Keep New Employees Safe Around Electrical Assets

By Maggie Murphy, Safety Manager at SEAM Group

New employees may not always feel comfortable asking questions or bringing up potential issues with assets or a specific aspect of their work. Unfortunately, this behavior may put them at higher risk of injury or even fatal accidents.

Here are some straightforward ways to protect and empower new employees with the skills needed to perform their work safely from the start:

  • Discuss basic operational risks
  • Make sure workers are trained to use the right type/rating of electrical equipment
  • Review the dangers of “Daisy chaining” cords
  • Talk about the hierarchy of controls – PPE is not always the right answer
  • Provide NFPA 70E safe work practices and qualified worker training
  • Discuss the critical importance of Lockout/Tagout
  • Make sure workers understand the critical information provided in safety labels
  • Have an electrical safety and hazard communication system in place
  • Provide fall protection training – remember not all injuries are related to direct contact

Taking it a step further:

Think Digital: If your training program still relies on pen and paper for reporting or tracking, it’s time to digitize your catalog of training assets to make it easily accessible to employees.

Interaction is Key: Learning happens in practical, real-world situations in collaboration with others, so try to put your employees in front of equipment and assets as part of training program.

Maggie Murphy manages the overall safety program for SEAM Group, a global leader in energized asset safety, reliability, and maintenance. She previously progressed through multiple technician and research management roles for the University of Arizona.

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