Electrical Safety Equipment All Factories Need

Working in a factory exposes employees to all kinds of electrical hazards. Heavy machinery that relies on electricity may shock and spark, causing burns, electrocutions, and fires. All industrial sites must invest in safety devices to protect their staff, equipment, and facilities.

While accidents do happen, many injuries involving electricity are preventable. To reduce liability, manufacturing plants can use preventative tools and devices. All factories need certain kinds of electrical safety equipment to satisfy OSHA requirements and improve their work environments.

Variable Frequency Drives

Electrical motors utilize a lot of power to operate heavy machinery. However, every piece of equipment has a limit. Pushing the envelope or failing to regulate energy usage leads to overloading, which can be an extreme safety hazard.

Variable frequency drives (VFDs) help with controlling things like power, speed, and torque. To keep your work floor safe from an overpowered motor, choose a VFD that matches your intended workload.

Grounding Equipment

Electricity can go haywire at any time. In the event of an emergency, grounding equipment will give currents a different pathway. When electricity charges metal equipment and frames, grounding tools will prevent severe injuries and fatalities; industrial grounding equipment includes conductors, metal conduits, and cable raceways.

Voltage Detectors

Grounding equipment can still carry charges after guiding currents away from your workers. Voltage detectors allow technicians to confirm that conductors no longer contain any dangerous energy. If your detecting tools sense any remaining voltage, you’ll know the object you’re testing isn’t safe to handle.

Voltage detectors aren’t only useful for grounding equipment. You can test outlets, supply cords, and other pieces of electrical equipment to verify safety.

Personal Protective Gear

The final type of electrical safety equipment all factories need is personal protective equipment (PPE). No amount of safeguarding can replace PPE in an industrial setting. All employees operating electrical machines must wear protective eyewear, gloves, clothing guards, and footwear.

Electrical PPE must have arc flash features for flame resistance—you’ll know your protective gear meets this requirement if it has an arc rating. This label indicates the fabric has insulated properties that will further protect electrical workers.

Your industrial facility should also have durable outage protection. While these devices are an investment, it’s worth the cost to promote a safe working environment.