When you start a business, there are many things you must consider in order to become a success.
However, when you have a physical location, there are rules and regulations you must be compliant with in order to trade legally and ensure the safety of all employees. For many new business owners, it can be a challenge to understand every law they need to bring their company in line with, but we’re here to help. In this guide, we’ll cover what you need to do to ensure electrical safety in your workplace.
Steps For Electrical Safety – Risk Assessment
Every business needs to complete a risk assessment of their premises as it is a legal requirement, and companies with five or more employees are legally obligated to record the findings of their risk assessment. Every type of workplace has hazards that could pose a risk to those working there, and a risk assessment is designed to spot potential dangers in order to help employers identify ways to minimise the risk to health and safety.
Steps For Electrical Safety – Rules And Regulations
The Electricity at Work Regulations 1989 applies to all electricity use within the workplace and places duties on employers to prevent danger by ensuring electrical systems are safely installed and protected. Furthermore, business owners should ensure the continued maintenance of electrical systems to prevent them from becoming dangerous, as well as safety procedures to allow any work on electrical systems to be carried out in a way that prevents hazards.
It is imperative that you have your electrics regularly tested to ensure no hazards have occurred and that you have the appropriate electrical safety certificate as proof of compliance. If you’re not sure where to begin in getting your certificate, head over to electricalsafetycertificate.co.uk.
Steps For Electrical Safety – Reduce Distractions
If your business will be working with large machinery or even electrics themselves, it is imperative that your staff don’t get distracted during their duties. Even when the correct procedures, training and PPE are in place, accidents can happen; if distractions are added to that mix, the likelihood of an accident occurring is significantly increased. Suppose your new business will be dealing with various large machinery; if another working is creating distractions for your staff, it creates a hazard that could result in life-threatening injuries. In this case, you would need to revisit training for your team to ensure they respect the workspaces of other employees.
Steps For Electrical Safety – Staff Training
Staff training is an essential aspect of all health and safety regulations, and it is imperative that you provide proper training to your employees to raise awareness about potential hazards flagged during the risk assessment. Common office hazards include frayed or loose wires, overheating equipment, and unsecured extension cords. If staff spot any problems while working, they should notify the appropriate manager so that the dangers can be assessed and removed.
Steps For Electrical Safety – Avoid Overload
When you first start a business, your office or physical location is typically quite small, and it can be tempting to use as many extension cords and multiple plug adaptors to maximise space. However, doing so could lead to overloaded sockets, which would put you and your employees at risk of harm. It is vital for electrical safety that you do not exceed the maximum load of your plugs or extension leads. If you’re worried about overload and aren’t sure how to check, try this handy calculator.