Electrical hazards in an office? 

The safe surroundings may be deceiving 

MOST OFFICE ENVIRONMENTS are considered low-risk in terms of electrical hazards. But that doesn’t mean you should take safety for granted. Just because you’re not working on a factory floor with high-voltage equipment or aren’t operating large machinery outdoors near power lines, don’t assume electrical hazards can’t be present. 

No matter where you are employed, including in an office, take account of your surroundings. Report any safety issue that gives you pause, and don’t assume maintenance or management must already know about it and that everything must be OK. 

Hazards and out-of-the ordinary things office workers should watch for include: 

• Electrical cables that are frayed, loose or have exposed wires. 
• Outlets that are worn and won’t hold plugs snugly. 
• Electrical equipment that gives off a strange odor. 
• Overheating equipment (those not heated by normal operation). Beware of discolored plastic casings on the equipment or discolored outlet covers. 
• Overloaded outlets or extension cords. 
• Equipment that is not working properly. 

Any faulty equipment like wiring or plugs should be removed from use immediately and reported to a supervisor or someone in charge. Outlets should not be overloaded, so either plug equipment elsewhere or tell a supervisor, who should minimize the need for overloading them.

Overloads 

Overloaded electrical circuits pose both an electrocution and fire hazard. The Electrical Safety Foundation International recommends using brand-name, quality power strips and placing them where there is plenty of air circulation. 

Other recommendations: Don’t bend or knot electrical cords or run them under rugs or where chairs can roll over them. Keep them close to the wall to avoid tripping on them. 

Do not use adapters that allow three-pronged cords to be used in two-slot outlets, which are ungrounded. If your office uses battery-operated devices, consider charging them in another area. 

Computer danger signs: If your computer screen flickers or fades, or you detect a burning smell, power down and immediately contact the building engineer. 

For a permanent fix, the office may need to have a licensed electrician install additional outlets and circuits to reduce overloading or the need to rely heavily on extension cords.

Shane Vickers is the Safety and Loss Prevention Director at Jackson Energy.