Toolbox talk · Electrical · about 5 minutes
Extension leads and cable management
Download the PDF with attendance sheet
Why it matters
Trailing leads are trip hazards and get crushed, cut and soaked. Good cable management keeps people and cables safe.
The hazards
- Leads across walkways and doorways
- Cables crushed by doors, vehicles or materials
- Coiled cable drums overheating under load
- Daisy-chained leads overloading outlets
- Damaged connectors in wet areas
Stay safe
- Route leads along walls and lift them off the floor with cable hangers
- Never run leads through doorways where doors can close on them
- Fully unwind cable drums when using high loads
- Don't daisy-chain extension leads
- Use splitters and leads rated for the load
- Keep connectors off the ground and out of water
- Check leads before use and remove damaged ones
Ask the team
- Where can we lift cables off the floor today?
- Why must cable drums be fully unwound?
- What's wrong with daisy-chaining leads?
The law and guidance
Electricity at Work Regulations 1989. HSE HSG141.
General guidance to help you give a toolbox talk. It doesn't replace your site's risk assessments, method statements, permits or training. Check it against your own site rules before you give it.
