28 Jan Top 5 Dangers in Cabling Installation and Safety Guidelines

We’ve been telling you about different aspects of network cabling in our previous posts and today we will share another perspective of our Network Data Cabling Installation Services. Here we are going to talk about the top 5 dangers and the basic safety outline that Network Cabling laborers follow in accordance to OSHA.

OSHA or Occupational Safety and Health Administration is an agency of the United States Department of Labor. Its mission is to guarantee safe and healthful working conditions for working men and women by setting standards and providing training, outreach, education, and assistance. This was signed into law by President Richard M. Nixon on December 9, 1970.

Before we share the safety guideline for our Network Cabling Heroes, let’s talk about Top 5 Dangers and Accidents that are always present in their line of work.

Top 5 Dangers in Cabling Installations

Ladder Falls

One report listed in https://www.osha.gov, a ladder fall accident resulted to a fractured leg and dislocated knee to a telecommunications installation company employee in June 2017.

Electrocutions

These people deal a lot with cables and electricity. It is not a surprise that Electrocutions is one of the things to be considered in Installation safety.

Eye Injuries (Fiber Optic Accident)

There might be a very small possibility of being electrocuted with Fiber Optics, but the safety hazard when dealing with it can’t be ignored. Fiber Optics does not carry electricity but does transmit light, which, in some instances, can damage the eye.

Falling Material or Getting Caught In Between Objects.

When installation takes place in a construction site, it is common to get caught in between hazardous materials or being struck by a falling object.

Fires and Explosions

Most of the time, fires, and explosions on installation sites are caused by electrical hazards. Basically when wirings were not organized properly.

These 5 are the most reported accidents in construction and network cabling installations listed in https://www.osha.gov. Most of these employees ended up being hospitalized but rarely, these accidents result in a fatality. This makes applying OSHA (Occupational Safety and Health Administration) Basic Safety Guidelines are very important in a Network Cabling Installation Company.

There are numbers of procedures and guidelines that must be observed in cabling site safety. This makes it very difficult because these installers and technicians must be familiar with general construction safety guidelines, electrical safety, and low-voltage installation rules.

Guidelines That Apply To Cabling Installations

Below are just some of the guidelines gathered that apply in all Cabling Installations.

Safety-Training Program:

• Housekeeping-safety rules and safe practices;
• Job site layout, and safety barriers and markings;
• Fire prevention and safety;
• Protective clothing;
• Fall safety-ladders, scaffolds, lifts, and rigging;
• Lifting safety;
• Handling chemicals;
• Handling compressed gases;
• Safe tool use;
• Electrical safety-grounding and bonding, lockout/tagout;
• Fiber-optic safety;
• Outside-plant safety-excavation, shoring, and trenching;
• Confined spaces;
• Other hazardous areas;
• Radiation and other unusual hazards;
• Asbestos exposure and other health hazards;
• Vehicle safety;
• Emergency procedures;
• Medical procedures and first aid.

Safety – Planning

Cabling Installers should always have a safety plan ready that includes emergency activities, meet building codes, and evacuations.

Protective Gears and Clothing

It is very important to wear the right clothing and gears when dealing with cables and electricity. There should be safety glasses to protect your eyes from sparks and debris. A hard hat must also be always present when working on a large scale project.

Right Tools

As with any industry, cabling installers should have to correct tools to finish the job properly and safely. Some tools include a voltage tester, wire cutters, wire and cable strippers, needle nose pliers, continuity tester, and others. For large scale jobs such as installing ground cables, you may need a wire trencher or other digging equipment or heavy machinery.

 Power is Off

When dealing with electricity, it is very important to make sure that the power is off when working with installation especially if it involves electrical work.

Testing and Checking

Before wrapping up everything, testing and checking your work is essential to ensure safety. Make sure that everything is neat and tight. No loose connections and no open cables.

These are just a few of the guidelines to check but there can be more. OSHA inspections and compliance is the best thing to ensure Cabling Installation Safety.

Call Bridge Cable Today!  The Best Network Cabling in Philadelphia