This year’s National Electrical Safety Month campaign features the launch of the third edition of Electrical Safety Illustrated from the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI). The issue is titled, “At Home and at Work: Make Electrical Safety Everyone’s Priority,” to advise readers about the common electrical hazards present at home and in the workplace.
“Each year, thousands of electrical workers are killed by not following simple procedures such as lockout/tagout and test before you touch,” said ESFI President Brett Brenner. “Our goal is to reduce workplace complacency and make sure electrical safety is top of mind while performing all electrical tasks.”
OSHA estimates there are approximately 187 electrical-related fatalities a year. While electrical hazards are not the leading cause of on-the-job injuries and fatalities, they are disproportionately fatal and costly. For every 13 electrical injuries, one worker dies. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, each workplace death costs the U.S. economy $5 million.
Featured content in Electrical Safety Illustrated includes an infographic highlighting the importance of the Test Before You Touch process and an infographic outlining the steps of lockout/tagout.
Additional content encouraging home electrical safety includes an infographic titled, “Don’t Overload Your Home,” which illustrates the warning signs that indicate that your home electrical system could be overloaded; “Reaching to Safety,” an infographic about avoiding hazards associated with the misuse of extension cords; and an infographic on arc-fault circuit interrupters, which is advanced residential technology that can help prevent home electrical fires before they can start.
For ESFI’s complete collection of National Electrical Safety Month resources, and for more information on spring safety, visit www.esfi.org.
