May is Electrical Safety Month

Sanford Underground Research Facility’s electricians work on every electrical system on site, from low voltage systems, such as carbon dioxide monitoring and fire alarm systems, all the way up to high voltage distributions. They also maintain and install fiber optic and network cabling systems. And through it all, the seven-member team adheres to Sanford Lab’s electrical safety policies and procedures 

“My crew takes electrical safety seriously,” said Tim Baumgartner, facility infrastructure director. “To ensure we stay safe, we utilize Work Planning and Controls for all of our tasks, both on the surface and underground.”

May is Electrical Safety Month and Baumgartner wants everyone to remember to use caution around electricity. “Because we have trained professional electricians on staff, this is a good reminder for all Sanford Lab employees to seek their assistance before touching any electrical equipment on site. Our electricians have extensive training in recognizing and mitigating electrical hazards and know how to conduct all electrical work in a safe manner.”

According to the ESFI, 135 workers died of electrical injuries in the workplace in 2017. And although that was an 11.6 percent decrease in deaths from the previous year, there was a 35 percent increase in overall electrical injuries. Each year, the ESFI and National Safety Council use Electrical Safety Month to reiterate the importance of employing best practices. 

But electrical injuries don’t just happen in the workplace. According to the ESFI, an average of 51,000 electrical home structure fires occur yearly with almost 500 fatalities and more than 1,400 injuries.  In addition, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that nearly 400 people are electrocuted in the U.S. each year. And many of those could be prevented with basic understanding of electrical safety principles and the use of safe practices. 

One such practice is the installation of ground fault circuit interrupters, fast-acting circuit breakers designed to shut off electric power in the event of a ground-fault within as little as 1/40 of a second. According to the ESFI, GFCIs have saved thousands of lives since they were introduced in the 1970s. GFCI outlets should be placed in bathrooms, garages, outdoor areas, around kitchen countertops, within 6 feet of a sink or bathtub and in laundry areas.

“We want people to be safe at home,” Baumgartner said. “This is a good time to remember that if you are not a professional electrician, hire one before you begin any electrical work. It could save a life.”

The Sanford Underground Research Facility and the Environment, Safety and Health Department promote health and safety in the workplace, as well as healthy living and wellness for all employees. If you have questions about health and wellness, please contact our occupational health nurse, Laura Baatz, who is onsite daily at lbaatz@sanfordlab.org.