Cable management is often overlooked when considering the set up of an office environment in favour of other matters that appear more pressing. However, failing to store, position and label electrical cables correctly can cause a whole host of problems.
The good news? With a little forward planning and a few tools, you can create an effective cable management system that helps to mitigate health and safety risks and ensures your work environment is tidy and organised.
In this article, we look at how to manage cables properly and effectively in the workplace.
Why is having a proper cable management system so important in the workplace?
Electrical cables can be a serious health and safety hazard, so it’s crucial to take steps to manage them appropriately. This may refer to the way they’re positioned or identified.
Aside from the safety risks, failing to manage electrical cables correctly could make your office space look disorganised, untidy and thus unprofessional. This is especially important if you have an open plan office or regularly host client meetings.
Here are some top tips for managing cables in the workplace.
Route power cables to monitors from under desks
Consider directing the power cables from computers and monitors to power sockets in the floor under each of the desks. It’s a great way to keep desks tidy freeing up more workspace for your employees and will also reduce the risk of trailing wires that could be tripped over.
To create this power management set up, you’ll need a few good quality tools such as hole saws and core drill bits like these ones here.
Apply hazard tape to floor cables
Trailing cables are extremely dangerous as someone could easily trip over them and suffer an injury. This could be detrimental to your company’s reputation and its finances, especially if the injured person submits a personal injury claim.
Hazard tape can be used to secure any cables to the floor to prevent tripping accidents. The bright colour of the hazard tape will also help make the cables more visible to people walking by, reminding them to take care.
Label each cable
When you have a wide range of cables it’s easy to get confused over which cable is used for what. Labelling each of the cables or using a colour-coded system will help prevent mix ups and allow you to manage your cables more effectively.
Go wireless
Opting for wireless electrical items where possible will help reduce the number of cables you need to manage. Wireless mice and keyboards will be a worthwhile investment and are ideal for staff who have a hybrid working role and have to take their equipment back and forth between their home and the office.
