Electrical fires consistently rank among the leading causes of commercial and residential fires, often resulting in death, injury, and significant property loss to businesses. Yet, many electrical fires can be prevented or easily contained through proper installation and maintenance of fixtures, location of equipment, training for employees, and greater awareness overall of the potential hazards of working with or near electricity. This article is intended to help businesses identify potential electrical hazards and discuss the necessary steps to take to reduce the likelihood of an electrical fire and potential resulting loss. Specific product standards and safety procedures relating to these points are set forth in various federal and state requirements stemming from the Occupational Safety and Health Act of 1970 (OSHA) and the National Electrical Code, which was developed by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA).
Electricity for commercial buildings typically enters through an electrical distribution system, which varies in size and complexity depending on the business’s operations. An electrical distribution system is typically comprised of a network of circuits, including wiring, circuit breakers, fuses, and possibly additional step-down transformers for lower voltage equipment. Transformers in the electrical distribution system will pull power from the main local power grid and reduce the level of necessary power and distribute it throughout the
electrical distribution system in the building.
Electrical distribution systems are comprised of many complex components that can expose a commercial building to fire risks. Specific areas of concern include:
“Infrared thermal imaging” using a hand-held thermal scanner pointed at the electrical panel is an effective way to identify hot spots before they cause an electrical breakdown that can result in a fire. Smaller businesses may hire a licensed electrician to perform the inspection and provide a report and photos of the panels, while larger businesses may consider purchasing their own thermal scanner and training one or more employees on how to use the scanner and interpret the results.
Electrical distribution equipment should be periodically thermally imaged as well as physically inspected, cleaned, and tested by a licensed professional. Electrical distribution equipment to be inspected should include, at a minimum, the following:
Good housekeeping greatly reduces the odds for a fire. When electrical distribution equipment is in a separate dedicated room, the room should be temperature-controlled, well ventilated, clean, and dry to prevent moisture and excessive room temperatures that can degrade electrical materials. Additionally, keeping the room properly sealed will keep it free of dirt, dust, rodents, and pesky bugs that can get into the cabinets and degrade the equipment and potentially start a fire.
It is also important to keep combustible material away from electrical distribution systems, even if the room has an overhead sprinkler system. Too often, electrical rooms become a storage area for excess inventory or supplies, such as boxes, packaging materials, or janitorial supplies. It is important to note that direct contact with an electrical current is not the only way fires start. Electricity also can arc or jump through the air as a path to the ground and ignite combustible material in the vicinity. A carbon dioxide fire extinguisher is the proper method for extinguishing an electrical fire, however the best advice is to call the fire department and evacuate the building. If a dedicated electrical room is not available, electrical distribution panels or equipment may be located on a wall in a shared space. In these situations, combustible material should not be permitted within three feet of the equipment. Placing a yellow or red line on the floor is a simple way to remind and warn employees and visitors to keep their distance and not place combustible materials in this area. If distribution panels are located in an area where there may be moving vehicles such as forklift trucks or personnel carts, the equipment should be blocked by posts so it cannot accidentally be struck.
Any time electrical equipment is being repaired, removed, or replaced, proper safety procedures for electrical equipment systems, motors or other equipment should ALWAYS be implemented in order to prevent accidental reenergizing that could result in injury. Locking out and tagging electrical switchgear – placing a strictly controlled lock and tag on the main circuit breaker or disconnect switch controlling the disengaged equipment – should always be implemented when disabling electrical machinery of any kind. OSHA has specific lockout/tagout standard operating procedures including “The Control of Hazardous Energy (Lockout/Tagout),” Title 29 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 1910.147. In addition, 29 CFR 1910.333 provides requirements to protect employees working on electric circuits and equipment.
An often overlooked and common source for electrical fires is in lighting systems. When installing or replacing light bulbs or light fixtures, it is always recommended to use the wattage specified on the socket. In addition, fixtures should be placed away from high traffic areas where bulbs may be broken, and away from combustible materials. Unprotected light bulbs can be hit and broken, and may create sparks potentially causing a fire. Light bulbs can be protected by a simple plastic bulb cage. For large combustible storage, flammable liquids, or potentially explosive areas, explosion-proof lights are a prudent investment.
Additionally, it is important to look for visible signs of underlying fire hazards. Contact a qualified licensed electrician for an electrical system inspection if the following indicators are observed: Flickering or dimming lights may indicate a short in the wiring, dangerous arcing, or an over-extension of electrical systems. Multiple dimmed lights can also be a symptom of an overloaded circuit.
Periodic inspection and maintenance of electrical equipment can prevent breakdowns of vital power sources that control and light nearly all businesses. Employee safety, training, and knowledge of electrical equipment can ensure worker safety and prevent fires and other losses that can cause significant property damage and interrupt business operations. Additionally, as part of an established written electrical safety program, OSHA lockout/tagout standard operating procedures should be consistently followed by employees and contractors to help ensure personnel safety. Taking care of your equipment and employees is not expensive or complicated, but, over the long term, it is vital for keeping the lights on and your facility open for business.
Moto wa umeme ni moja ya sababu kuu za moto wa kibiashara na makazi, mara nyingi kusababisha vifo, majeraha, na hasara kubwa ya mali kwa biashara. Hata hivyo, moto wa umeme unaweza kuzuiwa au kudhibitiwa kwa urahisi kwa kuanzisha na kudumisha vifaa vya umeme, mahali pa vifaa, mafunzo kwa wafanyakazi, na ufahamu mkubwa wa hatari za kufanya kazi na umeme au karibu na umeme. Makala hii inakusudiwa kusaidia biashara kutambua hatari za umeme na kujadili hatua muhimu za kuchukua ili kupunguza uwezekano wa moto wa umeme na hasara inayoweza kutokea. Viwango maalum vya bidhaa na taratibu za usalama zinazohusiana na pointi hizi zimewekwa katika mahitaji mbalimbali ya shirikisho na ya serikali zinazotokana na Sheria ya Usalama na Afya ya Kazi ya 1970 (OSHA) na Kanuni ya Kitaifa ya Umeme, ambayo ilitengenezwa na Chama cha Kitaifa cha Ulinzi wa Moto (NFPA). Umeme kwa ajili ya majengo ya kibiashara kawaida huingia kupitia mfumo wa usambazaji wa umeme, ambayo hutofautiana katika ukubwa na utata kulingana na shughuli za biashara. Mfumo wa usambazaji wa umeme kwa kawaida unajumuisha mtandao wa mizunguko, pamoja na nyaya, circuit breakers, fuses, na uwezekano wa ziada hatua-chini transformers kwa vifaa vya voltage chini. Transformer katika mfumo wa usambazaji wa umeme itachukua nguvu kutoka kwa gridi kuu ya umeme ya ndani na kupunguza kiwango cha nguvu muhimu na kuigawanya katika mfumo wote wa usambazaji wa umeme katika jengo. Mifumo ya usambazaji wa umeme inajumuisha sehemu nyingi tata ambazo zinaweza kufunua jengo la kibiashara kwa hatari za moto. Sehemu maalum za wasiwasi ni pamoja na: <unk> Infrared thermal imaging <unk> kutumia handheld thermal scanner pointed katika jopo la umeme ni njia ya ufanisi ya kutambua maeneo ya moto kabla ya kusababisha kuvunjika kwa umeme ambayo inaweza kusababisha moto. Kampuni ndogo zinaweza kuajiri fundi wa umeme aliye na leseni ya kufanya ukaguzi na kutoa ripoti na picha za paneli, wakati biashara kubwa zinaweza kufikiria kununua skana yao ya joto na kufundisha mfanyakazi mmoja au zaidi jinsi ya kutumia skana na kutafsiri matokeo. Vifaa vya usambazaji wa umeme vinapaswa kuchunguzwa mara kwa mara kwa picha ya joto na pia kuchunguzwa kimwili, kusafishwa, na kupimwa na mtaalamu aliye na leseni. Vifaa vya usambazaji wa umeme vinavyopaswa kuchunguzwa vinapaswa kujumuisha, angalau, yafuatayo: Usimamizi mzuri wa nyumba hupunguza sana uwezekano wa moto. Wakati vifaa vya usambazaji wa umeme viko katika chumba tofauti, chumba hicho kinapaswa kudhibitiwa kwa joto, kupeperushwa vizuri, safi, na kavu ili kuzuia unyevu na joto la juu la chumba ambalo linaweza kuharibu vifaa vya umeme. Kwa kuongezea, kuweka chumba kimefungwa vizuri kutaifanya iwe huru kutoka kwa uchafu, vumbi, panya, na wadudu wanaosumbua ambao wanaweza kuingia ndani ya kabati na kuharibu vifaa na uwezekano wa kuwasha moto. Pia ni muhimu kuweka vifaa vinavyoweza kuwaka mbali na mifumo ya usambazaji wa umeme, hata kama chumba kina mfumo wa kunyunyizia maji. Mara nyingi, vyumba vya umeme huwa mahali pa kuhifadhi vitu vya ziada, kama vile masanduku, vifaa vya kufunga, au vifaa vya utunzaji. Ni muhimu kukumbuka kwamba kuwasiliana moja kwa moja na umeme si njia pekee ya kuwasha moto. Umeme pia unaweza kupenya au kuruka hewani kama njia ya ardhi na kuwasha vifaa vinavyoweza kuwaka moto katika eneo hilo. Kwa mfano, kifaa cha kuzima moto cha kaboni dioksidi (CO2) ni njia sahihi ya kuzima moto wa umeme, lakini ushauri bora ni kupiga simu idara ya moto na kuhamisha jengo. Kama chumba maalum umeme haipatikani, umeme usambazaji paneli au vifaa inaweza kuwa iko juu ya ukuta katika nafasi ya pamoja. Katika hali hizi, vifaa vya kuwaka havipaswi kuruhusiwa ndani ya miguu mitatu ya vifaa. Kuweka mstari wa manjano au nyekundu kwenye sakafu ni njia rahisi ya kuwakumbusha na kuwaonya wafanyikazi na wageni kuweka umbali wao na sio kuweka vifaa vinavyoweza kuwaka katika eneo hili. Kama paneli za usambazaji ziko katika eneo ambapo kunaweza kuwa na magari ya kusonga kama vile forklift au magari ya wafanyakazi, vifaa vinapaswa kuzuiwa na nguzo ili visigongane. Wakati wowote vifaa vya umeme vinaporekebishwa, kuondolewa, au kubadilishwa, taratibu sahihi za usalama kwa mifumo ya vifaa vya umeme, motors au vifaa vingine vinapaswa kutekelezwa kila wakati ili kuzuia kuingizwa tena kwa aksidenti ambayo inaweza kusababisha jeraha. Kufunga nje na tagging umeme switchgear <unk> kuweka lock na tag madhubuti kudhibitiwa juu ya kuu circuit breaker au disconnect kubadili kudhibiti vifaa disengaged <unk> lazima daima kutekelezwa wakati disabling mashine za umeme ya aina yoyote. OSHA ina taratibu maalum za uendeshaji za kiwango cha lock-out, pamoja na udhibiti wa nishati hatari (Lock-out) na kanuni ya 29 ya kanuni za shirikisho (CFR) sehemu ya 1910. Kwa kuongezea, 29 CFR 1910.333 inatoa mahitaji ya kulinda wafanyikazi wanaofanya kazi kwenye mizunguko na vifaa vya umeme. Mara nyingi chanzo cha moto wa umeme kinachopuuzwa na kinachotumiwa ni katika mifumo ya taa. Wakati wa kufunga au kubadilisha balbu za taa au vifaa vya taa, inashauriwa kila wakati kutumia nguvu iliyoainishwa kwenye soketi. Kwa kuongezea, vifaa vya umeme vinapaswa kuwekwa mbali na maeneo yenye trafiki kubwa ambapo balbu zinaweza kuvunjika, na mbali na vifaa vinavyoweza kuwaka. Balbu zisizohifadhiwa zaweza kugongwa na kuvunjika, na zaweza kutokeza miali ambayo yaweza kusababisha moto. Taa za taa zaweza kulindwa kwa ngome rahisi ya plastiki ya taa. Kwa ajili ya kuhifadhi kubwa inayoweza kuwaka moto, kioevu kinachoweza kuwaka moto, au maeneo yanayoweza kulipuka, taa zisizoweza kulipuka ni uwekezaji wenye busara. Kwa kuongezea, ni muhimu kutafuta ishara zinazoonekana za hatari za moto. Wasiliana na fundi wa umeme aliye na leseni ya kugundua mfumo wa umeme ikiwa dalili zifuatazo zinapatikana: Taa za kuangaza au kuzima zinaweza kuonyesha kifupi katika nyaya, arc hatari, au upanuzi wa juu wa mifumo ya umeme. Taa nyingi zilizozimwa pia zaweza kuwa dalili ya mzunguko uliokuwa na mzigo mwingi. Ukaguzi wa mara kwa mara na matengenezo ya vifaa vya umeme yanaweza kuzuia kuvunjika kwa vyanzo muhimu vya umeme vinavyoongoza na kuwasha karibu biashara zote. Usalama wa wafanyakazi, mafunzo, na maarifa ya vifaa vya umeme inaweza kuhakikisha usalama wa wafanyakazi na kuzuia moto na hasara nyingine ambayo inaweza kusababisha uharibifu mkubwa wa mali na kuvuruga shughuli za biashara. Kwa kuongezea, kama sehemu ya mpango wa usalama wa umeme ulioandikwa, taratibu za kawaida za uendeshaji za OSHA za kufuli na alama zinapaswa kufuatwa kwa mfululizo na wafanyikazi na wakandarasi kusaidia kuhakikisha usalama wa wafanyakazi. Kutunza vifaa vyako na wafanyikazi sio gharama kubwa au ngumu, lakini kwa muda mrefu, ni muhimu kwa kuweka taa na kituo chako wazi kwa biashara.