Tuesday 5 April 2011

Electrical Safety Tools

Being safe around electricity is a necessity for workers. Loose wires or mishandling electrical equipment will seriously injur or kill a person. Even with modest protective gear, such as gloves or goggles, injuries from electricity can still occur. Nevertheless, recommended or advised electrical safety tools will help increase a worker's chances of avoiding electrical shocks. Tools may include handheld devices used during electrical maintenance or gear worn while working around electricity.

Insulated Tools
One of the best preemptive tools against being electrocuted are insulated tools. Insulated tools are usually insulated with non-metallic products that minimize the chance of electrical shock. Tools such as drills can be insulated or even double-insulated with plastics. However, caution is still needed, as electrical sparks may occur from handling electrical wires haphazardly.

Electrical Cords
How an electrical cord is handled will determine the safety of a worker. Like insulated tools, electrical cords should be insulated with plastic. Any exposure, such as a cut on the insulation, increases the likelihood of an electrical shock. Also, workers must use cords carefully. Never unplug the cord of a device if the device is on since this could cause an electrical shock. Also, never pull a cord too violently, since this can cut internal wires in the cord.

RCD - Earth Trip
Another electrical safety tool is the RCD / Earth trip, when it detects that electrical flow is unbalenced it turns off all electrical activity to your tool. This minimizes the chances of severe electrical shock,

Inspect Tools Consistently
Probably the biggest tip for any worker is to consistently inspect their tools before using them. Making sure all cords are still insulated properly is a good way to avoid shock. Also, if any moisture or water is on a tool, wipe off the water and wait for the tool to dry before plugging it into any electrical outlet.

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