Safety Measures to Take at Workplace For Extension Cords

Safety Measures to Take at
Workplace For Extension
Cords
Electricity is the basic necessity of our day-to-day lives. Especially,
when you have a company with millions of things running on electricity
like computers, air conditioners, biometric attendance system, and
whatnot. So, it becomes imperative that you use all the resources in an
efficient manner.
In fact, in the workplace, it is important to have proper electrical
outlets so your employees can use them accordingly.
But,
If you are using a multi outlet extension cord to power things in your
office, then you need to take care of many things.
Usage of extension cords adds numerous risk-taking factors in your
workplace especially, if your employees are careless with it.
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In such scenarios, it becomes unavoidable to take proper electricity
safety measures.
Let's look at some safety measures you need to take
while setting up different phases of the extension
cord:
Purchasing chords is the first step. And here are the two major things
you need to take care of while purchasing a multi outlet extension cord.
1. Wire Gauge
2. Length
These two things influence the cord's load capacity or its ability to
handle the electrical current.
Let's look at them briefly.
Wire Gauge
The amount of power or current that the cord carries at any given time
depends on the diameter or gauge of the wire. Not only this but it also
affects how much the wire heats when carrying a current.
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If the wire overloads, it might cause a fire.
Length
The length of the wire affects the cord's voltage drop or the amount of
voltage it loses due to resistance in wires.
The ratings of extension cords are on the basis of their gauge (means
diameter of wire) and length and American Wire Gauge or AWG.
They are in the form of light-duty cords, which means they are useful
only for light-duty appliances. For heavy-duty cords which range from
10 to 15 amps of power, we need a third wire and plug prong for
earthing.
Once you have a perfect cord for yourself, the next step is to use the
extension cord responsibly.
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Here, we have described a few things you must take care of
while using cords:
Firstly, never under any circumstances, remove an extension cord's
earthing pin to make it useful for two-prong outlet. If a cord has a
grounding pin, it means it's designed to handle high voltage power and
thus need an earthing pin for preventing any kind of fire hazard.
While powering things using extension cord, you need to understand
the capacity of the extension cord. If possible, plugin only one
appliance at a time even if it is a ​multi outlet extension cord​. Because
you need to make sure that the extension cord does not heat and
chances it will if you plugin multiple things.
Suppose the cord has a mark like indoor or outdoor then use it
accordingly. The outdoor cords have extra protection against the
natural elements that indoor ones don't.
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When you touch the extension cord, if you find it to be hot then I
recommend you stop using it immediately. Usually, the designs are
such that it should not get hot. But, if it still does then you need to
understand that it is getting overloaded.
Now, comes the third step i.e. ​maintaining cords​.
It is important to maintain cords while you are using the cords as well
as when not using them. There are many ways you maintain your
extension cords like looping the coil, applying velcro cord wraps, etc. It
does not matter which method you use but you need to make sure to
stick to any of them.
Next up is the most essential tip to maintain the extension cords:
unplug them. Almost everyone forgets to unplug the cords which they
are not using or after using.
Extra tip: Remember to store your cords indoors as most of the natural
elements and electrical equipment don't go together.
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Be sure and clear of where you are plugging your wire as you might
invite a fire hazard with a wrongly plugged or loose wire. Additionally, it
can invite a lawsuit too if you leave it carelessly.
Lastly, if you take a cord out of the outlet, make sure you are pushing
the plug and not the cord. And if you find any signs of damage on the
extension cord, replace it immediately.
Wrapping it up:
While taking care of electrical things like ​power cord or extension cord,
it is necessary for you to be completely alert and aware of the safety
measures.
In fact, as an employer, it is your responsibility to take care of your
office's surroundings.
Taking these steps is just the beginning of safety measures. There are
many steps you need to take when it comes to safety. Stay on top of
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these electrical measures as hazards can walk in from any place at any
time.
This Blog is Originally posted here:
https://www.sooperarticles.com/shopping-articles/electronics-articles
/safety-measures-take-workplace-extension-cords-1760437.html
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