Home electrical safety

Electrical safety at home

Electrical hazards and safety awareness help ensure the health and wellbeing of everyone in your household. Make your home a safer place for you and your family by following these electrical safety tips.

General electrical safety rules

• Use proper fuses in electrical panels.
• Don't overload outlets.
• Before working with any electrical wiring, turn off the breaker in the electrical panel.
• Don't run cords under rugs or connect several extension cords together.

Electrical safety around plugs and appliances

• Don't overload outlets.
• Use safety covers on open electrical sockets to prevent children playing with them.
• Never stick anything into an electrical socket except for a plug that is designed to fit.
• Unplug appliances — by the plug, not the cord — when not in use and before cleaning.
• Make sure all prongs on the electrical plug are intact and there's no damage or fraying to the cord.

Electrical safety for heating devices

• When purchasing an electric space heater, look for the Underwriter's Laboratory mark.
• Keep at least three feet between the heater and anything flammable.
• Turn the heater off before falling asleep or leaving the area you are heating.
• Electric blankets and heating pads should be checked for frayed fabric, scorch marks, damp patches, exposed elements and loose connections. If in doubt, replace them.

Electrical safety around water

Generally, anything that plugs into an electrical outlet should not be submerged in water. Water conducts electricity and can cause electrocution.

• Keep electrical items away from showers, bathtubs, sinks, and toilets.
• Make sure outlets in the bathroom and kitchen are updated with ground fault circuit interrupters, which turn off electricity if appliances fall into water.
• Any electrical equipment and wiring that has been exposed to water, for any reason, should be evaluated by a professional before turning it on or plugging it in.

Basic electrical safety awareness is one step in the right direction when it comes to overall health & safety awareness in and around your home. Electrical systems can be dangerous, and can cause serious injuries from electric shock, or worse. Be aware of the hazards around your house, and what you may be responsible for including overhead power lines, underground cables, transformers and other electrical equipment on your property.