Unsafe Conditions in Startup Testing and Commissioning — Part 6

When it comes to safety, don’t let portable power cords trip you up.

Nov. 3, 2020

Although reliable battery-powered industrial-grade tools have become commonplace, many varieties of gear still require AC power. These include many types of portable lighting and some kinds of test sets; your crew may need to run portable cords to power that equipment.

Other crews might run portable cords for personnel cooling fans, portable air cleaners/dust collection systems, industrial vacuum cleaners, cement boring tools, paint guns, power hand tools, or portable mixers.

Cords can tangle and create a messy clutter and multiple tripping hazards, or people can mistakenly unplug the wrong cord and create a safety hazard for someone who in the middle of a task (e.g., by jamming a blade).

Use cord management devices to prevent those problems and ask other crews to do the same. You may use duct tape and colored tags in addition to, or in place of, cord management devices.

Walking on any portable cord shortens its life, so route cords out of the way of foot traffic and use guards where practical.

About the Author

Mark Lamendola

Mark is an expert in maintenance management, having racked up an impressive track record during his time working in the field. He also has extensive knowledge of, and practical expertise with, the National Electrical Code (NEC). Through his consulting business, he provides articles and training materials on electrical topics, specializing in making difficult subjects easy to understand and focusing on the practical aspects of electrical work.

Prior to starting his own business, Mark served as the Technical Editor on EC&M for six years, worked three years in nuclear maintenance, six years as a contract project engineer/project manager, three years as a systems engineer, and three years in plant maintenance management.

Mark earned an AAS degree from Rock Valley College, a BSEET from Columbia Pacific University, and an MBA from Lake Erie College. He’s also completed several related certifications over the years and even was formerly licensed as a Master Electrician. He is a Senior Member of the IEEE and past Chairman of the Kansas City Chapters of both the IEEE and the IEEE Computer Society. Mark also served as the program director for, a board member of, and webmaster of, the Midwest Chapter of the 7x24 Exchange. He has also held memberships with the following organizations: NETA, NFPA, International Association of Webmasters, and Institute of Certified Professional Managers.