Use of non-college-owned electrical appliances

As we transition throughout the year from warm/hot temperatures to cool/cold temperatures, Mohawk College’s Facilities Services receives an increase in maintenance tickets for breakers being tripped. Often, the cause of breaker trips is the use of non-college-owned (or personal) electrical appliances.

These personal electrical appliances could include small personal heaters, microwaves, toaster ovens or coffee makers. The additional current on the College’s electrical infrastructure causes overloads, tripping of the circuit.

When a breaker is tripped, an investigation of why the electrical circuit tripped is essential because a breaker tripping signals a potential issue in the electrical circuit, the electrical appliance or both. If left unchecked, these problems can lead to electrical fires, damage to appliances, or recurring outages. Identifying the root cause ensures safety, prevents future disruptions, and helps maintain the integrity of the electrical system. For this reason, when a breaker is tripped, it must first be determined what caused it to trip before it can be reset, and power is restored.

Personal electrical appliance use guidelines:

Employees may choose from time to time to bring personal electrical appliances into the workspace to improve their experience. To ensure safety at our campuses the following guidelines are requested of any employee wishing to use personal electrical appliances on Mohawk College campuses:

1. Employees must advise their supervisor/manager prior to bringing any personal electrical appliance into the Mohawk College workplace and obtain permission for its use.
2. The supervisor/manager is to contact Mohawk College Facility Services at maintenance@mohawkcollege.ca to review the electrical appliance and confirm if the intended location for the electrical appliance will accommodate the increased electrical load on the electrical infrastructure.
   • If it is determined that using the existing outlets could cause an overload, a dedicated electrical circuit for the electrical appliance is required. Facility Services will obtain a quotation from a Mohawk College electrical vendor for installation. The quote will be provided to the supervisor/manager for their budget approval and FOAPAL.

Standards for the use of personal appliance equipment:

• Have labels identifying Canadian Standards Association (CSA) or Underwriters Laboratories of Canada (ULC) approved.
• The electrical appliance does not contravene applicable federal, provincial, or municipal legislation or contain any hazardous material.
• Be in good working order and state of repair (e.g. no exposed frayed or taped wires, missing grounding prong, no alterations from the original state).
• To be used only in a space suitable for its safe use.
• To be operated according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
• If the appliance is heat-generating, it is not to be left unattended.
• Not to be used with an extension cord except for temporary use.
• Be unplugged or shut down when not in use.
• Be labelled with the name of the owner.

Facility Services may at any time establish a requirement for discontinued use of an electrical appliance because of careless use or adverse outcomes from the use of the electrical appliances.  

These guidelines apply to all Mohawk College facilities and to all personal electrical appliances that employees wish to bring to Mohawk College to increase their comfort or enable food preparation.

Questions? Please contact Ed Cipriani, Director, Facility Operations.