Safety Technical Bulletin

Electrical Contractor

Workplace Safety Tips

Work site locations for electrical contractors can provide several potential hazards, which can cause serious injury.

FFVA-MIC Loss Control consultants can assist you in evaluating your workplace exposures and provide you with appropriate loss control recommendations.

Electrical Contractor-Workplace Exposures

The following exposures are:

• Slips, trips, falls
• Electrical burns
• Electrocution
• Eye injuries
• Back strains

Developing A Loss Control Program

To successfully implement a workplace safety program, management must be willing to reduce and eliminate workplace injuries. There has to be 100% commitment to establish an injury free environment.

Electrical Contractor-Workplace Safety Tips 

• When working in new construction job sites, good housekeeping practices should be followed to reduce potential slips, trips and falls. A clean work area should be maintained daily.
• A safety training program should be in place for all new hires.
• An experienced employee should accompany new employees for at least 60 days to minimize new employee injuries.
• All apprentice electricians should be encouraged to enroll in a journeyman program.
• All employees should be required to wear the proper personal protective equipment such as hard hats, safety glasses, gloves and proper foot wear.
• Job-site foremen and supervisors should be certified in CPR and First Aid.
• Operators of forklifts, bucket trucks and scissor lifts are required to be properly trained and certified. Annual refresher training should be required.
• Workers should be trained in the proper use of hand and power tools.
• When working with live circuits, workers should be instructed on proper use of rubber-insulated gloves, blankets, masks and shields.
• All ladders should be OSHA approved.
• Ladders should be inspected daily for wear and possible fractures.
• All employees should be trained in proper placement and positioning of ladders to avoid potential falls.
• All employees should be properly trained in lifting and carrying materials to avoid muscle strain and back injuries.
• Proper lifting includes:
• Always checking the weight of the object to be lifted, “It’s O.K. to ask for help” and whenever possible lift heavy objects mechanically.
• Placing feet close to the load, bending knees, getting a firm grip and lifting straight up keeping the load close to your body.
• Make sure you have a clear path to your final destination.
• Set the load down slowly bending at the knees and keeping your back straight.
• If working on a commercial job site, all employees are required to follow the safety procedures of the General Contractor.

Fleet Safety-Workplace Safety Tips 

• Only authorized drivers should be permitted to drive company vehicles.
• Motor vehicles reports should be obtained from the fleet insurance carrier every six months.
• Authorized drivers should have an annual defensive driving course.
• Criteria for determining an adverse driving record should be developed such as number of points per year, DUI, and chargeable accidents etc.
• Vehicle inspections should be the responsibility of the driver. Documented inspection forms should be used.
• The maintenance department should have authority to remove a vehicle from service until recommended repairs are made.
• Travel to job site in personal vehicles should be discouraged. Use of personal vehicles creates the potential for an automobile accident and a subsequent workers comp claim.

• www.NSC.org
• www.OSHA.gov