What Are The 10 Most Common Electrical Problems In The Office?

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Your office is a place where numerous people sit and do their work, and this means that their safety and well-being are in your hands, as you are the business owner, and they work for you. When it comes to safety, simply implementing CCTV cameras and fire alarms doesn’t cut it. In fact, there is something even more dangerous that can put the lives of your employees at risk.

No matter how much money you have spent to set up your office, it is highly crucial to get your wiring and electrical system properly inspected as well, as electrical hazards make up for a large portion of workplace accidents. They can occur due to exposed wiring, short circuits, excessive load, and many other reasons. Therefore, you can never be too safe when it comes to electrical issues.

Even if you think your electrical system is safe and foolproof, you should always look out for these common electrical problems in your office. Let’s have a look at them one by one and also see how they can be prevented using proactive methods.

Outdated or Damaged Equipment

Usually, equipment and appliances in the office are overworked, mainly because of the large number of people who are using them. However, not every office has a maintenance schedule that calls for the timely inspection of all the equipment. As a result, the employees keep using them until they die down with a loud bang or spark.

To prevent this from happening and from causing any further damage to your appliances or wiring, make sure to get your wiring, cables, and cords checked.

If you notice any damage or see that there is a spark or any other fault, then you should get your equipment and appliances checked at the earliest.

Improper Grounding

Grounding, or earthing, refers to the process of connecting your home’s electrical system with the earth’s conductive surface, and this is extremely important to redirect excess current from the electrical system so that there isn’t a short circuit or electrical fire.

In case there is no or improper grounding, there is a higher risk of electrical accidents, including electrocution.

Therefore, it is highly essential that you get the grounding checked by a competent and experienced electrician in Vancouver, who not only identifies any faults in your electrical system but also gets them fixed.

Overloaded Circuits

Since your office has dozens of people present in it, there is also a need for a large number of sockets and power outlets to plug in their devices, laptops, computers, printers, network equipment, and much more.

However, there may not be enough power sockets to cover the entire office, which may force employees to plug in multiple devices and appliances into extension cords and cause the circuit to overload. This can result in an electrical fire or burn the wiring as well.

Firstly, you should ensure that there are a sufficient number of wall sockets spread evenly throughout the office, so that extension cords aren’t needed at all. Secondly, even if you need extension cords, make sure to get ones with surge protection and an integrated on/off switch so that there is no chance of a short circuit or circuit overload.

Poor Insulation

Another common electrical problem that you might experience at the office involves poor insulation on the wiring and cables in the electrical system, which mostly happens because of the heat produced by the flow of electricity, as well as the ambient temperature. Lack of insulation on wires can expose them, and when they come in contact with your skin, you will be electrocuted and badly injured.

The only way to prevent this is to call an electrician in Vancouver and get your wiring inspected so that there is no uninsulated wiring left that can be fatal for you or your employees.

Incorrect Wire Sizes

Did you know there is also such a thing as wire sizes? The sizes are there for a reason: they determine how much load the wire can bear before it starts to overheat or its insulation melts off. It is okay if you don’t know anything about the right wire sizing, but it is imperative that the electrical companies around you know about this.

To ensure that the wiring inside your office doesn’t overheat and cause a disaster, you need to hire an electrician in Vancouver and have them check the wiring properly, so that your mind is at peace and your employees are safe as well.

Exposed Wiring or Components

Even if you have an ad hoc or temporary office, or your office is being renovated while the employees are working, the chances are that there will be exposed wiring or electrical components, such as lighting, open electrical panels, extension wires, power units, etc. These are only a few of the exposed electrical components that come to mind, but there can be a lot more of them, and they can cause electrocution and burns to your employees.

Even if your office isn’t undergoing renovation or repairs, there may be an area in which there is exposed wiring or components. You need to get in touch with one of the professional electrical companies around you to get it fixed as soon as possible. They would also be able to tell you the proper wire sizing based on the maximum load you can put on the electrical circuit.

Unsuitable Environment

Every office doesn’t have the same environment, and this can be due to a number of factors. Primarily, the operating conditions or environment in your office may cause a higher risk of electrical hazards, i.e., excess moisture, heat, dust, or the presence of corrosive or toxic chemicals. If you don’t maintain cleanliness or suitable operating conditions, your workers or employees will be at a greater risk of getting injured due to electrical hazards.

Therefore, as the owner of a company, it is your responsibility to ensure that a healthy and safe environment is created and maintained for your employees and that they also feel safe.

Overheating Fixtures and Appliances

Nowadays, a lot of offices have different shifts for their employees, which means that the lighting, appliances, and electrical equipment are always running and get no rest at all. While this may be alright when you have new appliances, it can be hazardous if your appliances and fixtures have worn out with excessive usage.

Most offices also have halogen lamps or other types of lighting that produce a lot of heat. If you leave these lights on round-the-clock, it will cause the lamps to overheat, and this can be incredibly dangerous. Therefore, you should consider replacing your lighting with LED bulbs, as they are more energy-efficient and produce less heat. Also, make sure that the electrical wiring for all the appliances and fixtures is concealed and insulated correctly.

Health and Safety Risks

At your office, you may have employees with health conditions that require them to wear a medical device on their person at all times, such as a pacemaker or any other device that needs to be connected to the electrical circuit. First of all, a pacemaker can malfunction if exposed to electromagnetic waves. Therefore, you should hire an electrician to identify any electromagnetic radiation present nearby.

Secondly, if one of your employees has a medical device that needs to be plugged in, a short circuit or any other electrical fault can cause the device to malfunction or blow out, which can cause a significant risk to the person’s health. Therefore, it is up to you to eliminate any risk or threat to their health and safety. In most states, you may also be legally bound to do so.

Old Wiring

Last but not least, it is also essential to address the fact that the wiring inside your office or commercial building may be old or outdated. You may not know about it, especially if you have moved into the building or commercial property. Old wiring can be quite a nuisance and can cause a lot of problems in the office. Firstly, they are unable to transmit the same amount of current required to power up devices and appliances, which can cause those appliances to burn out and get damaged.

Moreover, old wiring also has poor insulation, and as you already know, it can cause electrocution or an electrical fire. Old wiring isn’t compatible with newer appliances, so it is inevitable for you to get them changed. Otherwise, you will be up against electrical hazards, tripping breakers, and a threat to your employees’ safety.

If you are moving to a new office or haven’t done any electrical inspection in your existing office since the past few years, it is high time you need to get it done, and ‘electrician near me’ should be the next thing on your Google search. There are several credible electrical companies that you can hire to check your office’s electrical system for any of the above problems. Doing so will ensure a safe and comfortable work environment for your employees.

Arthur Kavanagh