Working as an electrician is a dangerous but rewarding career. The world needs safe and efficient electricity to keep things moving!
There are risks that go along with working in the electrical field but there are actions you can take to protect yourself and your job.
Electrician businesses are vulnerable to accidents in the workplace. One of the major actions you can take to protect yourself and your business is to have suitable insurance cover in place. One of the primary types of insurance you will need is public liability insurance.
Public liability insurance is designed to protect you, your business, and your staff against compensation awarded for negligence for personal injury or property damage, as well as the costs of defending a claim. Not only do you need to ensure that you have the correct type of protection, you will also want to make sure you are getting the balance between cover and cost.
It’s a good idea to get several quotes to compare the costs, as well as the level and types of cover offered by various companies. Public Liability Insurance Australia can offer you free, multiple quotes so you can compare policies without the need to ring around or visit numerous websites. You can get immediate coverage, with no tricky paperwork, and your policy documents are emailed to you instantly.
Along with the insurance protection, it’s important to be aware of the common hazards of working as an electrician. Some of the common hazards include:
Electrical shocks – the most common hazard in working in the field is the risk of electrical shocks. Extreme care must be used in working with wiring systems. Close attention must always be paid. The risks include shocks causing injury, and if working with high powered voltage, possibly even death. If working with an unfamiliar wiring situation, enlist the help of someone with more experience in order to help you avoid a possible injury but also help you learn how to properly handle dangerous situations.
Fires – in addition to the risks associated with receiving electrical shocks, fires are also a hazard working with electricity. Fires can happen when dealing with live wires, when working with older wiring, and if the wiring is not installed properly. All electricity needs to be shut off prior to working in any wiring situation. Check, double check, and even triple check your work and ensure that all the installation or changes made to the job you are working on is done correctly. The threat of a fire occurring can happen some time after the installation if done improperly. Extreme care must be used in each job.
Hazardous materials – another dangerous risk to be aware of is lead based paint. In older buildings, they may still have walls painted with very old, lead based paint. Older buildings, also, may have asbestos which you could be exposed to while working in them. Make sure to ask as many questions as possible regarding the age of the building, the materials that you will be working with on the project, and any other relevant questions that may arise based on your inspection of the project. Always wear protective clothing to reduce your risk of exposure to any hazardous materials you may encounter on the job.
Fair pricing – one of the possible issues that may happen working as an electrician is not making what you’re worth. It’s important to know how much to reasonably charge for your expertise. While it may seem like a good strategy to establish your rates a little lower than the competition, it can certainly work
against you. If you have the skills and expertise, you deserve to charge a rate that is fair to you. The perception of having the lowest price is not always positive – the client’s assumption could be that you are not as experienced as your competitors or that your services are not as well done. Clients understand that when they pay for quality work, they will receive it. Take the time to review your pricing and establish a pricing system that reflects the quality of your work.
Working in the electrical field can be a very rewarding career. Be aware of the risks and hazards, protect yourself with solid insurance coverage, utilise caution in the workplace, and know your worth. Electrical professionals have a very important role in our society, so know that you’re appreciated!
Public Liability Insurance has access to a network of insurance companies and can quickly provide you many policy options to choose from to secure the most suitable insurance to your business. For additional information regarding the importance of insuring your business, please see https://www.publicliability-australia.com.au/.
