Electricity is used in almost all everyday activities. This could be watching TV, powering a fridge, or completing tasks on a construction site. When the electricity fails, however, the consequences can be catastrophic.
Did you know that 19,300 accidental domestic fires had an electrical origin? This is just one of the risks involved in electric equipment failures. Others include:
- The electric shock when the wire is touched by humans.
- Damage to equipment.
- Damage to property.
- Explosions could prove fatal to people in close proximity.
Electric failure is prominent on construction sites with so much equipment in use. Last year there were 39 deaths in the construction industry. Don’t let electric failure be the cause of more deaths this year. Read on to find out more about preventing electric equipment failure.
Also read: Is There a Weight Limit for Electric Bikes: A Complete Guide
What causes equipment failure?
Equipment failure is caused due to a number of reasons. Some are more common than others. They include:
- Power surges
- Power shortages
- Exposure to moisture
- Voltage spikes
- Design errors
- Improper use
- Insufficient insulation
- Wildlife interference
- Equipment failure
All of these reasons can be blamed for electricity failure. They can be overcome, however, with the right procedures in place.
Maintenance
The following are simple maintenance tasks you can do:
- Keep moisture away by ensuring all cables remain dry at all times.
- Use insulation testers to make sure the insulation is working properly.
- Avoid running too many devices on the same circuit.
- Keep electrical equipment well ventilated.
- Ensure all equipment is grounded.
- Keep wiring tight. Loose connections are one of the main causes of electrical failures.
- Use surge protectors to protect from voltage spikes.
- Use fuses on every circuit.
As you can see, most of these steps are straightforward to follow. With planning from whoever is in charge of the appliances being used, you can protect everyone who uses the equipment from being electrocuted.
Keep it clean
As with anything, the cleaner the better. This applies to wiring too. When wires aren’t cleaned it can affect them in several ways. This includes exposure to foreign objects, accumulation of dust, dirt, and oil, or short-circuiting.
To ensure wires are mess-free, it’s important that you clean them regularly and if you’re going to use an item that has been in storage, wipe it down before use. It may have picked up products that could cause electrical issues.
Fortunately, electrical issues are becoming less of a threat due to better wiring protection, insulation, and regulations. It’s still better to be safe than sorry, so take the correct steps and keep you or the people around you safe from electrical faults.
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