In my last blog we covered the basics of electricity and identified electrical hazards. Today I’d like to review some electric safety procedures.

There are a number of commonsense safety procedures that can help prevent electrical accidents.

1. Inspect electrical equipment and wires before use to make sure they're properly insulated and grounded and that electrical connections are tight.

2. Don't de-energize live parts unless you've been trained as a qualified person. A qualified person must follow specific procedures to turn off power at the switch box, then lock out and tag the switch so it can't be turned on accidentally. A tag can be used alone with at least one other protective measure if it can be proved as safe as a lock. And a lock can be used alone on a single circuit or piece of equipment when lockout is completed on one shift. There are times when de-energizing isn't feasible—for instance, if you're testing energized circuits or when de-energizing would deactivate emergency alarms. In those cases, all other protections must be used to prevent accidents. And once work on the equipment is done, the qualified employee follows specific procedures to re-energize it.

3. Use protective equipment such as rubber gloves or boots when you work with electrical equipment.

4. Read—and follow—the manufacturer's instructions for your equipment.

5. Avoid using extension cords whenever possible; check with me or with the maintenance department before you handle anything electric.

6. Inspect portable equipment, including extension cords, before each use and turn in anything that's defective or damaged.

7. Be sure electric plugs match their receptacles; never alter a plug.

8. Don't fasten cords with staples. 9. Make sure your hands are dry before you handle anything electric.

10. Don't use any piece of electrical equipment that sparks, smokes, smells, or shocks. Mark it "Out of Order" and report it immediately.

11. Be especially cautious around flammable liquids, vapors or dust, or any area that might have held them. Ventilate the area before you start work and use only electrical equipment identified as safe for that use. And keep an eye on the equipment to avoid sparks or high heat that could start a fire.

12. When using long conductive objects like ducts or pipes around exposed live parts, be sure to use insulation, guarding and other protections.

13. Never use a metal ladder around live electricity.

14. Always obey barriers, signs, and other warnings to stay away from electrical equipment.

Electricity is a fact of modern life, but when you consider its power, it makes sense to take precautions. Electrical mistakes can kill. So leave work on energized electrical systems to qualified workers and obey tags and signs that tell you to stay away. Make it a point to check out your electrical equipment and wires before you use them. Don't handle anything electric with wet hands. Keep your equipment clean and in good shape. And if anything doesn't look, sound, smell, or work quite right, turn it off and report it immediately.

Stay safe.