With Christmas fast approaching, the chances are your office will be thinking about the annual party and of course decorations. But electronic decorations and Christmas lights can be a workplace hazard, unless these are well planned and assessed. But what are the electrical safety considerations for office Christmas lighting? And how can you keep your office safe, but seasonal? Well, here at Walker Electrical, we are Preston’s leading electrical and lighting experts. As a result, we have produced this guide to help your office use Christmas lighting safely.
What are the electrical safety considerations for office Christmas lighting?
So, what should you consider before plugging in your Christmas decorations? Well, there are a number of things to be aware of, including:
- Extension leads- plugging more electrical items into your sockets could cause a supply problem. You might find that you need to use extension leads to provide ample sockets for use around the office. This could lead to the cables becoming a trip hazard, or more seriously, your sockets becoming overloaded. This can even cause an electrical fire. As a result, you should make sure that you have enough spare sockets for Christmas decorations, or maybe just stick to battery powered lights and artificial trees,
- PAT testing- before any electrical item is plugged in to your office, this should be PAT tested to make sure it is in full working order. This is even more important for Christmas decorations that are stored away for the rest of the year, and can become damaged without anyone noticing. Exposed wires and connections can lead to electric shocks and electric fire risks. To keep your workplace safe, make sure your items are PAT tested before use.
- Outdoor lights- never use any lights outside your office, unless they were designed for external use. You should also make sure that these are connected via a 30mA RCD protected socket to protect your property and your colleagues.
For more information get in touch with the experts today, here at Walker Electrical.