By Michael Marr, Safety Technical Resource Consultant
Since May is National Electrical Safety Month, we want to share information about electrical safety for Ohio employers as well as some resources to keep Ohio’s workers safe.
National Electrical Safety Month is sponsored by the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFi) to remind the public of the hazards associated with electricity. Each May, ESFi spearheads an annual campaign to educate key audiences about ways to reduce the number of electrically related fires, fatalities, injuries, and property loss. This year’s theme “Connected to Safety,” delves into the emerging technology that makes a home safe and efficient. ESFi has shared the following resources for 2021:
- Understand Electrical Vehicles.
- Installing Electrical Vehicle Chargers.
- Solar PV Electrical Safety.
- Temporary Power Safety.
- Making your Home Safe and Efficient.
Electrical safety is also important to understand in the workplace. In 2019, there were 166 fatalities and 1,900 injuries requiring days away from work from electrical contacts across the United States. There were three electrocutions in Ohio last year, an increase from previous years. Electrical injuries occur in a wide variety of occupations, but as this chart shows the majority happen in construction and maintenance.
BWC’s Division of Safety and Hygiene (DSH) offers a variety of resources to help employers improve electrical safety in their workplaces.
Educational Courses: You can register for these courses and more on the BWC Learning Center.
- Electrical Basics.
- Electrical Hazard Recognition and Abatement.
- Electrical Safety Maintenance (NFPA 70B) – Practices for Electrical Equipment Maintenance.
- Lockout/Tagout and Safety-related Work Practices.
- Lockout/Tagout Advanced Principles.
Safety Talks: Safety Talks are intended as a training resource to increase safety awareness and improve performance. Employers can use them to start conversations about safety. The following Safety Talks about electricity and lockout/tagout are available on our website:
- Electrical Safety.
- Lockout/Tagout for Affected and Other Employees.
- Static Electricity Hazards.
- Working Safely with Electricity.
If you have questions about electrical safety, BWC is here to help. Reach out to one of our BWC safety consultants online for assistance or call 1-800-644-6292. Don’t forget take advantage of our other safety services as well. DSH offers a wide range of services for all industries at no additional cost to employers including safety consultations, safety education and training, and the BWC safety and video library.
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