The Primary Types of Electrical Hazards
When it comes to electrical risk in a commerical or industrial setting, there are two main types of potential hazards – electrical shock and arc flashes.
Electrical Risk Assessment
Mitigate Potential Hazards With A Thorough Risk Assessment
Electrical hazards are one of the leading causes of fires and death in commercial and industrial buildings, as well as new construction projects. Just because a licensed electrician initially performed your electrical work doesn’t mean that your wires or components have not degraded over time, creating potential electrical risks.
If it’s been a few years since your last electrical inspection, contact Suncoast Power to schedule an electrical risk assessment for your property.
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Industrial Electrical Analysis
What is an Electrical Risk Assessment?
An electrical risk assessment is a process that identifies hazards, assesses risks, and implements risk controls within an existing building or new construction site. When electrical systems get installed poorly or malfunction, it can put everyone on the site at risk. These evaluations also consider the electrical hazards a building might face in the future and provide solutions to prevent them.
As a licensed, full-service electrical contractor, we have helped Florida businesses and property owners with their electrical needs for over 30 years. Contact us today to schedule your electrical risk assessment.
Our Electrical Risk Assessment Process
Because wires and electrical components are usually hidden behind walls, building owners can forget they need regular inspections and maintenance. The safety of building occupants should be the number one priority in any workplace. Electrical issues can quickly lead to accidents, fires, and even death. Some of the most common failure cases an electrical risk assessment can prevent include:
- Power surges
- Tripping circuit breakers
- Blown or flickering lightbulbs
- Exposed junction boxes
- Electricity lags
- Bad wires or connections
Identify Potential Hazards
The first step in our electrical risk assessment is to identify all potential electrical hazards. Our electrician will use the latest technology to scan your property for any electrical issues that could cause damage or personal injury. They will also look for any electrical components that could eventually become hazardous.
The National Electrical Code (NEC) outlines specific standards for an electrical system to ensure it operates correctly and safely. Violating NEC regulations could lead to legal trouble and put everyone in your facility at risk of injury. Our team of highly trained electricians can help your building or property meet the NEC’s requirements and protect against potential hazards such as:
- Electrical shock
- Arc flash burns
- Thermal burns
- Arc blasts
Assess Potential Risks
After identifying hazards and failure cases, we can assess the risks. During this phase of your facility’s electrical evaluation, our team will consider the severity and likelihood of harm or damage in your work environment. Some hazards pose a high overall risk, while others involve much lower risks.
That said, never assume that electrical hazards won’t lead to severe injuries. An exposed wire might not seem dangerous, but some conductors pack enough charge to injure someone seriously. You’ll want a professional, certified electrician to assess the risks and ensure accidents are avoided in the future.
Implement Hierarchy of Controls
It’s one thing to identify electrical problems and their potential risks. It’s another to understand which steps need to be taken to minimize hazards and reduce those risks. During our electrical risk assessment, we’ll help you determine what controls should be implemented to mediate those risks.
Our electricians use the “hierarchy of controls” to handle electrical hazards. These controls go as follows in order from most effective to least effective:
- Removing the hazard physically
- Replacing high risks with lower risks
- Implement Engineering Controls
- Implement Administrative Controls
- Reveal Electrical Sources
- Reduce risks around voltage
Review and Revise
A risk assessment wouldn’t be complete without reviewing and revising the previous steps. We’ll help you review the implemented controls and determine what’s working well and what still needs to be controlled. Our analysts will also guide you as you revise your plan and seek to improve workplace safety.
Review and revision are part of an ongoing process that never truly ends. Equipment will need to be replaced over time as it wears out, and technology will need to be updated as it advances. It’s essential to review controls regularly and tweak them as necessary.
Get A Project Estimate Now
Over the past 30 years, we have provided electrical services to properties of every size, from small apartments to large industrial plants. Contact us today to discuss your project requirements with an experienced electrician.
Shock Hazards
An electric shock occurs when an individual comes in direct or indirect contact with electricity. While some shocks can be minor, others can result in electrical major injury, property damage, or both. The National Electrical Code (NEC) has guidelines for correctly installing wiring and electrical equipment that clearly define specific shock hazards like exposed conductors and defective switches.
Arc Flash Hazard
Arc flash hazards can be dangerous and are often life-threatening. An arc flash happens when an electric current strays from its intended path and travels through the air from one conductor to the other. Anyone too close at the time of the flash, will likely be severely injured or even killed. Arc flash hazards are avoidable with proper electrical risk assessments.