SAF-T-CORNER

A METAL SHOP CAN BE A DANGEROUS PLACE EVEN UNDER THE BEST OF CIRCUMSTANCES

There are always safety considerations to be aware of when moving into a new facility. SafTcart's new manufacturing facility, which we moved into in January of 2006, was previously a mobile home manufacturing plant and had been empty for more than five years. Needless to say, we had a lot of renovating to do prior to moving day. The two major driving forces behind our renovations were manufacturing necessity and employee safety.

While SafTcart did not technically tear down the entire structure and erect a new building, we might as well have for all the work that was eventually done to bring this building up to our specifications. We found one of the biggest drivers to how we renovated - from both the manufacturing and safety side of the construction - was the electrical service. To meet today's safety codes and to provide the kind of electrical service required in a 21st century manufacturing facility, it was necessary to replace every wire, switch box, circuit breaker and related electrical device in the building.

To make the rewiring of the building as efficient as possible, we first moved our equipment in from the old plant to predetermined locations throughout the new plant, based on the anticipated flow of material. In lieu of conduit, we used a system in which all electrical lines were laid on a series of electrical ladders that take multiple lines. This system saves time and money when wiring a large facility and meets or exceeds our local electrical codes.

We strived to eliminate the use of extension cords wherever possible. OSHA frowns on extension cords in manufacturing facilities for several reasons, including the potential extension cords present for death or serious injury. When an extension cord lies across a floor or piece of equipment, especially in a facility where steel is an integral part of the day-to-day operations, that cord can be easily damaged. An entire piece of equipment could become electrified, or worse, in the case of a major liquid spill, the entire floor could become an electrical conductor with the potential to kill or seriously injure scores of employees.

So…my message this month is:
DO NOT USE EXTENSION CORDS IN A MANUFACTURING AREA.
If you must use an extension cord in an emergency situation, please make sure that you monitor its proper use and take steps necessary to ensure that its use is only a temporary remedy.

For more information on the standards concerning electricity in the work place, consult the OSHA website, reference 29 CFR 1910.301 - 399 and its subsequent additions (www.osha.gov/SLTC/electrical/standards.htmland). While these references can seem vague, careful attention to them can be very helpful, especially if you are preparing for an OSHA Audit.

Until next time, be safe.