5 Electrical Safety Tips to Keep a Company Building Safe

If you wait to take these steps until they are needed, it’s too late.

If you own a corporate building—whether it is an office space, retail storefront, warehouse, or manufacturing plant—electrical safety should be a regular part of your business plan. There are a few important steps you can take now to safeguard against future emergencies. We recommend setting a quarterly or yearly calendar remind to address these items, update your records, or assign these responsibilities to someone on your team:

1. Make sure the electrical panel is accessible.

It is essential that your disconnect, or electrical panel, is accessible and not blocked or buried. The electrical panel is often in the lowest level of your building. This is also typically a business’s favorite place to store things: old boxes, extra furniture, seasonal decorations or signage. Mark off several feet around your electrical panel, and do not allow team members to store items within this area. Keep the path to this area clear, and check it regularly.

2. Resolve damaged or open electrical boxes.

A common issue we see is that a business’s electrical box has been dented or is missing its door or cover plate. It’s usually not an experienced electrician who is endangered by this, but a layman or amateur electrician is at risk. Do not allow your electrical box to fall into disrepair. Keep it closed, covered, and accessible.

3. Keep an updated map of the electrical system.

Documenting your building’s electrical system is one of the projects that seems time-consuming now, but will pay dividends later. Store drawings of the layout of your electrical system in a safe place, and have them updated whenever changes are made. Label circuit numbers and equipment. Make note of any equipment that is seasonal. We’ve seen too many situations where someone came in to replace a piece of equipment, but because they did not have a clear understanding of the whole electrical system, the old machinery was still running and draining power.

4. Have a trusted electrician on call.

In a complex situation, the last thing you want to be doing is searching for a new electrician, or trying to locate the sticky note on which your electrician’s number is written. Write down your electrician’s name, business, and phone number next to the electrical panel. Keep a digital copy in your company records, and let other employees know who to call. In case of emergency, call 911.

5. Use energy-efficient lighting.

Lighting is one of the biggest and easiest ways to save money. Newer buildings automatically incorporate energy-efficient lighting, but anything older than 15-20 years will not. The impact of these bulbs is measured over time, so the earlier you replace the unit, the more benefit you will see. Aside from a decade ago, the next best time to invest in efficient lighting is now!

Do you have questions about these electrical safety recommendations, or another electrical project? Contact the Butler Electric team for a fast and friendly response.