As the owner of a healthcare practice, you also own the responsibility and duty of care when it comes to keeping your staff and patients safe – and that includes electrical safety.
But don’t be daunted! We’ve identified common electrical safety hazards in the workplace and provided our top tips to improve electrical safety at your practice. Take a look below!
Train your team properly to avoid misuse
The first thing is first, make sure your staff know all the operational and safety procedures when it comes to your electrical equipment. That means taking the time to provide thorough inductions for the equipment they aren’t familiar with, creating clear processes to follow if they notice anything that poses a safety risk and maintaining an approachable atmosphere so they feel confident to ask for assistance if they need it.
Install adequate safety barriers
This includes the electrical safety barriers like closed cabinet doors on electrical panels and plug covers in waiting rooms as well as locks on control rooms and certain equipment. Add relevant signage – the more the better – to alert employees and clients or patients of any potential hazards and best practice behavior to remind them to be safe.
Don’t overload sockets
We know this is an obvious one, but you’d be surprised! Overloading electrical sockets can cause fuses to blow or put extra pressure on your electrical system and cause overheating – which in turn can lead to electrical fires. Avoid plugging extension cords into extension cords and use a multiway bar for extra sockets over a block adaptor to reduce risks. If you find you don’t have enough sockets – or if they aren’t in the right places – talk to your commercial electrician about getting more added to suit your needs. If you have specialist electronic medical equipment, you might need specific sockets to suit the wattage of the equipment – always check with your electrician if you’re not sure.
Keep an eye out for wear and tear
Set a schedule for regular reviews of your electrical devices and systems internally – check for exposed wires, any signs of rodents, the age of extension cords or common appliances, take note of any flickering lights or screens and ensure your equipment isn’t overheating. If you notice anything unusual, always call a specialist electrician to take a look – it could reduce the risk of fire or electric shock.
Regular maintenance and servicing by a professional electrician
While keeping an eye out for general wear and tear is a good habit for your team to be across, we also recommend setting a regular schedule for a professional electrician to come to your premises and check your electrical systems. They’ll be able to calibrate and test your specialist medical equipment, look at your wiring and provide suggestions for improvements that could save your business in energy and maintenance costs down the track. Make sure to keep a maintenance log of all work completed for reference down the track – you never know when you might need to refer back to it.
Build a trusted relationship with your commercial electrician
As a responsible healthcare practice owner, it pays to have an ongoing partnership with an electrician that you trust. You want to have an electrician who will show up when they say they will and who knows the electrical needs of healthcare and medical practices well – so they’ll have the experience to provide services that help you achieve your goals.
Luckily for you – you’ve just found one! Medelec is dedicated to providing efficient electrical solutions with a consultative approach so your needs are considered every step of the way.
Talk to us about your next electrical project or ongoing maintenance services today – we’re here to power your practice!
