4 bad practices with electricity to avoid at your next event
Whether you’re hosting a three-day festival or a lunchtime corporate event, keeping your guests safe is vital to the success of your plans. When using electricity, it’s particularly important you know which bad practices you should avoid. That’s where we come in.
At Rubber Box, we have a professional understanding of how you can use electricity without compromising safety. We’ve also seen a lot of unsafe uses in our time, giving us a keen insight into the most common mistakes event planners and CEOs make regardless of the industry they’re in. With that in mind, we’ve put together some of the bad practices that you should always avoid.
1. Daisy-chaining your systems
Daisy-chaining involves plugging one power supply into another. A common example of this at events is when two extension cords are connected, with one powering the other, to provide more sockets for use. But why should you avoid it?
In short, daisy-chaining can be extremely hazardous. When too many appliances or extension cables are drawing on one original power source, it’s very likely that the system will cause a fuse to blow. For lower-quality systems, daisy-chaining can even result in fires or electric shocks, creating a real problem for your event.
To prevent daisy chaining, only plug one extension cable into a socket. Don’t overload the extension with appliances or further extensions, keeping the demand on the current manageable. You can also use our power distribution boxes to safely distribute your electricity to multiple devices.
2. Not using cable protectors
Cable protectors serve a dual purpose for the safety of your event. The first is that they keep the wires beneath safe, preventing them from accidentally being ripped or torn by guests or machinery. This also reduces the chance of any guests being shocked because of damaged or faulty wiring.
The second purpose of cable protectors is to highlight any tripping hazards. If you have a wire that needs to lay across part of the floor, for example, cable protectors aid visibility and warn guests that there’s an obstacle in their path.
3. Not knowing electricity hazards
As an event host, it’s your responsibility to ensure the environment is safe. Part of that role means reducing safety threats posed by using electrical equipment. Some key precautions to maintain a safe space include:
- Installing wiring and other complex electrical equipment professionally
- Not leaving cables near bodies of water
- Not using any damaged electrical items or wires
- Adding fire extinguishers to your site
4. Test your electrical devices
Before opening your event to guests, it’s smart to give your electrical systems a test. If you haven’t used the space before, an outlet meter can quickly let you know if sockets are wired correctly. Look for any faults or damage to wires and equipment before switching them on, and test that everything works before opening up.
An easy way to fulfil the electrical needs of your events while keeping guests safe is with our power distribution units. Made to your bespoke requirements with a double-insulation structure, they’re ideal for powering your ideas. Feel free to get in touch with our friendly team on 01282 677 910 to learn more about how we can help your event stay safe.