Data center operators are always concerned about the health of IT and engineering within the data center but a number of incidents but incidents in the data center have shown a lack of caution could exist when it comes to data center staff.

 

According to a research paper released by Australian data center analyst James Turner, of IBRS, the optimised environment desired for the data center often increases the amount of risks inside for engineers, electricians and operations staff.

 

Turner spoke with a number of data center staff to hear a few of the health and safety horror stories.

 

In one case an engineer was left inside the data center despite a fire alarm being activated. The engineer was inside the server room and could not hear the fire alarm. 

 

"The fire alarm was later identified to be a false alarm but had the incident been genuine, the engineer’s life could have been at risk," Turner said.

 

In another incident an engineer working in a third-party owned and operated data center was stuck in a pitch black room with no exit signs but with the smell of smoke after an electrician working elsewhere in the building shorted out several circuits.

 

"Neither of these scenarios were an IT problem. The problem was with the essential safety measures which the third-party data center service provider would have been maintaining," Turner said.

 

He said in many cases a single incident could be seen to be an oversight, but by most governments’  law a second happening would be viewed as a violation of health and safety, making it paramount that  the CIO take action.

 

Turner said the lack of natural lighting, the use of main electricity, raised flooring, cabling, heavy equipment and sharp edges all make data centers a health hazard to staff.

 

He said any new company or staff entering a data center environment should ensure the service provider has built and maintained the facility in according to relevant standards and legislation and that staff have been briefed on emergency procedures.

 

Do you have any data center stories health and safety stories you can share with us? Email me at Penny.jones@datacenterdynamics to share your stories, good and bad.