11 Facts/Questions to Ask Yourself When Assessing Electrical Equipment

11 Facts/Questions to Ask Yourself When Assessing Electrical Equipment

1. Ensure the electrical equipment is marked with ALL of the following information:
   a. The manufacturer’s name or trademark;
   b. Voltage;
   c. Current;
   d. Wattage; and
   e. Other ratings (as necessary)?
2. Are each disconnecting means marked to indicate its purpose?
3. Ensure sufficient access and working space is provided and maintained around electrical equipment to ensure safe operation and maintenance?
4. Does the provided working space met ALL of the following criteria;
   a. Not less than 30 inches wide in front of the electric equipment;
   b. Not used for storage;
   c. Has at least one entrance;
   d. Has at least three feet in front of live parts;
   e. Has adequate illumination; and
   f.  Has minimum headroom of 6 feet 3 inches
5. Are all live parts guarded using approved enclosures and are all covers in place and closed?
6. Are electrical disconnect switches readily operable from the operating floor level?
7. Ensure there are  means for disconnecting all conductors from the service-entrance conductors include ALL of the following features:
   a. A disconnecting means that indicates whether it is open or closed;
   b. A disconnecting means installed at a readily accessible location nearest the entrance of the Service-entrance conductors; and
   c. Each service disconnecting means simultaneously disconnect all ungrounded conductors?
8. Are live parts of fixtures, lamps, appliances, protected from employee contact?
9. Are portable handlamps that are supplied through flexible cords equipped with an approved handle that includes a guard attached to the lamp holder or the handle?
10. Are only weatherproof lamp holders and fixtures installed in wet or damp locations?
11. Are receptacles, cord connectors, and attachment plugs designed to be used only with the same voltage or current rating?