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Santa Clara University
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Electrical Safety

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SCU personnel do not perform hazard class C or D work and a qualified contractor must perform the work.

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The purpose of this program is to prevent injury to employees, faculty, students and contractors from unexpected energizing, start-up, or release of stored energy. Before servicing or performing maintenance on a machine or equipment, the machine or equipment must be isolated from the energy source and rendered inoperative by trained personnel.

Provide 36” of clearance in front.

Extension cords are permitted for temporary use only

Avoid running extension cords through doors, ceilings, windows, or holes in the wall. If it necessary to run a cord through a doorway for short term use, ensure the cord is: 

  • Not a tripping hazard.
  • Protected from damage.
  • Removed immediately when no longer in use.

Extension cords shall be good condition and UL Listed

Extension cords shall be of a 3-Wire grounding type when used in conjunction with devices equipped with 3-prong grounding type.

Do not drive, drag or place objects over cord.

Do not use when wet.

Do not plug one extension cord into another.

Keep away from water.

Never splice extension cords together.

Never tack or staple extension cord to the wall or woodwork.

Improper use of flexible and temporary wiring such as extension cords, multi-outlet adapters, uninterruptible power supplies, and power strips can present both fire and electrical shock hazards. The following is a list of rules for proper use of extension cords and power strips.

  1. Extension cords are for temporary use only, for short periods of time...hours or days, not weeks or months!
    • An example of acceptable extension cord use would be a custodian using one with a vacuum to clean a hallway carpet.
    • An example of unacceptable use is to connect a computer to an outlet under your desk with an extension cord.
  2. Power strips, multi-outlet adapters, and uninterruptible power supplies (UPSs) are acceptable IF they have a resettable circuit breaker, and are plugged directly into a properly installed outlet.
  3. Power strips, multi-outlet adapters, and UPSs may never be "daisy chained" (one plugged into another). Again, all power strips, multi-outlet adapters, and UPSs must be plugged directly into a properly installed outlet. 
  4. Larger appliances, such as microwaves and refrigerators, must not be plugged into a power strip or extension cord. Such appliances must be plugged directly into a properly installed outlet.
  5. All extension cords, power strips, multi-outlet adapters, and UPSs must be UL Listed and so marked. "Homemade" extension cords fabricated out of a length of wire and an outlet box are not permitted!
  6. Never overload outlets or power strips! Tripping circuit breakers are a warning sign not to be ignored! If you have questions about the amount of equipment that may be plugged into an outlet or power strip, contact EH&S.
  7. Never use a three to two prong plug adapter! 
  8. When using electrical equipment, including extension cords, near any source of moisture; the equipment must be plugged into a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) equipped outlet or a GFCI adapter plugged directly into the outlet.
  9. And of course, never use any extension cord or power strip that has any signs of damage or overheating! This includes any indication of damage to the insulation, such as a cord wrapped in electrical tape.

Please refer to the following for additional information regarding electrical safety: