A Fire Risk Assessment Can Identify Electrical Hazards in the Office

One of the common causes of workplace fires is faulty electrical wiring. Offices and workplaces are hosts to several kinds of equipment and machines that consume a great amount of electricity daily, making workplaces a hotbed of electrical fire hazards. If you're not wary of these potential deathtraps, you might fail to take note of the common causes of electrical fire when you attempt a thorough fire safety risk assessment on your own:
Old and Faulty Electrical Appliances
Some old, outdated appliances may have frayed or faulty wiring. Defective cords lying on or placed under fabrics may cause cloth surfaces such as carpets, rugs, or curtains to catch fire.Light Bulbs with an Extremely High Wattage
Always check if the light bulb wattage is suitable for the light fixture; if the bulb wattage goes beyond the amount recommended in the fixture, the overheating that could result is a fire risk.Overloaded Electrical Outlets
Hair dryers, space heaters, and other products that release a lot of heat and use a huge amount of power can overload an electrical outlet. While circuit breakers are there to regulate amps and prevent the potential catastrophes caused by an electrical overload, it might not do the job well if the circuit is faulty and unreliable.Safety should always be the number one priority, and this enormous responsibility of preventing accidental fires falls upon the shoulders of home and building owners. A fire can cause untold damages for anyone to take the risks lightly, and it's always a good idea to turn to more experienced authorities for guidance. Professionals such as Help and Safety at Work, Ltd., can assist in identifying fire hazards by properly completing a fire risk assessment for your workplace.
(Source: 5 common causes of electrical fires, FireRecruit.com, December 21, 2011)
- Date posted:
11/02/2015