If you own or manage a commercial building, maintenance of any kind will seem like a full-time job. While they are all important, prioritizing your building’s commercial electrical safety will be one of the best investments you will make.
Too much is at stake when things go wrong with your electrical system. Power outages, power surges, or fires are what you want to avoid at all costs. When other people’s lives are involved, safety is key.
Tips to Ensure Commercial Electrical Safety
Staying one step ahead of problems is the best solution when it comes to electrical problems.
Get Inspections
Get your commercial property inspected twice a year. A good rule is spring and fall. That way, you have time to get any repairs done before the weather turns and your electricians get too busy.
It is far better to have things inspected when everything seems fine. If there are concerns, they can be addressed and will cost you much less than waiting until something goes wrong.
Education
Have professionals come in or your maintenance team educate people on what’s needed for commercial electrical safety. People make silly mistakes all the time and don’t see any problem. Perhaps they do the same thing at home without a problem.
The problem you face is that there are far more people using electricity, many of them, incorrectly. People need to be aware of:
- Overloading sockets
- Too many extension cords
- Faulty appliances
- How to recognize potential problems
- What to do in case of an emergency
- Avoid getting cords or appliances wet
- The penalties for breaking the guidelines
Employees should not be using extension cords and power bars to stretch to their work area to charge their phone, plug in a kettle, or use a space heater. These can be very dangerous. More so if left unattended, even for a minute.
All employees and residence need to be aware of the dos and don’t when it comes to electricity. It’s up to everyone to make sure they are all safe.
Handle all Problems Immediately
If there are breakers that keep tripping, power outages, flickering lights, power surges, people getting shocks, or certain areas where lights or power isn’t always working, get it looked at right away.
These are never things that can wait until Monday. A small problem can lead to a bigger one and that not only costs you more money, but it risks lives and building damage.
Check all Equipment, Cords, and Outlets
Frayed cords, old printers, phones, and other office equipment should be regularly checked and replaced. Watch for melted or scorched signs on sockets, light switches, or even on older equipment.
This is important to be aware of, as many problems can be hidden behind desks, large appliances, and cabinets. If refrigerators or microwave ovens are causing circuits to trip, or if you need to unplug the toaster over to make coffee, there is a problem that needs to be addressed.
Never Attempt Repairs Yourself
Always try to upgrade where you can. Use appliances, lightbulbs, and anything else you can that have safety features built-in or are new. If you see a problem, always call a professional right away.
If you are concerned that your commercial property is in danger of having major electrical problems, call the pros at Fusion Electric. They can help with upgrades, inspections, repairs, and educate you and the tenants about them using electricity safely.
Don’t take electricity for granted. It will always take care of you as long as you take care of it.
