Whilst it can be difficult to remember all of the many safety procedures and guidelines put in place by your employer or enforced by Health and Safety officers, following an easy to remember routine that encompasses all necessary procedures will allow you to work much more efficiently and safely, preventing any problems for yourself, your company or the client.

Working near electricity

Take the time to carry out a risk assessment of the area in which you’ll be working before you begin. Look out for any existing electrical cables and ensure that all power supply is turned off before you start your job, and will not be turned on again until you’ve finished what you’re doing. Ensure that the area where you’re working is safe, and mark out areas of danger for yourself and any colleagues. This includes watching out for overhead electrical wiring as well as anything underground that may be disturbed or moved by your work.

Clear your workspace

Clearing up as you work and leaving the area tidy once you’re done is the best way to avoid injury from trips and falls at work. Once tangled and disorganised, cables can be tricky little things and getting your foot caught or tripping over a loose wire can be a common cause of injury in the workplace. In addition, if a client you’ve been working for injures themselves as a result of your negligence, it can lead to trouble for the company you work for and in some cases – if correct company procedure wasn’t followed – the loss of your job or legal action in more serious cases.

Adhere to safety procedures

Depending on the materials you work with, certain procedures will be put in place for your own safety. For example, when working with fibre optics risks can be found both in the properties of the material and in the light they emit, so measures should be taken to prevent the damage they could potentially cause. When working with fibres, avoid looking directly into them unless you know that no source is being transmitted. As the light is infrared, it can’t be seen by the human eye and so you should always check for any live source with a power-metre. Working with fibre to create cables means that there is always the risk of scraps breaking off and landing in your eye, and so safety glasses should always be worn to avoid this issue. Equally, as the scraps can be very sharp, wear appropriate protective clothing to avoid contact with your skin and always dispose of waste fibre scraps in accordance with company procedure. As well as adopting the use of safety protocols for tasks specific to cable installation, it is also important to bear in mind more common safety procedures, such as being aware of the company’s emergency evacuation procedures in case of a fire and double-checking that any tools and equipment you’re using are in full working order. Although working in accordance with protocols might extend the process of your work, by ensuring that you’re following your company’s guidelines on safety you’re not only protecting yourself from danger, but your colleagues and clients too. For more information on health and safety in the workplace, visit www.hse.gov.uk