Staying safe around electricity means specific steps need to be taken to prevent injury, or even death, from electrical shocks. According to the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) there is an estimated average of 60 electrocutions associated with consumer products every year. The three most common product categories associated with electrocutions are small appliance, power tool, and lighting equipment. Additionally, there are more than 30,000 non-fatal shock accidents occur each year. Here are five tips from the qualified, experienced electricians at Cirtcele Electric to help you remain safe:
- 1. Always be safety conscious as working with electricity is dangerous. Hiring a professional electrician to address issues with arcing, short circuits, or overloaded outlets.
- Shutting off the power at the breaker box is necessary when working on any electrical device; this is essential for do-it-yourself home repairman. Test the circuit to make sure it is turned off.
- Never use aluminum ladders when working around electricity. Use a wooden or insulated fiberglass ladder for safety’s sake.
- Never work around electricity in a wet area. If there is no way to avoid this situation, call a professional. This includes never touching plugs or outlets with wet hands.
- If you are working on the electricity in your house and have turned off the breaker, make sure you put a warning label or note on the breaker box. You do not want someone inside the house who is unaware that you are working on the electricity to switch on the breaker.
Electrical issues are best left to licensed electricians because they will not only address the electrical issue for which you called them, but they can inspect for faulty wiring, potential electrical fire hazards, and overloaded circuits. There are also some specific Dos and Don’ts for dealing with electricity and they are:
- Don’t overload outlets.
- Don’t rely on extension cords permanently; they are for temporary use only.
- Don’t place power cords under carpets or rugs.
- Only purchase electrical products that meet the Underwriter’s Laboratory (UL) standards for safety.
- Make certain appliances are turned off before you plug them in.
- Keep all electrical appliances away from water.
- Don’t automatically turn a tripped circuit breaker back on before you know why it turned off.
- Replace frayed, cracked or broken power cords
Feel free to share this post to help keep your friends and family safe.
Source: http://www.esfi.org/index.cfm/page/Injury-and-Fatality-Statistics/pid/12015
No comments yet.