The information in this article contains expert advice compiled by Utility Bidder professionals to avoid injury while servicing and repairing domestic appliances. The information pertains to anyone who conducts electrical inspections, services, and repairs of household appliances. These guidelines are also for the awareness of the general public to guarantee their safety.
Electrical Dangers & Hazards
People conducting electrical repairs, tests, and services have the highest risk of injury due to an electric shock. An electrical shock poses a serious threat because it can be fatal or cause permanent injuries. An electrical shock occurs when any part of the body comes into contact with any electrical conductor that has electricity passing through it. It often occurs when testing, servicing or repairing domestic appliances connected to the main power supply.
Electrical arcing occurs when electricity from an electrical field travels through a gas. Arcing can result in serious burns to people in the vicinity. Injuries happen if a person reacts erratically after receiving an electric shock, for example, falling and coming into contact with other hazards.
Specific Scenarios Increasing The Likelihood Of Electric Shock
Electric shock is more likely in these specific scenarios:
■ Most electrical appliances contain large metal areas to ground electrical current. Electrical appliances also have a circuit that carries the electrical current when connected to the mains. A qualified electrician can identify these areas and refrain from touching them. There is a hazard of receiving an electrical shock if you hold the ground connection or any part of the circuit while the appliance is plugged in.
■ Some household appliances, like washing machines and dishwashers, contain water and other liquids. The equipment poses a higher risk of electrical shock because liquids, including water, conduct electricity and easily contact human skin.
■ Microwave ovens intrinsically operate at high voltage (generally 4kV). There is an increased risk of a powerful electric shock if the microwave cover is taken off to perform repairs.
■ When technicians perform repairs in the customer’s home, they expose everybody at home (including children) to the potential risk of electrical shock.
■ Additional hazards exist when working in the customer’s home, especially if proper precautions are not taken while conducting the repairs.
How To Minimise Risk Of Injury While Repairing Electrical Equipment?
Businesses providing electrical repairs for electrical appliances must conduct a general risk assessment to pinpoint safety measures when providing at-home electrical repair. The general guidelines for risk assessment are listed here: www.hse.gov.uk/risk. Remember that this is a general guideline, and there can be more risks based on working conditions at the customer’s premises. Technicians must take all the appropriate precautions before providing customised electrical assistance at home.
The answers to the following questions will help you identify how you can begin working safely:
■ Is it possible to switch off and repair the electrical appliance? The legal requirement is to switch off the appliance and perform repairs if possible. If it is not possible to switch off the appliance, take the necessary precautions based on risk assessment while performing the repairs.
■ Did you disconnect the power and isolate the appliance from the mains power supply before beginning to replace or repair defective parts? Disconnect the power by removing the plug or switching off the fuse that supplies power to the appliance. Take necessary precautions to make sure no one plugs in the appliance or turns on the fuse by mistake.
■ Did you take the necessary precautions based on the risk assessment to make sure that no one gets hurt so you can perform the repairs in a safe environment?
■ Do you have the necessary skills (qualification, certification, and experience) to perform the repairs?
You might not be working in a safe environment if you answered no to any of these questions. Remember these are general guidelines to perform electrical repairs safely.
Maintaining Safety In The Workshop & At Home
The workshop is a safe place to perform electrical repairs and it contains specialised tools and equipment. Technicians operate specialised tools in safe working conditions because the working environment focuses on the working conditions required for each instrument to function safely. It is difficult to replicate these working conditions on a customer’s premises. The following are some guidelines for technicians to work safely at the customer’s home:
■ If working at the customer’s premises is not a safe choice to work in – don’t. Take the electrical appliance back to the workshop for the sake of everyone’s safety.
■ It is recommended to isolate the specific area where you perform electrical repairs at the customer’s house. Technicians will be able to concentrate on the repairs and the residents will be safe.
■ Do not work in a cramped space at the client’s premises. In the event of an accident, such as an electrical shock, the technician should have ample room to maintain their safety. Remove obstacles from the working place for safety reasons. Avoid working in cramped corners that limit movement.
■ Make sure everybody at home knows that electrical repairs are taking place. Instruct everybody to take the necessary precautions to allow the technician to work safely. Ideally, there should not be any children or pets present.
■ Do not leave electrical equipment and tools unsupervised, especially if they are connected to the main supply.
■ In the workshop, do not allow entry to unauthorised individuals that do not have the necessary skills to perform repairs. The working area should be clearly defined and barricaded to prevent unauthorised access. New workers must receive proper training before being allowed in the authorised area.
■ If customers enter the authorised area of a workshop for any reason, make sure they are aware of the potential dangers.
■ Demarcate and label the working area so that no two similar repairs take place in the same area.
Guidelines For Customers Getting Electrical Repairs
Whenever you get electrical repairs from any repair shop ask them if they test the equipment at their workshop before delivering the appliances. Ask them what happens in the event the repaired item has the same problem within the next few days.
Visit their workshop to make sure that they follow proper safety procedures to ensure the safety of the appliances and their employees. Ask them if all of their employees are licensed technicians. Make sure you are aware of all the terms and conditions before getting any electrical repairs or services for your electronic appliances.