We’ve all heard the horror stories: a worker is electrocuted by a faulty cable. A family gets stuck on a roller coaster after a cable fails. Hundreds of commuters are delayed thanks to a cable not working as it should.
Although every cable is designed to carry out its function in a safe and reliable manner (or at least should be), it’s a universal truth that they can, and often will, go wrong.
Often, this is through no fault of the cable manufacturer but rather because of poor maintenance on the part of the company or individual using the cable.
Custom Cables and Safety: What Can Go Wrong?
Cables, especially custom cables, will be designed with optimal safety in mind. A cable designer will consider all of the possible safety implications brought up by the environment in which a cable will operate.
The safety features of a cable might include extra layers of insulation, cable shielding so that the cable can continue operating regardless of interference and cable jacketing to provide environmental protection.
Despite these features, however, the fact remains that cables can be dangerous. They will often have extremely high voltages running through them, the kind of voltages that could cause a lot of harm should someone come into direct contact with an exposed cable.
One of the biggest safety issues that arise with cables is the degradation of the cable jacket, leaving open wires exposed. This can be due to natural wear and tear but can also arise as a result of tampering and accidental damage.
Cables can also present a tripping hazard if they are left trailing across the floor. You might think that health and safety regulations would ensure that these kinds of incidents are a thing of the past, but a surprising number of accidents occur because of trailing cables.
A less common safety issue is a cable being used for a purpose different to that which the cable was designed for. In an age where most phone chargers are universal, some assume that cables (so long as they fit in a socket) are universal too. This can lead to too much voltage passing through a cable, which can cause the cable to fail.
How To Maintain Your Cables
A great deal of accidents involving electrical cables could be completely avoided if proper maintenance procedures were adhered to.
One of the most important safety ‘to-do’s is to have your cables tested by an electrical safety tester. This is usually a once-a-year procedure and will diagnose any potential technical issues that could arise.
On a more regular basis, you should inspect your cables for any signs of damage. This might be a small hole forming in the jacket or the actual internal cabling being exposed. Catching these signs earlier means you can do more about it.
Should you find any damage to your cable, you have a number of options. If the damage isn’t too bad, you could use electrical tape as a makeshift fix. However, the best option is always to replace the cable entirely. This is especially true if your cable is housed in a potentially dangerous environment (such as being exposed to water).
Cables should be fixed and placed away from any walkways and places people could potentially trip over them. The person installing your cables will usually do this for you, but it’s worth keeping in mind if you choose to install the cable yourself.
And finally, an important safety notice: never, ever use a cable for anything other than it’s intended purpose. As previously mentioned, cables are designed specifically for certain pieces of equipment. Using a cable to power a different piece of equipment affects this fine balance and can lead to some serious safety issues.
For more information on custom cables, get in touch with Custom Designed Cables on 01204 658 784.