Our friends at the Insurance Institute for Business & Home Safety have sparked the conversation on power surges and preventative measures that can be taken to help minimize their potential risk to business.
Any sudden change in the electrical conditions of a circuit could cause a brief burst of energy known as a power surge. These surges affect a wide range of electrical equipment essential for business operations. Unprotected equipment such as computers, alarm systems and machinery could be irreparably damaged, leading to information loss, business downtime and even diminished revenue.
A common occurrence among businesses, especially those using high-powered machinery, power surges are an issue worthy of a specific risk management plan. Follow these three preventative measures to keep your business protected:
1) Install a surge protection system: These systems can be easily installed to your facility’s external power source by your local electric power company and protect the entire building by limiting the amount of electricity supplied to devices.
2) Add an uninterruptible power supply: Uninterruptible power supplies (UPS) provide an emergency power backup to computer systems should the building experience an electrical failure. This could be vital to saving important information potentially lost due to a power surge.
3) Incorporate surge suppressors: Also known as surge protectors, these devices can be added to the electrical power connection of individual pieces of equipment and communications lines, protecting equipment from surge damage.
To learn more about protecting your business from power surges, and for more resources and information on risk management and loss control for your business, head to www.DisasterSafety.org/ibhs/commercial-power-surges
