What Work Should an Electrician Perform?

The world we live in has absolutely become more liveable because of the amazing discovery of electricity which brought a lot of magnificent changes such as providing light in the darkness and running electrical appliances and gadgets that make our jobs easier and quicker.  Electricity has become one of the most important factors to run our lives. This brilliant innovation is made possible by electricians.  In layman’s term, electrician refers to people working with electricity.  However, although some electrical jobs are easy to look at and can be done manually, they should not be performed by anyone other than electricians.  Electricians are the right persons responsible to work with electricity. This article will discuss some thorough details of the works that electricians perform.

What Electricians Do

Electricians are people who study and perform the principles of electricity. Their primary duties include installation and maintenance of all electrical, communications, lighting, control and power systems of our households, businesses, factories and even transportation equipment.  Initially, before doing their jobs, electricians read technical diagrams of electrical systems that illustrate the location of outlets, circuits and other electrical components.  After they determine where all the wires and components will be setup, they will install and connect the wires to the circuit breakers, outlets, transformers and other electrical systems and apparatus.  Electricians are also in charge of diagnosing malfunctioning systems and components.  They make sure to repair and replace electrical components as quickly as possible to minimize or avoid inconvenience.  They use special types of hand and power tools which include screwdrivers, drills, saws and wire strippers.  They also use conduit benders to run and protect wiring.

For troubleshooting, electricians will use voltmeters, ammeters, ohmmeters, harmonic testers, thermal scanners and cable testers to locate problems, test connections and make sure that all components are compatible, safe and properly working.  Electricians are also responsible for inspecting electrical systems, components and equipment to identify defects and hazards and if there is a need for repair and adjustment and make sure that they fulfil compliance with codes.  They are also the right person to advise management on whether or not continued operation of defective equipment could be hazardous.  They are also tasked to maintain their electrician’s license or identification card to meet regulations set by the government.  Aside from directly working with electrical parts and components, the job of an electrician also includes performing business management duties like maintaining files and records, ordering supplies and equipment and preparing reports.

Electricians’ Work Environment

The work environment of electricians may vary.  They can work indoors, outdoors, at home, in construction sites or any business premises. Their work can range from the simplest to the most strenuous ones.  They perform heavy lifting, digging of trenches, bending of conduit and kneeling, stooping, and standing for long periods. They work from scaffolds, ladders, roofs and through partitions and other concealed areas. Although an electrician can work alone efficiently, most of them collaborate with others.  They work with building engineers and architects to help in designing electrical system for new construction.  They also collaborate with other construction specialists like elevator installers and air conditioning and heating workers to aid in installing and maintaining electrical and other power systems.  Some electricians, especially those in larger companies, will work as part of a team and even direct other helpers and apprentices.

Electricians can be at risk from workplace hazards and other injuries and accidents that may result from falls, cuts, electrical shocks and even rough weather when working outside.  They must be trained to work safely and take preventive measurements to minimize the danger of these injuries.  Procedures such as lockout and tagout are done to guarantee that circuits are de-energized first before any work is done.  The use of personal protective equipment like insulated gloves, work boots and hard hats also provide electrical insulation protection from mechanical impact and electrical shock.

Different Kinds of Electricians

There are different kinds of electricians depending on their nature of job and specialization.  Electricians who install and maintain electrical wires into people’s homes are called residential wiremen.  Their work includes rewiring homes, replacing old fuse box with new circuit breakers to have room for additional appliances, install new lighting fixtures and other household items.

Those that place and maintain electrical wires in office buildings, factories, airports, arenas, municipal buildings, schools and other larger structures are called inside wiremen.  Their jobs are more complex compared to residential wiremen.  They are accountable for repairing transformers, generators, motors, machine tools, residential robots and other electronic controllers.

The telecommunications electricians are those that lay the cable needed for any forms of communications such as phone, computer and local area network.  The outside linemen are electricians that set up the cables from power plants to homes and buildings.  These are the people we usually see on telephone poles and on the side of the roads.

Being an electrician is not an easy job.  It requires proper education, extensive training, and outstanding hands-on experience.  Electricians should possess important qualities such as colour vision because they must identify electrical wires by colour.  They should also have critical-thinking skills so that they can identify and perform tests and use the results to diagnose problems.  Troubleshooting skills are also important to find, diagnose and repair problems.  Moreover, electricians should possess skills like manual dexterity, physical fitness, eye-hand coordination, and a good sense of balance.  Electrical-related accidents can be avoided by hiring the right electricians who will perform their tasks effectively.  Call me on 0403 026 531 if you need an electrical task performed.