Electrical Safety
Powering all kinds of machines and equipment, electricity is critical for businesses to operate. However, unsafe electrical usage and poor management can quickly lead to accidents that hamper those operations overall.
Electrical safety is all about recognizing hazards associated with the use of electrical energy and taking precautions to avoid injury or even death.
Having a basic understanding of what unsafe environmental conditions and behaviors to avoid is crucial to maintain a safe working space. Below are some common electrical hazards.
| Unsafe Conditions |
| Exposed energized facilities (e.g., exposed electrical panel board) |
| Damaged wire insulation |
| Loose electrical connections |
| Overloaded electrical circuits/equipment |
| Loose or lack of grounding connection |
| Substandard appliances & electrical equipment (no Underwriters Laboratory or Import Commodity Clearance Markings) |
| Blocked/Inaccessible panel boards |
| Dirt & dust accumulation on electrical installations (lack of maintenance and regular inspection) |
| Conductors installed without conduits or raceways |
| Unsafe Practices |
| Use of electrical devices in wet or hazardous conditions |
| Electrical works carried out by unqualified individuals |
| Unrestricted access to energized or high voltage facilities |
| Working on energized facilities without proper skills, tools and PPEs |
| Not following safe electrical work practices. Specifications/ratings are not compliant with PEC standards |
| Use of appliance/electrical equipment with incorrect voltage rating |
In most cases, when electrical safety is overlooked, the following may occur:
Severe injury or worse, death from electric shock.
Electrical fires due to overloaded or damaged wires, circuit breakers, equipment, and motors.
Arc flash or the sudden release of unexpected heat and light energy produced by electricity passing through the air like lightning.
This is usually caused by mismanaged live conductors.
Electrical safety is a shared responsibility between Meralco and its customers. The next sections will talk about how Meralco ensures the safety of its facilities and its customers.