Extension cords are in my opinion, one of the top most misused pieces of electrical equipment. Not only on a construction site, but also at home. With the holiday season approaching fast, many households will start setting up their holiday lights and displays – this is why I would like to go over some basic Extension Cord Safety.

One of the most important things to remember about extension cords is, the size of the wire in the cord must be compatible to the amount of power the cord will be expected to carry. Most equipment on a construction site will have a name plate that will state the operation current the equipment will use, and most holiday lighting will also have this information, either on the package or in the instructions that are provided. Finding out the operation current for your extension needs is fairly simple, the formula that you would use is as follows:

Watts Divided by Voltage = Current Rating (Amps)

For example: The lights you are going to use are listed at 15 watts per set, and you are going to have 10 sets of lights on the extension cord, all you would need to do is, first – multiply the 15 watts by your 10 sets, this will give you a total of 150 watts, now divide your 150 watts by 120 volts, this will give you a total of 1.25 amps, with this size load you now know that you could use an extension cord with a wire size of #16 AWG (American Wire Gauge).

With this information, we can now go over what size extension cord to use for the amperage you will need. An extension cord with a #16 AWG would be good for up to 13 amps, a #14 AWG would be good for up to 18 amps (I myself would not exceed 15 amps), and an extension cord with a #12 AWG would be good for up to 25 amps, although I would recommend not exceeding 20 amps with the #12 AWG.

The following are some more safety tips pertaining to EXTENSION CORD SAFETY;

A typical extension cord should have four basic components:

1. A third wire in the cord, called a ground wire
2. A three-prong plug on one end of the cord
3. A three-wire, grounding type receptacle at the other end of the cord
4. Used with the proper grounding outlet (I recommend using a GFCI (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter)

And remember, never use an extension cord if you see exposed conductor wires (this is the wire inside the extension cord outer jacket). If you feel the extension cord is unsafe, then replace it – a new extension cord costs less than a trip to the emergency room or a fire in your house. If you just use a little common sense while setting up your holiday lights and displays, you should have a safe holiday season.

Leonard Kessner
Safety Director

On any type of construction site, be it a job from ground up, a Solar installation, or even a simple service call, an electrical shock can come from the use of many types of tools, electric drills, saws, concrete breakers, roto hammers, ect. If these electrical tools and their power cords are not checked and properly maintained, the user of that tool or cord may be subject to electrical shock, which could result in burns and even death. OSHA requires that when using an electrical tool, or extension cord, it must be connected to a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI), which disconnects the power at the slightest hint of an electrical problem.

The two safest ideas that I can recommend would be:

• At the beginning of every day you should first check all your extension cords and power tools
• Only plug into a GFCI protected circuit

If you notice that you have an extension cord, or electric tool with a bad cord, get it replaced/repaired immediately before continuing with that cord or tool.

Len
Safety Director

Yes, we are in the midst of the Dog Days of summer. The only problem is, in Arizona, the days last until September. Although we can stand the heat, sometimes the heat comes after us. It is understood that the monsoons in Arizona can be vicious and sudden. It is best to be prepared for all that can happen. With the frequency of lightning during our monsoon storms, there are things we can do to prevent electrical damages to our homes and our businesses.

I have heard all the warnings about the need to be prepared but keeping safe is a priority here at Harmon Electric. Our company employs high standards to keep your buildings safe. It is this standard that has helped us to have the pleasure of helping the Phoenix area grow to its great stature today.

Harmon Electric also cares about the citizens of Phoenix. I would like to remind you all that water, batteries, radios and important phone numbers are always good to have handy. It is also important to remember that your wiring must also be protected.

If you experience an outage, turn off lights, computers, televisions, air conditioners, digital equipment and dishwashers. Surge protectors, while helpful, are not designed to control a surge of large proportions. Shutting off systems is the best way to protect them. Power can be restored more quickly with a lower drain on the overall system. When your power does return, go though your home and restore these items one at a time. Too much of a power drain can overload the grid and knock out power again.

Harmon Electric has served fine companies in Arizona for over 34 years. We care about Arizona and we care about you.

Joe
Vice President of Construction

Tragedies like fatal falls can happen even from a ten foot ladder. But you can prevent and avoid falls that can lead to injuries and death by choosing ladders carefully, inspecting ladders, using them properly, and keeping them in good condition.

Ladders are normally called one of two types; fixed (cannot be moved), or portable (movable). When choosing a portable ladder, consider type (step, straight, or extension), length, strength, and last, material (wood is nonconductive, heavy, hard to move and rots; metal is light, weather resistant, but conducts electricity; and fiberglass is light, long-lasting, and non-conductive). It is a good idea to inspect ladders before use, and they should be thoroughly inspected at least once a year. Don’t use a ladder that is damaged – repair or replace the ladder. Do not use other means to reach higher places (i.e., chairs, benches, boxes, ect.). If the job calls for a ladder, take the time to find the one that meets your needs.

Use ladders safely as follows:

• Don’t place ladder in a horizontal postion.
• Place ladder on sure footing (not boxes or blocks), securing when possible. Place ladder so that for every four feet up, the ladder’s base is one foot out.
• While using an extension ladder, raise extension ladder so upper section overlaps and rests on bottom section, and your extension ladder also should extend 3’ above the roof line.
• Keep metal ladders away from power lines.
• While climbing up or down a ladder you should always face the ladder, use both hands, and only one person at a time on a portable ladder. Hoist tools and materials up after reaching the top.

Remember, only you can prevent a ladder accident.

Len
Safety Director

Sometimes we take home electrical safety for granted, we forget how easy it is to practice electrical safety. Remember that electricity always takes the shortest path to ground. It will travel through wire, metal, wet objects, or even you. It’s invisible, but very, very real, so remember to treat it with respect.

Electrical wires run through and over our homes. Each year hundreds are electrocuted in their homes and thousands are injured in electrical related accidents – accidents that could have been prevented with just a little foresight and some common sense.

With summertime upon us, and with enjoying our back yards and pools, it’s extremely important to remember outdoor electrical safety. When using small appliances and electronics outdoors, make sure that the power outlet you are using is on a GFCI (ground fault circuit interrupter) protected circuit, and always keep your small appliances and electronics away from water. Lets don’t forget the most important outdoor safety tip—WATCH YOUR KIDS AROUND WATER

Len
Safety Director