Best Practices Data Center Safety

       The purpose of this article is to provide a basis of "Best Practices Data Center Safety" for data center management and infrastructure. Local business reasons, local governmental code or other circumstances may mitigate the implementation of Data Center Electrical. This can be applied to your business.


General development for good Back-protection habits:

• Exercise regularly for strong, flexible muscles
• Avoid or control stress
• Do not overestimate your own strength
• Walk, do not run, to prevent slips and falls
• Sleep on a firm mattress, either on your side with your knees bent or on your back with your knees elevated

Seek Alternatives to lifting:

• Use equipment: hoists, hand trucks or dollies, rather that lifting when possible
• Push, do not pull, loaded trucks or dollies
• Break a large load into several small ones
• Get a helper to lift heavy or awkward objects
• Plan jobs and work areas to minimize the need to move tools and materials

Before you lift:

• Plan straightest, fastest and clearest route to your destination
• Look for places to stop and rest along the way
• Remove any objects you may trip over before starting to move the object
• Try to have a waist high surface for loading
• Make sure the area where you will unload is clear
• Check the object you will be carrying for rough or jagged edges or slippery surfaces
• Lift properly, a corner of the object to check weight and stability
• Wear gloves with good grip, safety shoes with reinforced toes and nonskid soles, and clothing that fits snugly (may just want to limit this to gloves but to be aware of the others as a risk possibility)
• Warm up with gentle bends and stretches

Lift correctly:

• Stand close to load, with feet firmly on the floor, about shoulder width apart, with toes pointing in an outward position
• Squat down close to the load with back straight, knees bent, stomach muscles tight
• Place hands on the diagonally opposite corner of the load so one hand pulls the load toward you and the other hand lifts
• Grip load firmly with both hands, not just the fingers
• Bring the load as close as possible to your body, with weight centered over you feet, lock arms and elbows into side and chin into neck
• Stand up slowly, keep your back straight and let your legs do the lifting
• Move forward with small steps with the load close to the body and not above waist high
• Change direction by moving feet not by twisting

Unload properly:

• Lower body slowly, with knees bent so legs do the work
• Position hands so fingers will not be caught under the load
• Place load on edge of surface and slide it back
• Fire suppression systems should be tested twice yearly at a minimum for proper operation. Local codes may require more frequent testing.
• Fire extinguishers should be checked monthly for proper certification and levels.
• No equipment may be moved without data center management permission.
• Workstation areas (tables, desks, etc) that are used on more than an intermittent basis should comply with CITC ergonomic standards.
• No data cables should be run across aisle ways, including extension cables or power cables.
• Alarm procedures should be reviewed on an annual basis for compliance with local and national codes; and, adherence to your business safety policies.
• The location of all fire extinguishers should be clearly marked
• The location of all safety equipment should be clearly marked
• The location and operation of all EPO's, fire suppression and alarm switches should be clearly marked
• Each telephone in the data center should have an up to date contact list and emergency procedures listing attached nearby
• Each door exiting the data center should have a telephone, flashlight, floor puller, fire extinguisher and emergency procedures
• Each major piece of infrastructure equipment (PDU/CPC,  air handlers) should have an emergency contact number attached to it
• Fire stopping between spaces is consistent and well done
• Fire detection heads are on flexible conduit for easy relocation
• The following activities have been restricted from inside the Data Center, except as specifically authorized by the your IT manager