Electrical hazards
commonly found in unsafe offices include:
- Ungrounded
Equipment. Most fixed equipment such as large, stationary machines must
be grounded. Typewriters and coffee pots do not have to be grounded. However,
much of the newer office equipment is manufactured with grounded, three-prong
plugs as a precaution. Never remove the grounding prong from any three-prong
plug.
- Insufficient
or Overloaded Outlets.
Overloading electrical circuits and extension cords can cause fires.
- Unsafe/Non-Approved
Equipment. Workers should not use or bring to work coffee makers, radios,
lamps, etc. which are poorly maintained, unsafe, or low in quality and not
approved by a national testing laboratory. Such appliances can develop electrical
shorts and create fire and/or shock hazards. Equipment and cords should
be inspected regularly, and a qualified individual should make repairs.
