Be Aware of Electrical Fire Hazards

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Chapter :- Electrical Safety 

Electrical Fire Hazards

Electricity is silent, invisible, and potentially fatal, so it deserves the utmost respect. Never ever take electricity for granted, and never assume a circuit is dead.

Many electrical problems can be detected before they cause a fire or harm someone. To better ensure electrical fire safety, learn to be alert and pay attention to any irregular electrical function. Most electrical fires are caused by faulty electrical outlets and old, outdated appliances. Other fires are started by faults in appliance cord, receptacles and switches. Never use an appliance with a worn or frayed cord which can send heat onto combustible surfaces like floors, materials stored and other parts of building / machineries that can start a fire.

Adherence to fire safety Rules / Guidelines is crucial for fire prevention. Understand the requirements of electrical safety and make sure workplace is in compliance

1. Accessibility - Always ensure accessibility to electrical control panels. Material or equipment stored in front of the panels would hinder the shutdown of power in an emergency Also, never block sprinklers, firefighting equipment or emergency exits and observe clearances when stacking materials.
2. Good housekeeping - Clutter not only provides fuel for fires, but also prevents access to exits and emergency equipment. Keep your workplace clutter-free.
3. Proper waste disposal - Discard fire hazards like oily rags by placing them in a covered metal container and emptying it on a regular basis.
4. Maintenance - Make sure the machines in your workplace are properly maintained to prevent overheating and friction sparks. SO ensure it should be installed and maintained by trained electricians.
5. Report electrical hazards - Unless you are qualified and authorized, you should never attempt electrical repairs. Faulty wiring and malfunctioning electrical equipment are key contributors to workplace fires.
6. Safe chemical use & storage - Always read the label and the Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) to assess flammability and other fire hazards of a substance. When using and storing chemical materials, always do so in an area with adequate ventilation.
7. Precautions in explosive atmospheres - Follow all recommended and required precautions to prevent ignition in potentially explosive atmospheres, such as those containing flammable liquid vapors or fine particles. These precautions include nonsparking tools and proper static electricity control.
8. Emergency numbers - Emergency phone numbers should be displayed in different conspicuous places.

Replace or repair damaged or loose electrical cords.

• Only suitable and authorised electrical supplies and equipment should be used
• Avoid running extension cords across doorways or under carpets.
• Suitable protection such as circuit breakers, fuses, and residual current devices, must always be used, along with the correct load ratings.
• Consider having additional circuits or outlets added by a qualified electrician so you do not have to use extension cords.
• Follow the manufacturer's instructions for plugging an appliance into a receptacle outlet.
• Avoid overloading outlets, Plug only one high-wattage appliance into each receptacle outlet at a time.
• If outlets or switches feel warm, frequent problems with lowing fuses or tripping circuits, or flickering or dimming light, call a qualified electrician.
• Electrical cables should be suspended where practicable to avoid damage and damp (which also reduces a trip hazard).
• Carry out visual checks of plugs, sockets and cables – if any damage is identified then remove from service and report immediately.
• Any cable joins must utilise proper connector blocks, not just insulating tape.
• Never use lighting sockets to power equipment.
• Ensure cables are long enough for the task – they should not be pulled taut.
• The inner insulation of cables should never be visible – the outer insulation should extend into plugs and equipment and fully utilise cable grips.
• Blown fuses should be replaced immediately – never make do with a “bodge” (note: if a replaced fuse immediately blows again then it is indicative of a problem requiring the attention of an electrician).
• For electrical maintenance work ensure the mains supply is disconnected.
• Never overload electrical sockets – one plug per socket!
• Where “emergency stop” switches are present ensure they are tested regularly.