The following extension cord safety training material is adapted from today’s featured safety training product, 7-Minute Safety Trainer®.
Extension cords are such a common item in the workplace and in the home, that many people take them for granted and fail to realize that they can be hazardous if used improperly.
To prevent accidents, employees must start by choosing the right extension cord for the job.
- Only extension cords with labels saying that they have been tested and approved by an independent laboratory (e.g., UL) should be used.
- Extension cords are considered temporary wiring and are intended only for temporary use.
- The extension cord chosen will depend on whether it’s being used indoors or outdoors and the length needed. Don’t use indoor cords outside. Don’t plug one cord into another to make it longer; use a cord of the right length, which could start a fire.
- The choice of extension cord might also depend on conditions of use, such as whether it will be used in areas where there is moisture, heat, or chemicals. If so, select cords specially constructed to resist these conditions.
- The gauge and length of an extension cord indicate the maximum wattage of equipment the cord can power. Check the label on extension cords to determine length and gauge. The smaller the gauge, the larger the wattage of the equipment that can be used with the cord. The longer the cord, the less current the cord can carry.
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- The label on electrical equipment also provides information about the wattage rating. To determine the wattage rating, multiply amps by volts.
- If you use an extension cord with more than one piece of electrical equipment, you must choose a cord that is safe to use with the total combined wattage rating of all the equipment.
Tips for Safe Use of Extension Cords
- Inspect extension cords carefully before each use to make sure the cord and plug are in good condition.
- Insert the plug fully into the outlet and uncoil the cord to reduce the risk of overheating.
- Plug extension cords into a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) when used in wet or damp areas.
- Make sure electrical equipment is turned off before you plug it into an extension cord.
- Don’t run extension cords across aisles or through doorways where they may be damaged or create tripping hazards.
- Don’t run extension cords under rugs, which could cause the cord to overheat and start a fire.
- Don’t attach extension cords to floors or walls with nails or staples, which could damage insulation, expose wires, and cause an electrical shock and/or fire.
- Unplug extension cords when not in use.
- Store outdoor cords indoors when they are not being used to prevent damage.
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To help train employees in a broad range of safety and health topics, savvy safety professionals have for years relied on BLR’s 7-Minute Safety Trainer. This essential training resource allows you to provide concise, memorable training easily and effectively in just a few minutes. Materials are ready-to-use, and each session supplies a detailed trainer’s outline as well as a handout, quiz, and quiz answers to get your points across quickly—and cost-effectively.
All told, 7-Minute Safety Trainer contains 50 prewritten meetings covering almost every aspect of safety you’d want or need to train on, in a format designed to be taught in as little as 7 minutes. You can view a complete table of contents here, but among the major topics are:
—Confined spaces
—Electrical safety
—Fire safety/response
—HazCom
—Machine guarding and lockout/tagout
—Material handling
—PPE use and care
—Housekeeping/slips, trips, and falls
—And dozens more
Just make as many copies as needed of the included handouts and quizzes, and you’re ready to train. You can view materials from a sample module here.
Equally important is that when new or changed regulations compel new training topics or training needs to be freshened, the program ships new meetings every quarter. This service is included in the program price, which averages just over a dollar a working day. In fact, this is one of BLR’s most popular safety programs.
If you’d like to personally evaluate 7-Minute Safety Trainer and see how it can build safety awareness, we’ll be happy to send it to you for 30 days, on a no-cost, no-obligation trial basis. Just let us know and we’ll arrange it.
Download Table of Contents
Download Sample Safety Meeting
Effective Safety Training in Just 7 Minutes!
All told, this “trainer’s bible” contains 50 prewritten meetings covering almost every aspect of safety you’d want or need to train on, in a format designed to be taught in as little as 7 minutes. All of them are perfect for getting new employees off to a safe start, as well as keeping veteran workers alert and up to date on all your safety concerns.
Major topics in the 7-Minute Safety Trainer include:
—Confined spaces
—Electrical safety
—Fire safety and emergency response
—HazCom
—Machine guarding and lockout/tagout
—Material handling
—PPE use and care
—Housekeeping/slips, trips, and falls
—And dozens more
Just make as many copies as you need of the included handouts and quizzes, and you’re ready to train.
Equally important is that the program ships new meetings every quarter to respond to new and changed regulations. This service is included in the program price, which averages just over $1 a working day. In fact, this is one of BLR’s most popular safety programs.
If you’d like to personally evaluate 7-Minute Safety Trainer and see how it can build safety awareness, we’ll be happy to send it to you for 30 days on a no-cost, no-obligation trial basis. Just let us know, and we’ll arrange it.