Safety Strategies to Maintain a Secure Workplace in the Utility Industry

If your company provides basic amenities such as water, sewage services, dams, electricity, and natural gas, then every employee deserves a secure workplace that is free of risks and hazards. To do this, each company in the utility sector needs the best safety strategies to maintain a secure workplace in the utility industry. This will ensure that employees are ready to provide basic amenities with a not-so-basic attitude.

Usually, electric engineers and maintenance personnel work alone for extended periods of time while others are exposed to toxic gases, chemicals, and heavy machinery; this can be extremely dangerous. Workers in the utility industry share numerous concerns. To ensure that they have a secure workplace, here are the safety strategies you can adapt to settle their concerns.

1. Electrical safety

Negligence in electrical safety can cause fatal electrical wiring accidents and injuries due to electrical hazards. It is therefore important to take precautions and avoid common electrical mistakes by following the National Electrical Code for the safe installation of electrical wiring and equipment. In addition to following USA electrical standards, it is important to ensure that your employees are properly trained to handle any electric equipment before they are on the job. This can be done by training your employees to use electrical equipment in order to avoid any fatalities.

2. Transmission lines

Working on high-voltage overhead lines requires you to follow the following safety measures:

·   Ensure that overhead lines are de-energized and grounded before any work gets started.

·   Make special arrangements with the person or organization that handles electric circuits that de-energize lines.

·   Insulate, guard, and isolate as a protective measure to prevent employees from coming in direct or indirect contact with conductive materials.

3. Slips, trips, and falls

An unexpected change in contact between feet and surface while walking can cause slips and trips. Ensuring that employees are properly trained and issued with the right garments can prevent such hazards.

4. Cold stress

Prolonged exposure to freezing temperatures can cause hypothermia, frostbite, and trench foot.   In some extreme cases, immersion in cold water can lead to death. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, exposure to extremely cold weather can cause cold stress. It is therefore important to ensure that every worker has limited exposure to cold environments. This can be done through proper planning.

5. Heat stress

Working in extremely hot environments can lead to heat stress. Exposure to extreme heat can cause heat rash, heat exhaustion, heat cramps, and heat strokes. As a result, the chances of injury and burns for the workers increase. Hot work environments may cause foggy glasses, sweaty palms, and dizziness. To ensure that the workers are safe, plan the shifts to be shorter and ensure that the employees are properly trained in case of emergencies.

6. Physical strain and overexertion

Working long hours in a fast-paced environment may seem like a great attribute for your workers, but it can lead to overexertion and fatigue, which leads to accidents and injuries. Ensure that the employees take regular short breaks and change tasks to keep them alert and minimize any chances of injuries.

7. Biological and chemical hazards

Whenever there is a serious viral, bacterial, or chemical hazard that your workers are exposed to, it is important to ensure that the necessary safety measures are taken to avoid any fatal incidents. Ensuring that your eyes receive good protection from the chemical explosions or radiation that can lead to loss of vision over time. By wearing specialized lenses such as blue light lenses, you increase clarity and protect your eyes from chemical radiation without fear of possible blindness or other eye impairments.

8. Emergency response

Implement an emergency response protocol that is up-to-date in case any unexpected situation arises. This will give workers the confidence to face emergencies with processes and policies that keep them safe at all times. Being prepared makes all the difference.