In large industries, fires and explosions due to electrical reasons are very probable. Industries such as information technology, telecommunications, banking, and other commercial establishments suffer from business interruption losses due to electrical hazards.
An annual rate of electrical death for Canadian children is found to be 0.045%.
An electrical safety audit is a systematic process to evaluate the potential electrical hazards and to recommend suggestions for improvement. This tool identifies areas of risk, hazards, and potential hazards in plants, deterioration of standards, for determining actions to minimize hazards.
Care labs provides electrical installation’s study, analysis, testing, inspection, and certification services and we offer comprehensive electrical safety audit service for all types of facilities.
Functions of Canadian Advisory Council on Electrical Safety:
The Canadian Advisory Council’s functions on electrical safety include:
- Coordination with SCC (Standards Council of Canada) and AO’s (Accreditation organization) on matters regarding safety, technical and regulatory aspects of electrical standards.
- Provide advice for adopting and enforcing practices of uniform electrical safety standards.
- Provide advice to organizations on the development, revision, deletion, or addition of codes and standards/regulations.
- Provide a platform for sharing information on electrical safety incidents, accidents, and corrective measures.
- Monitor the activities of Accreditation organization and advice on testing, inspection, and certification of electrical products.
Why There is Need for Electrical Safety Audit in Canada ?
- Identifying flaws in the existing system will help the industries to prevent any further loss later
- For identifying and eliminating safety hazards before a tragedy breaks out
- Ensure compliance with government safety laws and practices
- Ensure the longevity of big and expensive electrical equipment for its safe and smooth functioning
- For training the staff and officials with the right skills and knowledge for the safe and smooth operation of equipment
- For taking necessary actions and measures for electrical safety
Benefits of Electrical Safety Audit:
- Compliance with standards and regulations
- Increase in the level of safety
- More effective use of resources
- Maintenance of electrical equipment to avoid danger in the future
- Identifying and eliminating safety hazards
- Ensuring longevity of expensive electronic equipment
- Developing dynamic record of safety performance
Checklist for electrical safety audit in Canada:
- Grounding of tools and appliances:
- Any tools or appliances that have been plugged in should be grounded. Equipment that eliminates a ground should be prohibited.
- Extension cords must be used safely:
- Extension cords must run to limit damage to their insulation. They should not be present in major paths or have components resting on them. Extension cords must not be plugged into one another end to end
- Inspection of all switches and outlets:
- Ensure that faceplates are present on all power switches and outlets.no loose wires should be accessible without removing the faceplate. Any outlet in an area with access to moisture should have a GFCI outlet
- Electrical shock/flash/hazard:
- Selection, installation, and maintenance of RCCB’S
- Earthing defects
- Using rewireable fuses
- Providing interlocks for multiple power sources
- Use of PPE’s
- Electrical fire hazard:
- Earthing defect
- RCCB’s
- Storage of flammable materials near the equipment
- Deteriorated insulation
- Usage of non-standard fuse wire
- Electrical preventive maintenance:
- Implementation and working of an EPM program
- Following relevant standards in an EPM program
- Transformer tests and periodic calibration of meters
- Electrical protection system:
- Ensure the working conditions of protection relays
- Calibration and testing of protection instruments
- Availability of protection fuses
- availability of transformer protection
- Compliance with statutory rules and standards
Electrical Safety Audit Process:
Process of electrical safety includes three main phases:
1.Pre-audit phase:
This phase involves defining the scope of the electrical safety audit. They are
- Onsite inspection of the area
- Review of electrical safety in the total system
- Review of protection devices in the system
- Review of cables, motors based on actual load current measurements and cable current carrying capacity
- Analysis of electrical accidents to identify their root cause
- Analysis of electrical preventive maintenance program in the plant
- Review of training needs of the employees
- Review of earthing system
- Insulation resistance tests
- Earth resistance test
- Identification of potential fire hazards
- Identification of electrostatic hazards
The pre-audit phase includes the following aspects:
- Process details
- Electrical one-line diagram
- Nameplate details of electrical components
- Details of zones in the plant
- Details of flammable chemicals and electrical accidents
- Overview of the electrical maintenance system
2.Audit phase:
The field/plant is visited and electrical hazards are identified as per the scope of the audit. The incoming electrical supply receiver section is inspected first followed by the main substation housing and then the various process sections are inspected.
All the relevant documents are examined after the field visits.
3.Post audit phase:
A safety audit report is drafted including the following details
- Management abstract
- Introduction
- Overview of the electrical system
- Specific observations and recommendations
- Lightning protection system evaluation
- Control measures for electrostatic hazard
- Observations and recommendations of hazardous area
Thus, with the successful completion of an electrical safety audit, a company will reap benefits that will help the industry in the long run.it ensures the safety of the equipment as well as the people working there.
So electrical safety audit is the best option when it comes to having electrical safety management and emergency preparedness plan for the overall safety of property and people.
For all types of electrical safety audits contact us today!