Working as an electrician can be risky and simple mistakes can have serious consequences. If you take a common sense approach and remember basic safety tips, you can generally avoid serious accidents. Your safety needs to be your top priority, so we’ll be discussing some steps you can take to make sure you stay safe.
Staying safe on the job
- Wear proper protective clothing and equipment – It’s easy to become complacent when you’ve been working as an electrician for some time but you need to be vigilant when it comes to protecting yourself. Wear protective gear, such as protective glasses, if necessary and use insulated tools as required.
- Be careful when working at heights – Electricians often need to work at heights and care needs to be taken if this is case. Never stand on the top of a ladder and always place your ladder on a firm, non-slip surface. Make sure your ladder is in good condition and upgrade if it’s getting too wobbly.
- Watch out for dehydration – As an electrician, long days coupled with Australia’s trademark hot summers can lead to serious dehydration. Keep water on hand and stay hydrated throughout the day. Remember that entering roof spaces can be hot work so keep this to a minimum on scorchers.
- Lift heavy items safely – If you need to do any heavy lifting of tool, equipment or items you’re installing, make sure you do it safely. Keep the items close to your body and lift with your legs. Make sure your back is straight and keep a good grip. Remember to ask for help if you need it.
- Check tools and equipment regularly – Look after your tools and other equipment and regularly check them for any defects. If it looks like a certain item is on its way out, replace it immediately rather than risking it causing issues while you’re at work. Check items such as extension cords to make sure they don’t have any cuts, breaks or damaged insulation.
Covering yourself with insurance
Although your physical safety is important, you also need to consider the financial security of your electrician’s business. Without the right insurance package in place, you could leave yourself open to being financially liable for huge amounts of money following a successful claim.
Public liability insurance is a form of cover that all electricians should have in place and in some states it’s also compulsory. This cover protects you financially if you’re found liable after damage to property or a person which has occurred while you were on the job. Other forms of cover including general property cover, workers compensation insurance, personal accident and injury cover, and life insurance may also apply to you. A good insurance package means you have financial peace of mind and can do your work without having to worry about things going wrong.
For competitive insurance cover for your electrician business, contact All Trades Cover today on 1300 826 850 or fill in our quick online form.
