By Mitch Rice
Running a venue is hard work.
Between planning events, managing employees, and appeasing guests, electrical safety compliance is likely the furthest thing from your mind. But it should be one of the first. One electrical malfunction can close your venue, harm your guests, and cost you everything.
The good news?
Armed with a rudimentary knowledge of switchgear and compliance with electrical safety, you can prevent the majority of switchgear problems that venue managers encounter every year.
Here’s what we’ll cover:
- Why Electrical Safety Compliance Matters So Much
- What Switchgear Actually Does In Your Venue
- The Most Common Switchgear Mistakes Venue Managers Make
- 5x Practical Electrical Safety Tips
Why Electrical Safety Compliance Matters So Much
Let’s start with some hard numbers.
Exposure to electricity is among the most common workplace causes of death in the United States. From 2011 through 2022, there were 1,322 deaths at work from electricity exposure. Worryingly, 70% of these fatalities were in non-electrical occupations.
That means the people getting hurt aren’t electricians.
They’re venue employees. Event technicians. Folks just like you. That’s why working with a trusted medium-voltage switchgear manufacturer is a game changer for venue managers serious about electrical safety compliance. You get properly tested equipment that meets modern safety standards — which can save lives.
Here’s why this matters for venues specifically:
- Masses of people — at any time, there are hundreds (or even thousands) of people within your venue.
- High power demand — stages, lighting, sound systems, HVAC… that all takes a lot of juice.
- Complex infrastructure — venues have more electrical systems than a regular office.
If something breaks down, it affects everyone. The stakes are higher for a venue than most commercial spaces.
What Switchgear Actually Does In Your Venue
Switchgear is the backbone of your electrical safety system.
Consider it as a traffic cop for electricity in your venue. It can control, protect and isolate electrical equipment to ensure the safe flow of power to the right place at the right time.
Without proper switchgear, you have no way to:
- Safely disconnect circuits during maintenance
- Protect equipment from power surges and short circuits
- Isolate faults before they cause bigger problems
- Meet electrical safety compliance standards
Pretty important, right?
Most facilities have low-voltage switchgear (lighting/outlets) and medium-voltage switchgear (larger loads like HVAC, stage, and main power distribution). Medium voltage is what ensures safe and reliable delivery of your facility’s main power. If it fails, everything shuts down.
The Most Common Switchgear Mistakes Venue Managers Make
Here is where things get interesting.
Venue operators don’t intentionally create electrical issues. They simply aren’t trained to recognize them. These are common errors.
Skipping Regular Inspections
The biggest mistake?
Failure to regularly inspect switchgear. Facility managers think, “If the lights are on, switchgear is okay.” Switchgear failures are gradual over months or years. An annoyance now can lead to a catastrophic failure next month.
Visually inspect your switchgear at least annually. Every 6 months if it’s a high use area at a busy venue.
Ignoring Age and Wear
Switchgear doesn’t last forever.
The typical lifespan of most equipment is 25-30 years. However, if you are operating a busy venue, this number decreases. One recent report showed a 29% increase in Lockout/Tagout violations from 2022 to 2023, demonstrating how many businesses are skimping on electrical maintenance.
Be not one of them. If your switchgear is 20 years old or older, begin planning now for a replacement.
Using Unqualified Technicians
This one is a big problem.
It’s easy to understand why some venue owners and facility managers want to hire the cheapest electrician available. However, working on medium-voltage switchgear is a specialised trade. Cutting corners can put lives at risk.
Always make sure your electrician is licensed and has commercial switchgear experience.
5x Practical Electrical Safety Tips
Okay the meat and potatoes. Do these and you should hit most of the frequently encountered problems.
Create A Comprehensive Safety Plan
Every venue needs a written electrical safety plan.
This is not a mere checklist. It’s your guide for when an electrical emergency occurs. Here’s what your safety plan should include:
- Emergency shutdown procedures for each system
- Contact info for your electrical contractor
- Inspection schedules and maintenance records
- Staff training requirements
- Documentation of all switchgear and equipment
Make it simple enough for any member of your staff to understand. The best safety plan is one that will be followed.
Train Your Staff Properly
Your staff is your first line of defence.
5,180 non-fatal electrical injuries with days away from work occurred in 2023 and 2024 combined. This is an increase of 59% over the two years prior. Yikes. Training makes a difference.
Make sure your staff knows:
- How to spot signs of electrical problems (burning smells, flickering lights, hot outlets)
- What to do in an electrical emergency
- Who to contact if they notice any issues
Even basic training can prevent most workplace electrical incidents.
Invest In Quality Equipment
Cheap switchgear is expensive.
That sounds counterintuitive, right? But buying the lowest priced equipment means higher costs over time due to equipment failure, downtime, and safety incidents. Quality switchgear has a longer service life, more reliable operation, is up-to-date with today’s safety requirements, and pays for itself over time.
The upfront cost is higher, but it pays for itself within a few years.
Schedule Regular Thermal Imaging
Here’s a pro tip most venue managers miss.
Thermal imaging helps your electrician to identify hot spots in your switchgear before they turn into issues. Hot spots are often a sign of loose connections, worn contacts, or overloaded circuits — all potential fire hazards or sources of equipment failure.
Schedule thermal imaging at least annually. It’s inexpensive, fast, and finds problems before they turn into catastrophes.
Keep Detailed Records
Last but not least — document everything.
All inspections, repairs, and upgrades must be documented. Good records allow you to identify trends, demonstrate compliance at inspection, plan future maintenance, and mitigate liability if something does go wrong.
A simple spreadsheet works fine. The important thing is that you actually do it.
Final Thoughts
Electrical safety compliance isn’t just a box to tick.
It’s the basis of a safe venue. When you know your switchgear, adhere to recommended inspection schedules and commit to quality products, you are keeping your guests, your staff and your business safe. Cutting corners and hoping for the best never pays off.
Remember to:
- Inspect your switchgear regularly
- Train your staff properly
- Work with qualified electrical contractors
- Invest in quality equipment from trusted manufacturers
- Keep detailed records of everything
Start with one or two. Build from there. The best time to take care of electrical safety was yesterday. The second best time is today.
Data and information are provided for informational purposes only, and are not intended for investment or other purposes.

