Improper insulation can present itself as a major risk hazard in industrial environments where workers are constantly exposed to electricity. In such environments, proper insulation is a must. Otherwise, workers might find themselves severely injured or even dead. The worst part is that these accidents could have been prevented.
How? This is where the installation of electrical insulating mats come in.
These mats are built specifically to ensure the safety and well-being of workers when dealing with electricity. More importantly, manufacturers and suppliers are forced to follow strict guidelines before they can put their mats out to market. As a result, once installed, the mats are guaranteed to give technicians and operators peace of mind against high voltage equipment.
How to Choose the Right Electrical Insulating Mats
When shopping for electrical insulating mats, you must consider several qualities first. This includes, among others, fire-, slip-, and puncture-resistance, as well as resistance to chemicals such as oil and acid.
Often, electrical insulating mats possessing the said qualities come at a higher price. However, the cost is far less expensive compared to the cost of dealing with a workplace accident. Also, once installed, you’re not just out of the woods yet. You still have to make sure that the electrical insulating mats are routinely expected.
Routine inspection of wears, tears, and rips are important. So too is the checking of other damages. Because, if not inspected properly, such damages may result in a reduced functional capacity of electrical insulating mats. This, in turn, can turn what’s supposed to be a piece of safety equipment into a useless liability.
What are the Benefits of Using Electrical Insulating Mats?
1. Adherence to Local Safety Standards
There are many possible negative outcomes in businesses that deal with high-voltage equipment and electricity. Fatal electrocution is among the worst. What’s even worse is that this electrocution creates a massive fire. This can result in a huge financial and legal problem for the company.
Now, this could have all been prevented by using electrical insulating mats. This is also why many local government bodies set local safety standards. Such guidelines mandate businesses to use the necessary electrical safety protective equipment. This includes, among others, electrical insulating mats.
2. Worker Safety and Peace of Mind
What’s the most important concern for professionals in the electrical industry? That’s right, electrical safety.
Workers simply can’t work effectively if they have to worry about their safety all the time. Some might even refuse to work at all and that’s well within their right. This is in addition to the possibility of the business being shut down for not following local safety standards. Because of this, using electrical insulating mats becomes incredibly important.
Dealing with electrical applications is not an easy job. It’s complicated and requires a lot of focus. Operators simply can’t have themselves worrying all the time if they are safe or not.
Investing in electrical insulating mats, as well as other safety equipment, all play key roles in guaranteeing the safety and peace of mind of workers in any and all situations involving electricity.
3. Cost-efficiency
Can you just imagine how much it would cost your business to shut down just because of an electrical hazard? Remember, you’re not just going to pay for the repairs of the damages. You’ll have to pay for anything else your business might be liable for. This includes any injuries that resulted from the electrical hazard.
Many businesses have had to close down just after a single mishap. Don’t let your business be one of them.
Using high-quality electrical insulating mats can help you save your business from dealing with such situations.
4. Ease of Installation
Insulating mats are easy to install. In fact, there are some you just have to paste on the workplace area and that’s it. Of course, professional installation might be necessary for insurance purposes, so be sure to check that first.
5. Certified and Customized Protection
Manufacturers and suppliers are required, by law, to pretest their insulating mats for safety reasons. This means that any and all insulating mats they manufacture adhere to certain standards, and they’re pretty high. This includes mats that you had custom made specifically for your factories.
Everything can be customized, from the thickness, size, and voltage requirements. This means that the mats are manufactured exactly for your working space, and the best part is that you don’t have to pay as high of a premium as you think for this.
Conclusion
Electrical insulating mats are an important piece of electrical safety equipment. However, take note, it’s just a piece.
These insulating mats are built only to serve as protection against any electrical current on the floor. They’re not built to protect operators and workers against direct electrical shock. Nor are they capable of providing protection to individuals who touch an exposed live conductor and a metal area simultaneously.
For this very reason, only trained and qualified individuals should be allowed to work in, on, and around high-voltage electrical equipment.