Importance of maintaining health and safety in the use of electricity.
Electricity has destabilized and jeopardized many lives due to lack of proper health and
safety maintenance in its many uses. We tend to take electricity for granted, not only does
it cause shock but it’s secondary effects can lead to falls, fires and fatalities.
It is important to follow the same systematic approach used for health and safety issues
when dealing with electricity. Reference can be made to punch newspaper caption of
August 20, 2017: “82 die in electricity accident in seven months”. Also ‘This Day’ newspaper
of 26 July 2016 captioned: “Nigeria: Curbing Incessant Electricity Accidents” stressed the
need for reasons to be more safety conscious in the use of electricity. Almost everything in
a workplace, home, institution, and public setting, operates on electricity. No one can
understate the importance of health and safety knowledge in the use of electricity.
Electrical maintenance enhances the smooth running of electricity powered items and
devices while creating a safe environment that will be free of all sorts of hazards. When
regular electrical health and safety checks are carried out, various unwelcomed mishaps
related with electricity get avoided in an opportune manner.
Electricity is used daily. However, if uncontrolled or misused it can severely burn, injure, kill,
or cause fires with devastating results. Majority of electrical faults can be seen by visual
inspection but are mostly being neglected. For instance, electrical cable wirings tend to be
the most common cause of electrical accidents. Electricians at most scenarios don't even
consider health and safety measures as a thing of interest or a necessity thus leading to
fatalities as cited in the ‘This Day’ newspaper quoted above.
Health and safety maintenance in the use of electricity is vital and can be achieved by safe
practices such as: employing only qualified technicians in the installation and maintenance
of electric fittings and appliances. Using appropriate insulated tools such as rubber gloves
and goggles while working on any electrical devices. Avoiding the use of equipment with
frayed cords, damaged insulation or broken plugs. Avoid water when working with
electricity or its appliances. Replace or repair damaged electrical cords and avoid
overloaded outlets and most importantly, being safety conscious around electrical devices.
Electrical hazard can be fatal. As such it is important to know how to work safely with or
within the vicinity of electricity. All electrical systems can be potentially harmful and can
cause electric shock, electrocution, burns, falls, numbness, paralysis, temporary blindness
and mortality. These types of incidents can occur in various instances. Through direct
contact with electricity, electricity can travel through the body and interfere with the
regular electrical signal between the brain and the muscles, this can lead to extensive tissue
damage.
Proper health and safety measures in the use of electricity will not only protect lives and
properties, our environment and assets in our homes, business centers and factories will be
safe from unplanned and unfavorable incidences.
Abdullah Qaasim Falade
No. 5 Olabisi Olaitan str. Igando, Lagos.
Command Day Secondary School
Nigeria Army Cantonment, Ojo, Lagos.
09079259447.
