Cable management: how to handle cables safely
You will often find a tangle of cables strewn across the floor of an office or warehouse. And let’s be honest: your living room is bound to have a corner where all the cables are jumbled up too. Power cables, data cables, cables bundled together in a cable chain: essential for supplying power, but also a risk if you leave them lying around. Good cable management ensures your employees and devices are kept safe!
- Why is cable management so important?
- You avoid accidents caused by cable spaghetti
- It makes your workplace more efficient
- Cable management is good for your back
- It looks much tidier too
- 💡4 tips to prevent cable accidents
- Tip 1: Avoid having wires and cables on the floor
- Tip 2: Choose the shortest distance
- Tip 3: Be careful with multi plug adapters
- Tip 4: Invest in accessories
Why is cable management so important?
You avoid accidents caused by cable spaghetti
We love spaghetti. But cable spaghetti? Not so much. It’s when all the cables get mixed up and entangled, and you risk tripping over them. This not only hurts, but can also damage the cable and pull other wires along with it – or even worse, the device itself. And if you forget to plug a disconnected cable back into its device, you risk creating a fire hazard.
It makes your workplace more efficient
Accidentally unplugged a cable as a result of cable spaghetti? There is often only one thing you can do: crawl under the desk and look for the right connector. That’s (too) time-consuming. A well-organised cable management system means it’s not as easy to unplug a cable. And if it does happen, it will not be as difficult to find or swiftly replace the cable in question.
Cable management is good for your back
By bundling cables neatly on or under your desk, you will no longer find yourself having to bend down to get that pesky cable back in place. And your back will thank you for it.
It looks much tidier too
Well-organised cables look a lot neater. An organised environment creates peace and order, for those who work there but also for those who visit and need to clean it.
💡4 tips to prevent cable accidents
Tip 1: Avoid having wires and cables on the floor
Loose cables on the floor can come into contact with unsuspecting footwear, as well as more dangerous objects such as office chair wheels and wet mops from the cleaning crew. To avoid this, try routing your cables through walls or cable ducts under the desk. If it is not possible to avoid the floor, mark the bundled cables using brightly coloured stickers or tape.
Tip 2: Choose the shortest distance
Manufacturers of electronic business equipment like to provide extremely long cables, allowing employers to use them in large office spaces. If possible, replace these cables with shorter ones to reduce the likelihood of creating a tripping hazard. For this, you may want to seek the help of a specialised dealer, to make sure you are opting for a safe alternative.
Tip 3: Be careful with multi plug adapters
While multi plug adapters may come in very handy, be sure to keep in mind certain safety regulations:
Ideally, only choose multi plug adapters equipped with surge and lightning protection.
Never connect one multi plug adapter to another (use an extension lead).
Do not use multi plug adapters for multiple devices with high power consumption.
Tip 4: Invest in accessories
Cable trays, binders, self-adhesive clamps, cable boxes and holders – these days there are countless solutions to help with cable management. They are both safe for your employees and good for the cable itself, as they help avoid bends, damage and cable breakage.