Ensuring electrical safety at all times can be difficult, but routine audits and inspections can make it easier. Both these types of workplace examinations play a crucial role in employee safety by identifying potential electrical hazards, avoiding costly repairs, and maintaining compliance with electrical safety regulations.
In this guide, we’ll go over both these different types of examinations and how to perform each one, starting with the most obvious question.
Are Electrical Safety Audit and Inspection The Same Thing?
Not entirely. While electrical safety audits and inspections share the same goal of establishing a safe workplace, they differ in various ways. One stark difference between the two is their scope:
Electrical safety inspections focus on a proactive approach, which includes minor, frequent routine checks to address daily hazards and everyday operations. Whereas, electrical safety audits assess all the policies, accepted standards, and compliance to diagnose structural or systematic gaps. Safety audits occur on a less frequent basis and are designed to assess the overall organization's take on the electrical safety program. Generally you inspect safety equipment and conditions, while you audit your electrical safety program.
What is an Electrical Safety Audit?
An electrical safety audit is an in-depth assessment of the equipment used in operations, documentation, and everyday practices, and personnel qualifications. Additional precautions, such as infrared thermography, are used to look for electrical safety hazards that may not appear to the untrained eye. For this extensive assessment to take place, workers may have to halt operations and engage in practices to review whether standard operations align with international regulatory codes.
How To Perform an Electrical Safety Audit, Step by Step
Conducting an electrical safety audit is divided into structured steps of planning, assessment, diagnosis, and documentation. The required steps may vary depending on the type of facility and personnel involved in the process.
Step 1: Plan and Prepare
Firstly, you’ll need to gather the relevant information on the associated departments, electrical systems, equipment present, and the qualified employees. Previous documentation of maintenance records and other relevant details should also be on hand.
Step 2: Assemble Personnel & Evaluate
After gathering all designated employees, their skills need to be evaluated to determine whether they align with current standards. Those who are unaware of current practices should be provided with the necessary training and tools.
Step 3: Create a Checklist
An outline of the necessary steps and procedures according to NFPA 70E and other electrical safety standard regulations should be taken into consideration. This employs the highest benchmark of electrical safety, ensuring that key factors are implemented.
Step 4: Conduct Infrared Thermography
Infrared thermography is used in the workplace to help detect hotspots, identify air leaks, and other unknown issues before they escalate into full-blown problems. Running your machinery through infrared thermography can help confirm whether all the present equipment is working smoothly, and there are no signs of potential breakdowns in the near future. Document all findings during this process.
Step 5: Check PPE, Labeling, and Tools
This step involves a hands-down inspection of the current PPE and tools used during operations, along with safety labels that comply with OSHA electrical standards. This is to help determine whether your facility conforms to electrical safety PPE requirements and other relevant standards.
Step 5: Document & Report
After the electrical safety audit is complete, summarize the findings and prioritize those that pose an immediate threat to the structure or the safety of employees. After the report is complete, the high-earning team leaders should be encouraged to offer recommendations.
What is An Electrical Safety Inspection?
An electrical safety inspection is a thorough, quick assessment by a licensed electrician or other professional to determine whether outlets, machinery, and other electrical components are in good condition. The series of steps involved in an electrical inspection is usually straightforward and specifically designed to ensure proper electrical working conditions in a facility or residential area.
Step-by-Step Guide To Conducting An Electrical Safety Inspection
Performing an electrical safety inspection at your industrial facility can be categorized into five easy steps. By following these steps, you can examine the current condition of your facility and take the necessary precautions to optimize performance.
Step 1: Define Scope and Preparation
A well-defined scope is the baseline of a successful electrical inspection. Outlining the necessary areas to examine and specifying the aim of the inspection can prevent personnel from deterring into other areas. Make sure the involved team members are equipped with the necessary equipment to perform the inspection.
Step 2: Visual Inspection
Sweep a look through the facility, having a trained eye look for wear and tear, signs of deterioration, and other failing components can help address small problems before they escalate into bigger ones. This proactive approach can help avoid downtime, unexpected breakdowns, and costly repairs.
Step 3: Replacement & Testing
After replacing the worn-out components and needed parts, testing is vital for the success of the electrical inspection. This will help ensure that the electrical machinery and equipment can be used without any issues taking place during everyday operations. Doing this, in the presence of qualified professionals, will allow them to address problems and provide solutions immediately.
Step 4: Documentation & Reporting
Gathering the data and findings of the electrical safety inspection is a crucial part of the process. This can help track issues until the next inspection, develop proper action plans, and gather proof for external inspectors. After a well-documented file is developed, send it to the higher-ups for recommendations and opinions on the final action plan.
Step 5: Follow-Up
Investing in an electrical safety inspection once in a while won’t cut it out. Regular electrical inspections are crucial to ensuring the safety and integrity of the facility and facilitate better working conditions for employees. With each electrical inspection, you can take the findings from each one and figure out ways to improve and develop better working conditions.
Ensure Electrical Safety With Creative Safety Supply
Both electrical safety audits and inspections are crucial for the well-being of your facility, and when combined, you can ensure efficiency and optimize performance. At Creative Safety Supply, we offer a free checklist of what should be in your electrical inspection, along with tips on the best practices of electrical safety.