Safe, Efficient, Profitable: A Worker Safety Podcast

#72 Electrical Safety: A Shockingly Fresh Take On Training, Programs & Inspections


Listen Later

We've all seen the boiler-plate electrical safe work practice & electrical awareness training.  This isn't that.  In this episode, we're challenging your program, what's covered in training, who gets training, and even your routine safety inspections to give you a fresh way to view electrical safety at your facility.  If this helped you, please support us by liking and sharing the episode and thank you for listening!  Full episode description below:

This episode dives deep into common electrical hazards overlooked during inspections and audits, highlighting critical gaps in personal protective equipment (PPE), voltmeter use, and general facility maintenance. By emphasizing real-world scenarios, the hosts discuss how to strengthen electrical safety programs through collaborative efforts with electricians, maintenance and utilities departments. The episode is packed with actionable advice and key insights for improving electrical safety.

Key Points:
1. Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) Gaps:
 Improper use of arc flash clothing and untrained staff wearing non-rated clothing.
Specific Concerns: Workers rolling up sleeves, incorrectly washing arc flash clothing, and mismatches in PPE due to gaps in supply and policy oversight.

2. Voltmeter Training and Misuse:
Untrained or insufficiently trained personnel using voltmeters improperly, leading to dangerous arcing incidents.
Training Gaps: Inconsistent policies on who should use voltmeters and when they should check for power.

3. Environmental Hazards in Electrical Rooms:
Water and Corrosion: MCC rooms often have water ingress issues due to poor drainage, condensation, or wet cleanup areas.
Impact: Water and chemical exposure can cause equipment failures and create shock hazards.

4. Dust and Explosive Risks:
Dust accumulation near electrical equipment (e.g., mills, conveyor systems) increases fire risk from ignition sources such as motors, bearings etc.

5. Safety Program Ownership:
 Many safety programs are unclear and too vague or overly complex, with safety teams managing areas outside their expertise resulting in programs outlining processes the facility does not actually do.

6. Importance of Accurate Labeling:
Incorrect labeling of electrical panels and disconnects can lead to dangerous situations where hazard levels are misunderstood.

7. Collaborative Risk Assessments:
Engage electricians, maintenance staff, and safety teams in collaborative reviews and risk assessments tailored to specific locations.

Keywords:
Electrical safety hazards
PPE gaps in electrical work
Voltmeter safety training
Lockout/tagout electrical safety
Arc flash protection
MCC room maintenance
Electrical hazard inspections
Housekeeping for electrical safety
Dust explosion prevention
Industrial electrical safety program

This video is intended for educational purposes.  Solutions offered are not designed to take the place of an attorney or medical professional, and should not be taken as legal or medical advice.  It is recommended that viewers consult a safety consultant, medical provider or an occupational safety legal team as applicable to help navigate their specific circumstances.  

  Specific job tasks shown are being completed by trained professionals, and should not be attempted without proper training and equipment under the supervision of a professional.  Viewer discretion is advised.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store

Safe, Efficient, Profitable: A Worker Safety PodcastBy Joe and Jen Allen of Allen Safety LLC

  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5
  • 5

5

13 ratings


More shows like Safe, Efficient, Profitable: A Worker Safety Podcast

View all
TED Talks Daily by TED

TED Talks Daily

11,135 Listeners

This American Life by This American Life

This American Life

90,844 Listeners

The Joe Rogan Experience by Joe Rogan

The Joe Rogan Experience

226,088 Listeners

All Ears English Podcast by Lindsay McMahon and Michelle Kaplan

All Ears English Podcast

2,230 Listeners

The Safety Pro Podcast by Blaine J. Hoffmann, MS OHSM

The Safety Pro Podcast

146 Listeners

The HazMat Guys by Bobby Salvesen and Mike Monaco

The HazMat Guys

172 Listeners

FDNY Pro by FDNY Foundation

FDNY Pro

130 Listeners

The Daily by The New York Times

The Daily

111,761 Listeners

Shawn Ryan Show by Shawn Ryan

Shawn Ryan Show

42,304 Listeners

Gettin' Salty Experience Firefighter Podcast by Gettin Salty Experience

Gettin' Salty Experience Firefighter Podcast

776 Listeners

A Bit of Optimism by Simon Sinek

A Bit of Optimism

2,183 Listeners

The Weekly Scrap, Firefighter Podcast by Corley Moore

The Weekly Scrap, Firefighter Podcast

484 Listeners

Huberman Lab by Scicomm Media

Huberman Lab

28,304 Listeners

B Shifter by Across The Street Productions

B Shifter

52 Listeners