5 Simple Extension Cord Rules to Improve Worksite Safety

Extension cords make our lives a little easier and are one of the most used types of equipment both at home and at the workplace. The applications for extension cords are endless, from allowing you to operate electric machinery outside to hanging lights anywhere you want. They give you access to power even if there isn’t a plug-in sight.

xtension cords come in various thicknesses, colors, lengths, and functions, and you can choose one depending on your usage needs at home or the workplace. However, extension cord safety should be your number one priority at the latter.

Using an extension cord may seem relatively easy, but some risks are involved, similar to other electrical equipment.

This is especially the case in the workplace where heavy and powerful machines draw high voltage from the cords, and it may be a concern if you’re worried about workplace safety. Do you want to improve the safety standards for your work environment, especially with extension cords? If your answer is yes, then you’re in the right place to learn.

Below are five simple rules regarding extension cords at the workplace.

Avoid Any Trip Hazard

This is the most basic but most essential guideline while working with extension cords at the worksite. Many extension cord accidents happen because the long cords are often trip hazards. Workers are more likely to slip and tip over the cables when they’re covered beneath rugs or floor covers.

Additionally, cords placed close to exits and entrances in heavy foot traffic areas can be risky, so don’t place wires close to the doors.

Another way to prevent extension cord accidents is to place the cord in the same room or area you’re working. It may not use less wire while you’re indoors, but the doors and hallways will be clear of any cords lying around aimlessly.

Keep an Eye on the Cord’s Flexibility

Electric cords are not to be attached to the walls and ceilings at the workplace by using stitches or screws. Doing this may damage the outer cover of the extension cords.

You’ll often find that extension cables have a soft coating or jacket that allows easier routing and mobility. This, however, presents the disadvantage of them being vulnerable to breaking or damage.

If you attempt to attach the cables to the walls and ceilings, there is the risk of harm during usage or setup. You may compromise the coat’s integrity by stapling the cord or bolting it too profoundly and reaching the electrical wires.

And even if the setup is proper, the coating may still break due to tear and wear or mishandling.

Don’t Plug One Cord into Another

This is one significant risk—when people plug one extension cord into another. It may look harmless at first, but this action is against OSHA guidelines since it could lead to machinery breakdown, a burn, or worse, electric shock.

Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) guidelines are regulations outlining how businesses can safeguard the health of their employees from injuries. They give out requirements regarding marine activities, manufacturing, and general industries.

An extension cord’s length determines its rank, and when you plug two separate cords, their capacities are cut down by half.

This then leads to excessive heating and voltage fall. Extension cords shouldn’t exceed 100 feet lengthwise, but people still try to go over this length by connecting two cords, which is wrong.

Avoid Using Damaged Cords

If you see an extension cord with masking tape or electrical tape wound on it, most likely, the cable is weak or already broken. According to OSHA guidelines, while the extension cord may be functional, this cord is degraded and must be thrown away.

Extension cords can easily be damaged by turning them over, scratching, or falling equipment and an exposed electrical wire could pose a safety danger.

Salvaging the extension cord through repairs or replacing the wire may be possible, but in many cases, this could lead to an electrical hazard if the repairer is not careful.

Use Gfci Protection At Your Worksite

If the conditions at your worksite are too unsafe to use extension cords correctly, you should consider Ground Fa Interrupters or GFCIs.

GFCIs measure the current leaving and returning from a plug and will disconnect from the primary source if there’s a gap of 4-6 milliamperes or a “spill.” This disconnection saves you time because you don’t get to do cord checks and ensures no hazardous incident happens. After all, the GFCI responds almost immediately.

You should install a GFCI on all the extension cords in your workplace to reduce the risk of shocks to workers, and the good thing about them is that they’re inexpensive.

Conclusion

Extension cords are one of the most used construction tools, and they should be used with caution at all times. They pose a ton of risks from overheating to becoming a fire hazard, which may, in turn, lead to loss of property and life.

To ensure your workplace safety, there are more rules than these to help safeguard the security and health of workers while using extension cords with switches. These methods mainly depend on the workers taking more precautions when they handle any equipment.

If you and your workers follow the guidelines stipulated above, they will protect you from any significant injuries and accidents now and in the future.