Many workplaces and offices can be overrun with wires and cables. From battery cables to power and lighting strips to internet wires, the number of cables across the floor and walls can quickly add up.
More often than not these cables become a tangled mess that people can trip over and get hurt. There is also the risk of them becoming unplugged from the socket, which can be a problem, especially if that cable connects the internet router or a laptop on which work hasn’t been saved!
Luckily, there is a way of protecting your cables from damage, your staff from injury and your work from getting deleted – cable protectors for floors. Keep reading to find out just how investing in cable protectors can make your workplace a much safer place.
What exactly are cable protectors?
As the name suggests, cable protectors are designed to prevent wires, pipes or hoses from being stepped on, tripped over or driven over. They are either humps or ramp-like fixtures that have spaces underneath them to hold a number of cables.
What are the benefits of cable protectors?
Reducing trip hazards
Anything on the floor both at home and in the workplace causes a trip hazard. But cables and wires stand at the top of the list due to their long and thin nature which makes them the ideal candidate for trips. This can lead to serious injuries that could have been prevented easily by having these cords tucked safely away.
By installing floor cable protectors you can be sure that you are decreasing the likelihood of serious injuries. In the home or at a school cable protectors also prevent young children from playing with cables and wires.
Protecting the cables
You can preserve the quality of your cables and maximise their performance if you use cable protectors because after all, high-quality cables come at a price. Protectors are commonly made of hard plastic which prevents damage caused by vibration, abrasion, foot traffic and the fall of heavy equipment onto them.
Easier identification
Cable protectors can also make cable management and identification easier, especially if you put similar cables through the same protector. You would no longer have to go through a lengthy process of sorting your cables out and untangling them to find the one that you need to plug in.
You could even colour code the protectors with electrical tape to make identification of the different cables and wires much easier.
Creating a tidier space
First impressions count, whether it’s at home or in the workplace! A cluttered and disorganised space can give business partners, visitors and guests the wrong idea.
Let’s face it, a space full of messy cables just makes the place look cluttered, which reflects badly on you. By using cable protectors, you can create a clean and tidy space that looks great and is also much more comfortable to walk around and work in.
What are the different types of cable protectors?
Generally speaking, cable protectors are made of two main types of material: rubber and PVC. It’s important to know which type will work best for your space, and there are a few options to choose from:
Rubber cable protectors: A very versatile option, rubber cable protectors can be used both indoors and outdoors. They are most commonly found in most workplaces.
Yellow hazard cable protector: with the choice of wide or narrow channels, this type has bright yellow stripes on each side for extra visibility. They can be used indoors or outdoors to make people aware that there is a bump in the floor for protecting wires.
Data cable protector: the ideal choice for tech and server rooms, this type is heavy-duty to protect sensitive and delicate data cables.
Heavy-duty cable protector: ideal for industrial environments including warehouses, heavy-duty cable protectors are designed to withstand the pressure of high traffic and heavy wheels to adequately protect the cables underneath.
Cable ramps: built for strength, cable ramps are designed for outdoor use where heavy footfall and wheeled traffic could cause damage to wires and cables.