The holiday shutdown is around the corner. It’s getting hotter, and the air con is fast becoming your new best friend. While the team are away, there are quite a few things you could do to prepare the office for the new year, and if it’s getting a bit of a facelift, here’s how to make sure it’s safe, and there’s a plug where you need it…

Watch the wires.

Whether due to growth, downsizing, or a mission for better Feng Shui, office redesigns usually involve shifting around furniture. And when you shift furniture, power sockets, data cables and wiring also get shifted around. It’s important to consider if your current electrical set-up will work with the new layout. Do you need to run cables into the ceiling or along a desk partition? Are there enough power sockets, or do we need to relocate them? Extension cords trailing across the floor are an accident waiting to happen.

Healthy air.

The holiday office closure is perfect for giving your heat pump or HVAC systems some TLC. Dusting, filter changes, and component cleaning will keep them running smoothly. Keeping your workplace clean of dust and allergens will help improve indoor air quality – and did you know that improved indoor air quality can result in higher productivity and fewer lost work days. You don’t want to spend your summer sweating in a stuffy workspace, so make sure you’re regulating temperature and getting good airflow.

Switchboard check.

Switchboard maintenance is often not thought about until it’s too late. When connections are loose, they can easily disconnect, interrupting the flow of electricity, or when the wires are faulty, you’re at risk of a fire. Signs of a dodgy switchboard can be flickering or dimming lights, sparks in the sockets when plugging or unplugging devices, random power outages, charcoal discolouring, and a burning smell around the switchboard area. No Shock will ensure the terminals are safe, connected properly and free from dust, which can also cause overheating.

Test & tag.

Electric shocks from appliances are more common than you think, and it’s often the items we use every day, like our toasters, kettles and coffee machines, that get forgotten. By checking on your appliances with an electrical test and tag, you can find a faulty appliance before anyone gets hurt.

In New Zealand workplaces, testing and tagging as outlined in the Fire and Emergency New Zealand Fire Safety Evacuation Procedures and Evacuation Schemes Regulations 2018 is mandatory. How often you do it depends on the type of industry/workplace. It’s not just a requirement, but it’s in your best interests to perform the “test and tag” to ensure that all electrical equipment is safe and compliant. It could be a simple lead that has been damaged or worn out and causes an electric shock.

So, whilst the team is on holiday and it’s not going to bother anyone to unplug and plug back in, or create holes in the wall for a new plug or internet connection, get your electrical maintenance sorted. Book us in now for January and February.