Important Topics to Cover in Your Next Electrical Safety Toolbox Talk

Do you know what’s great about electricity? It’s everywhere and pretty much the only thing that can power your entire life. Do you know what’s not so great? That it can be dangerous when you don’t know how to handle it.

The first major injury caused by electricity is burns. Burns are caused when your body comes into contact with the electrical source, thermal burns from electricity, and—in some cases—when electrical sparks start fires.

To prevent any of these scenarios, you need to avoid contact with live electricity. Here are some good tips:

• Before using extension cords or power strips, ensure they are in good condition and not damaged.
• All wiring that is exposed should be carefully done by a licensed electrician.
• All high-voltage equipment, such as power lines and substations, must be marked.
• When working around water and electrical appliances, pay extra attention.
• Always wear protective gear, such as rubber gloves and goggles, when working with electricity.
• Always turn off the power before you begin working on a circuit or appliance. Never work with live wires or on broken appliances. If you do need to work around electricity, always have a fire extinguisher nearby.

A static shock occurs when you come into contact with an electrical energy source. When you get a static shock, it can burn you and give you anything from a mild jolt to more serious jolts that, in some cases, can be life-threatening.

Static shocks most commonly occur when working with faulty electrical tools and machinery and coming into contact with faulty power cords. Don’t let sparks fly! Sparks are small, hot flashes of electrical energy that occur when two materials come into contact with each other, which can burn you and cause injury.

Always have someone nearby who can help you in case of an emergency. Check for hidden dangers. Before you begin any job, take a look around and make sure there aren’t any obvious hazards like power cords or open flames that could cause an explosion. If you do find a hazard, don’t work until it’s been removed carefully.

So you’re working on a project and need to cut a hole in the wall. It’s not a big deal, right? Wrong! It could be the worst mistake of your life. Why? Cutting through the walls of an electrical room is like playing Russian roulette with your life (and maybe someone else’s). You don’t know what you might cut into or where the wires run. If you’re lucky, you’ll get an electric shock, leaving you feeling a little tingly for a few seconds. If you’re unlucky, though, you could cause serious injury to yourself or someone else.

Know the difference between live and switched circuits.

Live circuits are those that have electricity flowing through them at all times (like household current). Switched circuits are those that only have power when someone is pushing a button or flipping a switch on or off (like the lights in your home). If you’re working on live circuits, you must be extra careful because the electricity can shock or kill you. If there’s any doubt about whether or not a circuit is live, don’t work on it till you are 100% confident!

If there’s one place where you can’t afford to cut corners, it’s when you’re working at height. A shock from electricity can cause you to fall off a ladder or scaffolding, which can turn a minor injury into a serious hazard that requires medical attention.

When working on a high ladder, pay attention to what you are doing and stay alert for any electrical hazards. Check that any tools you need to use are functioning properly. Keep your common-sense construction wits about you at all times, but especially when at dangerous heights.