Follow these steps to ensure your business is safe from electrical hazards this Christmas

Electrical safety in the workplace is of course crucial. Whilst the majority of these incidents are not fatal, incidents such as electrical shocks can still result in permanent injury as well as cause damage to property.

As an employer, if you are not taking action to protect your staff you may be found liable in the case of an accident.

How can you ensure that your business is safe this winter?

While everyday electrical appliances and equipment within your workplace are often regularly tested to meet Electricity at Work Regulations 1989, when it comes to the winter months, these regulations can often be disregarded.

During the winter months, electrical items are brought out of the cupboard and dusted off for another year, as businesses seek additional ways of staying warm and decorating their offices for the festive season.

That being said, there are several ways that you can ensure that your business remains protected from electrical hazards during the winter months:

  • Delegate responsibility to key members of staff to check electrics are switched off

Three-quarters of all employers now offer hybrid working to their staff, meaning that offices are generally less busy on certain days of the week.

Therefore, with no guarantee that someone will always be in the office each day of the week, it is crucial that all necessary electrics are turned off at the end of each day. This is especially necessary over the winter period when additional electrics such as fairy lights and portable heaters are plugged in and may be forgotten about.

By delegating responsibility to a group of employees to ensure that this task is complete at the end of each day they are working from the office, will reduce the likelihood of electrics remaining on for a prolonged period.

  • Ensure that extension cables are not overcrowded

It is inevitable that people are more likely to overcrowd extension cables over the winter months. With extra electrical items likely to be plugged in, such as space heaters and festive lighting, where plug sockets are usually safety compliant, rules may be broken to accommodate these.

If using an extension cable, never overcrowd it. Extension cables plugged into other extension cables are likely to 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.

  • Check your fairy lights before decorating your office for Christmas

As we tend to only bring out our fairy lights once a year, many presume that they will last multiple years. However, it is advised that fairy lights are replaced every 5-10 years, depending on usage.

Politely decline if an employee offers to lend Christmas lighting and decorations during the festive season. With the employer having to take full responsibility for electronics used within the workplace, there is no way of guaranteeing the age and working order of decorations.

Additionally, check that your lights 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.

  • Ensure portable heaters are a safe distance away from anything

As well as being costly to power, portable heaters are the cause of over 800 fires in commercial buildings each year. Typically fires start when flammable items are placed too close to the heater.

When using a portable heater, make sure that it is kept at least three feet away from all flammable items, including coats, paper and Christmas decorations. Never leave the heater unattended and unplug it from the power source when not in use.

If you’re in the market for portable heaters to provide additional warmth in your office, an oil-filled electric heater, with an automatic shut-off is the safest.

  • Unplug all electrical appliances during the Christmas brea

Although we tend to keep electrical appliances plugged in most of the time, we are usually able to recognise and report any potential hazards in the workplace before they become dangerous.

However, whether your business is closed for just the bank holidays or an extended period over Christmas, it is crucial that as many electrical appliances as possible are switched off and unplugged.

While unplugging electrical appliances will reduce your energy bill over the festive period, it will also ensure your office is not at risk from electrical hazards.

It is advised that if your business is closed for over a week, larger appliances such as fridges, dishwashers and printers should be turned off and unplugged at the wall.

Read more: 

Outsourced staffing: Unleashing Human Potential in the Workplace

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Should Vietnam Human Resources Shift to a 4-Day Work Week? Examining Viability

Image
In a world where work-life balance is gaining prominence, the idea of a 4-day work week has been garnering attention. This article delves into whether such a transition is viable for the Vietnam Human Resources landscape. Image Source: Pexel The Paradigm Shift: Rethinking Work Weeks The conventional 5-day work week has been the norm for decades. However, with evolving attitudes towards work, there's a growing discourse around shorter work weeks. Advocates argue that it can lead to increased productivity and better work-life balance. Productivity Paradox: Quality vs. Quantity The primary concern surrounding a shorter work week is the potential impact on productivity. Critics argue that reducing the work week may lead to decreased output. However, studies suggest that employees often become more productive when the work hours are condensed. Embracing Flexibility: Customizing Work Schedules Transitioning to a 4-day work week doesn't necessarily mean a uniform approach for all ind
Read more

How to prepare for new holiday pay rules

Holiday pay for irregular hour and part year workers has been a hot topic on the employment and Government agenda in 2023. With not one, but two, consultations issued by the Government this year, a response has finally been issued and draft regulation supplied that offers some clarity to employers – although these are subject to Parliamentary approval so could still change. Currently, under the draft regulation, employers will be able to pro-rate holidays for irregular hours and part-year workers based on 12.07% of hours worked in the pay reference period. This reverses the Supreme Court’s decision in the Harpur Trust v Brazel case from 2022 which found that the application of the 12.07% formula was unlawful. The use of rolled up holiday pay for such workers will also now be legitimised. This involves adding an uplift of 12.07% to the normal rate of pay for irregular hours and part-year workers – as opposed to paying holiday pay at the time that the holiday is actually taken.
Read more

Transparency and Secrecy: Unveiling the Practices of Vietnam’s Headhunting Firms

Image
In recent years, Vietnam's headhunting industry has undergone significant transformations to adapt to the evolving job market. Here's an overview of the current practices in Vietnam's headhunting firms, focusing on the balance between transparency and secrecy. Evolving Practices in Vietnamese Headhunting Firms Diversity and Inclusion: Modern headhunting services in Vietnam prioritize sourcing candidates with a broad range of skills and experiences. This approach requires headhunters to be highly trained and professional, capable of adapting to various industries and corporate cultures. The aim is to help businesses solve complex recruitment challenges by finding versatile candidates who can integrate well into new environments​. Data-Centric Recruiting : The adoption of technology in recruitment, particularly data-centric methods, is becoming more prevalent in Vietnam. This trend involves using data obtained through technological tools for planning and decision-making in ca
Read more