10 Electrical Safety Tips for Customer & Electrician Safety

Electrical work is hazardous, whether you’re a professional electrician or own an electrical business. It’s obvious, but anyone attempting to repair or install electrical equipment without the correct electrical safety training risks being exposed to electrical shocks, electrical fires, and even electrocution. 

While homeowners — and anyone attempting DIY electrical work — should be aware of the risks involved (we would always recommend that you use a qualified electrician), electrical businesses face a lot more exposure and liability simply because electricians are working year-round in new, unknown work environments. So understanding and having a mitigation plan for safe work practices is a top priority from a business perspective.

We’ve worked with electrical businesses of all sizes for many years. In this post, we share our five top tips for ensuring your electricians and customers are safe when electrical work is carried out:

• Tip #1: Follow best practice procedures

• Tip #2: Use proper personal protective equipment

• Tip #3: Organize and maintain the right electrical tools

• Tip #4: Implement rigorous health and safety training

• Tip #5: Protect your electrical business with insurance

Then, we share five additional tips that explain how our electrical software, ServiceTitan, can help your electricians work more efficiently and foster accountability by ensuring they follow specific procedures that consistently adhere to safety protocols, giving you peace of mind.

Specifically, ServiceTitan helps electricians:

• Tip #6: Prepare for jobs in advance to optimize efficiency

• Tip #7: Dispatch the right techs to the right jobs

• Tip #8: Create safety checklists to minimize errors

• Tip #9: Streamline communication between office and electricians

• Tip #10: Track performance to spot potential safety issues

Tip #1: Follow Best Practice Procedures

• Practice safety precautions

• Eliminate job-site injury

Common electrical problems like overheating and power outages can occur when homeowners (or business owners) plug in multiple electrical appliances that overload electrical outlets or use electrical devices with damaged power cords or fuses with the incorrect wattage. When customers overload power strips or outlets and cause their electricity supply to short circuit, for example, this can cause a fire hazard.

Licensed electricians play a key role in ensuring the safety of a home’s electrical system by  alerting a homeowner to the warning signs regarding their electrical panels, electrical wiring, circuit breakers, or improper use of electrical cords or extension cords. They will advise customers on all electrical safety issues, for example, how to use extension cords safely so that they don’t overload the circuit and cause a fire or tripping hazard.

Injuries can occur from unprotected contact with electricity, for example, from overhead power lines or from an electric arc — when an electric current jumps between two conductors, causing an arc flash. Qualified electricians will correctly install AFCIs (arc-fault circuit-interrupters) and receptacles, transformers, and recommend and install smoke alarms.

Electrical businesses should protect staff, customers, and the environment from harm by having an EHS (environmental health and safety) policy that complies with OSHA (Occupational Safety & Health Administration) regulations and the NFPA (National Fire Protection Association) and National Electrical Code (NEC) codes. 

Electricians should always follow electrical safety procedures while working on power sources in residential or commercial settings by ensuring that:

• Electrical equipment is de-energized

• Lockout/tagout procedures are followed

• Equipment such as voltage testers are used

• A safe distance is kept from energized power lines

• Electrical equipment is connected to a Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI)

• Tools are properly grounded

In addition, electricians face injuries from repetitive motions, poor lifting and handling practices, and falls. To avoid ergonomic injuries, electricians should routinely take breaks from awkward positions and practice safe lifting techniques.

Tip #2: Use Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

• Protect from electrical injuries

• Reduce potential electrical hazards

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is essential for reducing the risk of electrical hazards, including electrical shock, burns, falls from electrical energy contact, and electrocution. 

The arc thermal performance value (ATPV) of the protective equipment needs to be matched with the potential workplace exposure, according to OSHA.

Electrical PPE includes:

• Hard hats and hoods

• Face shields or safety glasses

• Rubber insulated gloves and protector gloves

• Rubber insulated sleeves for high voltage

• Flame-retardant clothing

• Electrical-safety shoes

• Ear plugs or muffs for noise protection

Other electrical safety equipment includes insulated matting and ladders, rescue rods, and poles. In addition, Electrician apps assist with calculations and measurement references to give immediate answers on the job.

Bonus Tip: Prepare for Extreme Weather

Customers are more likely to face power outages and problems with electrical devices during the summer and winter months. Here are some tips to ensure your electricians remain safe when they’re called out in extreme weather:

Winter weather safety tips:

• Dress properly with insulated coats, hats, boots, gloves (and store dry backups in the truck)

• Stay hydrated

• Take extra precautions to ensure ladders remain secure on wet or icy ground

• Know the signs of cold stress

• Perform winter electrical van maintenance to minimize break-downs

• Follow winter driving safety, especially on ice and in snowfall

Summer weather safety tips:

• Drink plenty of fluids to avoid dehydration

• Take appropriate breaks to prevent heat stroke 

• Monitor interior truck temperatures

• Dress for the heat, but still wear protective equipment

Tip #3: Organize and Maintain the Right Electrical Tools

• Manage tool inventory

• Stock and organize vehicles

• Empower techs to drive safely

Electrical safety begins with utilizing properly insulated tools and maintaining a clean and well-organized van. 

Electricians should take inventory and maintain tools regularly to ensure they stay in optimal working order. Remove defective tools from service and mark them so other electrical workers don’t use them.

Techs also need to keep vans properly stocked and organized so they can complete the job efficiently and safely. A well-stocked van also eliminates wasted time, fuel, and the added risk of accident by having to drive back to the shop.

To help keep your electricians safe on the road, your electrical company can:

• Optimize scheduling, so techs don't rush from one job to the next.

• Avoid weather-related road closures, traffic delays, and other last-minute hiccups with electrical dispatch software.

• Use electrical customer experience software, so customers know exactly when techs will arrive.

Driving with care reflects well on your company, promotes a positive image, and saves lives on the road.

Tip #4: Implement Rigorous Health and Safety Training

• Practice safety rules

• Provide a safety training program 

As an electrical business owner, it's your responsibility to ensure that your company has a health & safety policy that includes safety rules and emergency procedures and that you use a site specific safety plan (SSSP) that helps ensure essential safety procedures are thoroughly outlined before the start of a job.

Electricians need to stay up-to-date on their skills, through continued education and on-site work experience. So, it’s important to make workplace safety a priority by investing in electrical safety training.

Techs should be familiar with the National Electrical Code (NEC) and best-practice electrical safety rules, as discussed in tip #1. Consider implementing a mandatory safety training program and obtain feedback from your team on electrical safety topics. This helps everyone stay on the same page about current precautions and protocols. It also demonstrates that safety is a top priority for your electrical business. 

Tip #5: Protect Your Electrical Business with Insurance

• Plan and protect for the unknown

• Follow safe work practices

While you can attempt to mitigate as many hazards as possible, electrician insurance protects your company in unforeseen circumstances.

General liability insurance protects your business in case your work causes property damage or bodily injury. Commercial vehicle insurance covers auto accidents when driving to or from a job and theft from work vans, while property insurance covers the office and everything stored within it.

Many states require workers' compensation insurance, which ensures your injured employees get medical care and compensation for lost wages if they are injured on the job. 

It also usually protects a company from lawsuits and extends the same protection to your customers.

In addition to the general electrician safety tips above, using electrical software (like ServiceTitan) helps you run your electrical business more efficiently and minimize safety issues.

Here’s how it works.

How ServiceTitan Helps Electricians Run Their Businesses Safely & Efficiently

Tip #6: Prepare for Jobs in Advance to Optimize Efficiency

• Communicate complete job information

• Identify potential hazards

To stay safe on the job, electricians should know what the job entails beforehand, so they bring the proper tools and understand potential hazards. Oftentimes, the electrician will know how to fix the electrical issue before they even get to the job.

ServiceTitan’s cloud-based electrical software stores all customer information in one place, so you can pull together all the relevant details of the job. As soon as the phone rings, our call booking feature automatically shows the CSR if the caller is a new or existing customer and guides them through the booking process so all the necessary details can be collected.

If the caller is an existing customer, all their information (such as job and technician history) can be accessed without keeping the customer waiting or risking important details being lost in paper files. 

With ServiceTitan, you can store notes with customer records. For example, you can log the gate code for their property or note that extra care needs to be taken around their pet dog, or that a specialized tool is required. This not only helps keep your staff and the property secure, but it also improves customer service.

Preparing as much as possible beforehand — including knowledge of local building codes, licensing, and other local regulations — helps electricians complete a job safely and more efficiently.

Tip #7: Dispatch the Right Techs to the Right Jobs

• Match tech skills to jobs

• Track electricians with GPS

Matching the right tech to the right job minimizes the risk of staff attempting a job beyond their skill set and potentially putting the safety of themselves and customers at risk.

ServiceTitan's dispatch software helps you dispatch the right tech to each job. Dispatchers can immediately see the skills required for a job and identify the right technician for the task.

Our drag-and-drop service scheduling software allows your company to assign jobs based on tech skills, so you can match highly experienced techs to the most profitable jobs and assign them tasks that pose the most safety risks. 

Color-coded tags make it easy to see which electricians are scheduled for what job, while live GPS tracking shows the precise location of every van. This means that dispatchers can group jobs by proximity and utilize the most efficient route, and staff are accounted for at all times.

If your company dispatches techs from home, ServiceTitan’s route optimization lets you assign work orders based on their location so journeys take less time and fuel costs are minimized. It also means you can reduce unnecessary drive time on hazardous roads.

GPS tracking benefits customers, too. Dispatchers can text customers the technician’s photo and profile, so they know who’s en route. They can also give customers a tech-tracker map, so they know the electrician’s location and ETA.

Tip #8: Create Safety Checklists to Minimize Errors

• Refer to safety data sheets

• Customize safety inspection checklists

If you’re an electrical business owner, you should use safety data sheets to keep a record of any chemicals and hazardous materials being used and what PPE your electricians should use to handle them. These should be made available to all your staff (in tool bags and vans). 

Using ServiceTitan’s custom forms feature to create electrical safety checklists will also help keep staff and customers safe. These can be created and customized for electricians to refer to when out on jobs.

Forms can be built from scratch. Users can also access numerous pre-built templates — sourced from forms used by other electrical companies via TitanExchange — which can also be customized to your company’s specific needs.  

ServiceTitan checklists can be used to ensure the right steps are taken at every stage of a job, and electrical business owners can require electricians to complete them to close out a job. For example, if they’re installing a new breaker box, they can be required to complete an installation checklist and warranty form before closing out the job. 

Not only do these forms minimize the risk of missing important steps, but they also provide crucial documentation of each job should an issue arise. 

Tip #9: Streamline Communication Between Office and Electricians

• Use cloud-based mobile software

• Keep techs up-to-date at all times

Because ServiceTitan’s electrical software is cloud-based, it stores all your customer and job information in one place so it can be accessed by office staff (via our desktop app) and by field technicians (via our mobile app). 

Electricians always have the complete and most up-to-date information for each job, including:

• Customer details (contact information, address, and any notes)

• Any call recordings with the customer

• Outstanding estimates

• Detailed job histories (including prior invoices, photos, and voice notes)

• Property details

Using their mobile device, techs can access customized forms as well as electrical pricebooks so they can build estimates on the spot (including photos, manufacturer videos, and the latest product information), check warranty details, and order parts. 

With ServiceTitan Mobile, techs can collect payments as soon as customers decide to hire your company. Plus, you can easily offer customer financing, too.

Giving electricians instant mobile access to all the information they need for each job improves communication between the team — whether they're out in the field or at the office. This minimizes the risk of forgetting important elements of the job, which could ultimately impact safety.

Tip #10: Track Performance To Spot Potential Safety Issues

• Track and analyze KPIs

• Adjust for growth

Track the progress of your company using an integrated software platform like ServiceTitan, so you can easily oversee each electrician’s habits or routines, monitor performance, and make business decisions accordingly. 

ServiceTitan’s field reporting software lets you view and analyze key performance indicators such as generated revenue, services sold, and more. These metrics will show you if a particular technician tends to rush through jobs or if they make multiple visits to fix one problem, which could indicate a safety risk. 

After switching to ServiceTitan, Mel Carr Electric in Albany, N.Y., says the software provides real-time business performance data, including updates from the field.

“It’s so user-friendly. So intuitive. (The software) just knows your next step,” Carr says. “It took care of things we never even realized we needed.”

Analyzing real-time data enables you to gauge your company's progress and make adjustments for optimal growth. Overworked, exhausted electricians tend to make for unsafe situations. Keep tabs on their workloads and strategically grow your workforce as your company profit grows.

See How ServiceTitan Helps You Run Your Electrical Business Safely & Efficiently

We’ve outlined our top tips to help keep your electricians and customers safe when electrical work is carried out. But, if you want to organize your electrical business so that your techs and business processes work more efficiently, then using business software, like ServiceTitan, can help you do this, and improve your safety record. 

ServiceTitan’s electrical software helps you streamline your business operations so that you can dispatch the right technician to the right job. Your techs are always prepared for jobs in advance, with technology and processes in place to ensure electrical work is delivered efficiently and safely.