are likely familiar with the fire codes they have to adhere to in order to make sure their business is as safe as possible, but outside of fire codes, there are still necessary fire safety steps to take.

Fire safety if something you can work on yourself and with your employees to make sure the space is as safe as possible for everyone present. Especially if your building contains an office where many electronics are in use, educating everyone on electrical safety is a great fire prevention strategy.

Electrical Fire Safety in the Workplace

As a business owner, doing your part for fire safety and educating your employees so they can do the same go hand in hand. Having your facilities regularly inspected by a licensed electrician is a good place to start, and keep an eye out for areas that could use the installation of additional outlets so you are not relying too heavily on power strips or extension cords in their place. Additionally, the majority of electrical fire safety tips involve cord management and the safe usage of electronic devices.

Here are some tips you can share with your employees to make sure they are practicing electrical safety throughout their day-to-day tasks:

- Avoid overloading outlets or power strips with several electronics at one time.

- Place all power strips in areas that are well-ventilated, in order to disperse heat.

- Never tie knots in electrical cords.

- Cables should never be placed under carpets or rugs in the workplace.

- Do not plug a power strip into another power strip.

- Make sure that grounded cords are not used with un-grounded outlets.

- If a cord or cable is frayed, halt its use and replace it immediately.

- Always unplug cords by the plug instead of tugging the cable.

- Avoid handling plugs and cables with wet hands.

- If you see smoke or smell burning, stop using electronics immediately until it is identified.

- Alert your manager to any outlets that have loose-fitting plugs.

- Do not rely on extension cords as a long-term power solution.

If you sustain fire damage in the workplace, we are just a phone call away. Contact us at any hour to receive a rapid response to your restoration needs.