A stressful week in the office, warehouse or factory can go from bad to worse in a matter of seconds thanks to a power outage.
Threatening to halt day-to-day operations, a power outage can be both costly and risky.Should you experience a cut in power, though, the key priority is to stay safe. But when in doubt, contact an electrician. Our dedicated team here at JLM Electrical may be able to give you the advice you need, should you suspect your power has cut out due to fault.Maintain electrical safety by turning the main power off, but if switching it off means you have to stand in or on a wet service, call a professional and have them turn it off.
Spotted a downed power line? Simply stay away from it and warn colleagues, too.Once an outage occurs, ensure complete electrical safety by switching off all major appliances. If you work in an office, encourage employees to instead work from home until the issue is sorted. If and when power is eventually restored, you may find the electricity comes back in bursts, which is why it’s important to ensure appliances are switched off.
Failing to do this may damage expensive gadgets and appliances as a result of an overload of your office or home’s circuits.Do you have an emergency kit handy in the office? Ensure it contains a flashlight with additional batteries, along with non-perishable food items, a can opener, drinking water, a blanket, a whistle, towels, wipes, emergency medicines and a list of important phone numbers.
You never know when you may need such a kit (for the office or home) and make sure everyone is aware of its location at all times.Of course, in case of a power outage, your actions in the office depend entirely on the building your business is in. Located in a high-rise building with lifts?
A loss of electricity can prove more dramatic, so if possible, evacuate all employees. In advance, it’s important everyone knows the location of a designated area with windows with ample light. If, however, your office or factory is windowless, ensure flashlights are made available to keep everyone safe. If possible, each employee should have a flashlight of his own, especially in a building free of windows or natural light.
The fact is, power outages can happen, but there are plenty of ways you can help alleviate the risk by putting a few procedures in place in advance. Have you thought of installing emergency lights that switch on automatically when the power goes out?
That’s something we’d be happy to help with here at JLM Electrical. Give us a call to discuss your options and we’ll help ensure your business is prepared for anything.
