Steps for Electrical Safety Risk Assessment and Effective Control

Let's Explore with GAK the Steps for Electrical Risk Assessment and How to Control Electrical Hazards in the Workplace. The following information will help you optimize production and ensure safety in your company’s workplace.

How to Assess Electrical Risk?

Electrical risk assessment is a systematic process for identifying, evaluating, and controlling risks related to electrical systems and equipment in the workplace, production plants, and more. By implementing electrical safety risk assessments, companies can reduce common hazards such as:

• Electric shock
• Arc flash
• Equipment/machine malfunction

• Fire/explosion

  see more:

   

Therefore, applying electrical risk assessment measures is a safety solution that helps organizations minimize the chances of accidents and create a safer work environment.

Benefits of Electrical Risk Assessment in Production Plants

Electrical accidents often rank among the top 10 causes of occupational accidents. Thus, performing electrical risk assessments and implementing safety measures will help companies increase workplace safety and address several issues that the production facility may face, such as:

1. Improving Workers' Morale and Productivity: Studies have shown that a safe working environment boosts workers’ peace of mind and confidence. Employees feel protected from electrical hazards and are more confident when operating machinery, allowing them to perform tasks efficiently and contribute to the company’s goals.
2. Increasing Production Line Efficiency: Proactively identifying hazards helps minimize downtime caused by workplace accidents or the failure of expensive equipment. As a result, companies can save on operational costs, repairs, or compensation for damages caused by work-related accidents.
3. Ensuring Compliance with Work Procedures: Electrical risk assessment helps companies establish standardized procedures for handling electrical tasks. Clear guidelines for operating machinery ensure that employees follow the correct processes, which minimizes equipment damage, repairs, and boosts labor productivity.

Effective Steps for Electrical Accident Risk Assessment

A comprehensive electrical risk assessment will involve several crucial steps to address all potential hazards. By establishing this assessment, companies can maintain electrical safety and comply with safety regulations as follows:

Step 1: Plan and List Electrical Risks

In this step, businesses need to set clear objectives, understand the scope of electrical risk assessment in the workplace, and prepare the necessary documentation for electrical tasks (e.g., electrical diagrams, circuit breakers, equipment operating instructions, and reports of repair tasks or end-of-day activities). A responsible team must oversee and execute the electrical operations properly. Here is the procedure for this step:

• Develop a detailed assessment plan, including timelines, roles, objectives, and signatures for team leader approval.
• Ensure the electrical safety evaluator has undergone relevant training and has experience in electrical operations, along with familiarity with the workplace. It is crucial to ensure that the evaluator follows the company’s safety procedures.
• Hold meetings to explain the electrical procedures or conduct training to align team goals and expectations.

Step 2: Identify Electrical Hazards

Identifying all potential electrical hazards that could harm workers or cause equipment damage is necessary to create a complete electrical safety plan. Some examples of risks to consider in the risk assessment include:

• Potential exposure to live electrical parts (e.g., wiring or electrical circuits)
• Damaged or worn insulation on wires, faulty switches, and overloaded circuits
• Arc flash or sudden explosions due to circuit malfunctions
• Incorrect grounding
• Faulty wiring systems that may come into contact with combustible materials

When identifying hazards, consider the following:

• Use fire and explosion checklists in compliance with Decree No. 50/2024/ND-CP and Circular No. 05/2021/TT-BCT detailing electrical safety requirements.
• Use diagnostic tools like thermal imaging cameras and insulation testers.
• Pay attention to environmental factors such as humidity, dust, or temperature, as these factors can exacerbate electrical hazards.

Step 3: Evaluate Risks

Identifying risks based on their potential impact and likelihood of occurrence will help companies focus on addressing the most urgent hazards while optimizing resource allocation. To ensure electrical safety and minimize risks effectively, apply the following best practices:

• Hire a professional electrical safety assessment agency for consultation.
• Apply standards such as TCVN or NFPA 70E.
• Use ISO 45001 standards to assess risks.
• Consider both direct and indirect consequences of hazards, such as secondary injuries, downtime, and damage to the company’s reputation.
• Improve efficiency by using digital electrical risk assessment templates.

Step 4: Implement Electrical Safety Control Measures

Control measures are solutions designed to eliminate, minimize, or manage identified risks, reducing the chance of accidents, injuries, and improving safety culture within the organization. Below are examples of how to apply controls based on the risk control hierarchy:

• Eliminate: Turn off power before performing maintenance or inspecting equipment; completely remove high-risk electrical equipment.
• Substitute: Use low-voltage or battery-powered equipment instead of high-voltage devices to minimize risks.
• Engineering Controls: Install protective devices like circuit breakers and earth leakage circuit breakers to prevent overload; add insulation barriers around wires and electrical panels to prevent accidental contact.
• Administrative Controls: Train employees on electrical safety, help them recognize hazards, and ensure they understand emergency response procedures.
• Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): Use insulated gloves, safety glasses, fire-resistant clothing, safety shoes, and specialized tools when working with electrical sources.

Step 5: Record and Report

Maintaining detailed records of the risk assessment process and compliance with safety procedures is an important step to ensure workplace safety. Reports should be comprehensive and list hazards that have been addressed, which will help businesses reduce risks and provide evidence of safety compliance in case of unforeseen incidents.

Here’s what you should do:

• Record, store, or digitize forms and templates to ensure data consistency and accuracy.
• Review reports periodically, assess new risks, and update procedures as necessary.

This is the full content for "Electrical Risk Assessment Steps and Effective Control Measures." I hope the shared information helps you understand how to conduct electrical risk assessments. If you have time, don’t forget to check out the safety workwear and reflective jackets at GAK!