Mitigating Potential Electrical Hazards

Having a safe site is one of the critical requirements for ensuring a non-hostile environment.  When considering safety, you should make sure that the place or unit for inspection is clean, dry, and free of any electrical hazards.

How do you do this? The key is to anticipate the potential hazards or risks that can happen in your place and then plan a course of action to prevent such incidence from happening. If ever the risk is unavoidable, then having another contingency plan to mitigate the severity of accident is a necessity.

Dealing with Electrical Hazards and Accidents

1. Hazard detection 

Conducting ocular inspection to look out for potential causes of electrical hazards is always the first step to ensure safety. During this phase, your contractor should be able to pinpoint all sources of potential hazards like infrastructures made from combustible materials, weak ceilings, or sources of water leaks.

In some instances, installation of emergency warning system could also help premature detection of hazards. Some examples of these are gas or carbon detectors that automatically send off visual or audible sound signals once they detect dangerous levels of poisonous gases in the air.

2. Hazard removal 

Once the sources of possible hazards are detected, the next step is to craft a detailed plan to address or remove those potential sources of risks. For offices and other commercial units, it is highly advisable to have the plan created or checked by licensed commercial electrical contractors in Brisbane to make sure that it adheres to relevant building codes and requirements. The plan will then be submitted to Australian authorities like Queensland Fire and Rescue Service (QFRS) for review and approval.

3. Damage limitation 

Despite removing or terminating all possible sources of risk, electrical accidents can still happen because of completely unperceivable factors. For instance, an employee may accidentally forget to unplug the microwave after heating his or her meal or a combustible chemical can accidentally spill on electrical wirings. Both situations are unforeseeable sources of electrical hazards that can invariably lead to fire break-out.

That is why aside from hazard removal, commercial buildings and establishments are also required to have a damage mitigation plan in ready. Installation of automatic fire extinguishers and sprinklers are essential part of damage mitigation systems. Likewise, putting medical kits on accessible areas of the building is also one way to limit casualties caused by electrical accidents.

Having a ready-made action plan can save lives and make a huge difference. Though it is better to prevent all sorts of accident from taking place, we cannot discount the fact that there are still indispensable sources of hazards present in all places.

If you need help in securing your properties from electrical hazards, then contacting licensed industrial electricians from Azz Industries will be your best choice. They have extensive knowledge and experience on working out electrical problems for their clients across South East Queensland. Just dial 1300 AZZ IND (1300 299 463) to get in touch with their reliable and trustworthy electricians today!

Types of Safety Switches & their Use

In Queensland, all residences and private properties are required to install safety switches in their electrical systems. Failure to adhere with this standard can cost you to pay fines of up to $1,500.

There are several types of safety switch that you can install on your property.

Types of Safety Switches

There are three main types of switches. These are the switchboard safety switch, the power point safety switch, and the portable safety switch.

Switchboard Safety Switch

This type of switch monitors and regulates a specified path of electrical wiring in the house. They monitor the current from the extension cords to the electrical appliances and quickly shut off electricity coming from the protected power points once they detect electrical leakage.

At residential properties, switchboard safety switches can be found alongside circuit-breakers. The device can be distinguished from other switches by looking for the “Test” button on the front surface. Most homeowners and electricians prefer to combine circuit breakers with safety switch for power and lighting circuits in the same board.

Contact AZZ IND for professional electrical services today.

Power Point Safety Switch

You can opt to have your electrical system installed with power point safety switches. These devices will work to monitor your extension cords and electrical appliances plugged in the same power outlet, as well as the electrical wirings embedded on the same circuit.

Power point safety switches are typically installed on the first power point after the safety switch. They are highly advisable for residential buildings and commercial properties with multiple power points.

Portable Safety Switches

The first two switches require mounting and installation. Portable safety switch, on the other hand, is mostly used by electricians for conducting area inspection, repair, and maintenance.

Portable switches will need to be attached to a power board first before it can protect the circuits plugged to it. They are used for outdoor electrical equipments and other circuits where only temporary switch protection is required.

Proper and informed installation of safety switches are required to ensure safety and prevent electrical accidents. The Queensland government advises citizens against DIY installation and encourages people to get help only from licensed electricians.

For a guaranteed switch installation, contact Azz Industries in Brisbane today! They are a trusted residential and commercial electrician in Brisbane who can provide assistance and expert advice on all kinds of electrical matters. Just dial 1300 AZZ IND (1300 299 463) to speak with a qualified professional today.