Staying Safe with Electricity
Saturday August 1, 2009
With so much electricity around us, it pays to be aware of electrical dangers should we encounter any surprises or are subjected to any electrical risks.
We can all too easily forget that we are susceptible to electrocution. Yet it happens when you think that what you are doing is perfectly safe.
Home electrical safety
The basics
You and your family could be seriously injured or killed if you are:
- rewiring or replacing a switch, power-point or plug
- fixing electrical appliances such as toasters, irons and washing machines
- altering or installing electrical wiring.
What to avoid
It's important that you never use wet hands to touch anything electrical, and never use electrical appliances near wet spaces including hair-dryers near a sink or bath.
Don't use electric heaters in the bathroom spaces unless it's specifically been designed to be used in wet spaces.
Ensure that you don't use kites or planes near overhead powerlines. Make sure you fly toy planes and kites in big open spaces such as parks and sportsgrounds where powerlines are clear from sight.
Don't prune trees that are situated anywhere near powerlines.
Don't carry long, metal objects including swimming pool skimmers and ladders in the event that electrical wires run overhead.
Don't attach clothes lines, hanging baskets or swings around beams or poles that have electrical wires attached.
While you might be tempted to do unauthorised electrical work, chances are it's not worth the risk. Undertaking authorised electrical work is not only illegal but dangerous for you and your family.
Safety with hot water
If you need to have a generator on your property, you must ensure that you keep it in a well-ventilated area. You should also avoid overloading powerpoints or connect your generator to your home wiring unless it is done by a qualified, licenced electrician.
Storm Safety
Extreme weather such as storms, high winds and heat has the potential to damage power network. During storms items can blow into overhead powerlines that can cause risk of injury or damage to property, but also causing electricity interruptions or live powerlines to fall to the ground, which is extremely dangerous as fallen powerlines can be deadly.
Some simple jobs you can do yourself
There are some jobs that you can do yourself such as changing an electric light bulb, replacing a fuse or resetting a circuit-breaker or safety switch. However aside from these tasks, it's important that you hire an experienced and fully-qualified electrician to do your electrical work.
If you would like any more information about electricians and how they can help you do your home or office electrical work, you can search our interactive database to find an electrician near you.
