Each year there are on average 1,000 electricity related accidents reported at the workplace [1]. With Halloween approaching, it’s essential to stay vigilant about fire hazards that can arise from electrical decorations and other festive items.
While everyday electrical appliances and equipment within the workplace are regularly PAT tested to meet Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, when it comes to Halloween, these regulations can often be disregarded.
Safety experts at Direct365 have identified some of the most common electrical hazards that can occur during this time of year, and have provided tips to ensure that your electronics are in safe working order to protect employees and customers or clients.
- Install decorations safely
It is important to secure decorations appropriately, ensuring they’re not near to any flammable items or are not a tripping hazard. If you do need to run a cord on the ground, make sure to use a cord protector. It is also not advised that decorations are placed in areas that have heavy footfall, to reduce the risk of decorations falling on top of people.
To ensure maximum safety, make sure that you use LED lights as these are both more energy efficient and have lower heat output, meaning that they are unlikely to overheat. Additionally, if you are interested in decorating your office with pumpkins, invest in LED candles rather than real candles to minimise fire hazards.
- Ensure ongoing monitoring of decorations
Never leave electrical decorations switched on overnight or when your workplace is closed. To ensure minimal risk, use timers to automatically turn off lights and other decorations during non-working hours.
For added security, delegate responsibility to a group of employees to check all plug sockets and timers on a weekly basis to ensure that they are in working order and do not require being manually switched off.
- Avoid overcrowding outlets
It is inevitable that people are more likely to overcrowd extension cables at this time of year. Where plug sockets are usually safety compliant, rules may be broken to accommodate these.
Overcrowded outlets can overheat, trip breakers and potentially start a fire. Avoid “daisy-chaining” extension cords as well, as this can also cause overheating. If you require one, make sure to use a fused ‘inline’ cable, rather than an extension cube and if you spot any damage to cables or general wear and tear, replace it immediately.
If you are planning on decorating the outside of your business, make sure to use Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupter outlets (GFCI) as these are designed to detect imbalances in the flow of electricity and shut off the power and will protect against electrical shocks.
- Inspect and maintain decorations
Be cautious to accept decoration donations and keep a record of how old any company owned decorations are. It is advised that these are replaced every 5-10 years, depending on usage.
Even if decorations are new, inspect for frayed wires, exposed conductors or damaged plugs and check that your electrical decorations have the BSI Kitemark™, as this will show that they meet the highest requirements in terms of safety and performance and are unlikely to overheat.
If you are planning on placing decorations outdoors, confirm that the decoration is outdoor compliant. Indoor only items should never be used outside as they are not designed to withstand moisture or weather.
Karl Bantleman at Direct365 commented, “While everyday electrical regulations are often followed, the temporary nature of Halloween decorations can lead to overlooked hazards. To ensure a safe workplace, it is crucial that businesses comply with legislation in order to maintain safe working conditions for their staff, and PAT testing is advised on a yearly basis to ensure that portable electrical appliances are in safe working order.
Therefore, even though additional electrical items such as lighting are only used for a limited period in your workplace, it is still the responsibility of the employer to ensure that they are in safe working order and will not cause any harm to employees.”
Head to Direct365 to find more information aboutPAT testing, as well as the other electrical compliance services on offer.
