By Pam Blair
Your home is supposed to be your haven, and the Electrical Safety Foundation International wants to help you keep it that way.
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 41,000 residential fires a year are caused by problems with electrical wiring systems, claiming more than 370 lives, causing thousands of injuries and more than $2 billion in personal property damage.
Electric cords and plugs are involved in an estimated 7,100 fires, resulting in 120 deaths. Lamps and light fixtures are involved in about 8,900 fires and 60 deaths; switches and outlets are involved in 4,700 fires and countless deaths.
About 3,600 people are treated for injuries associated with extension cords. If used correctly, electricity is safe. Follow these tips to stay electrically safe, not sorry.
- Outlets. Check for outlets with loose-fitting plugs, which can overheat and lead to fire. Replace any missing or broken wall plates. Put safety covers on all unused outlets accessible to children.
- Cords. Make sure cords are in good condition—not frayed or cracked. Make sure they are placed out of traffic areas. Cords should never be nailed or stapled to the wall, baseboard or other object. Do not place cords under carpets or rest furniture on them.
- Extension cords. Check that cords are not overloaded. Extension cords should only be used temporarily; they are not intended as permanent household wiring. Make sure extension cords have safety closures to help protect young children from shock hazards and mouth burn injuries.
- Plugs. Make sure your plugs fit your outlets. Never remove the ground pin—the third prong—to make a 3 prong plug fit a 2-conductor outlet; this could lead to an electrical shock. Never force a plug into an outlet if it doesn’t fit. Plugs should fit securely into outlets. Avoid overloading outlets with too many appliances.
- Ground-fault circuit interrupters. GFCIs can help prevent electrocution. They should be used in any area where water and electricity may come into contact. When a GFCI senses current leakage in an electrical circuit, it assumes a ground fault has occurred. It then interrupts power fast enough to help prevent serious injury from electrical shock. Test GFCIs regularly, according to the manufacturer’s instructions, to ensure they work properly.
- Lightbulbs. Check the wattage of all bulbs in light fixtures to make sure they are the right wattage for the fixture. Replace bulbs if they are of higher wattage than recommended. Check with the fixture manufacturer if you don’t know the correct wattage. Screw bulbs in securely; loose ones may overheat.
- Circuit breakers/fuses. Circuit breakers and fuses should be the correct current rating for their circuit. If you do not know the proper size, have an electrician identify and label the size to be used. Always replace a fuse with the same size fuse.
- Water and electricity. Don’t leave appliances plugged in where they might contact water. If a plugged-in device falls into water, don’t reach in to pull it out—even if it’s turned off. First, turn off the power at the breaker, then unplug the appliance. If you have an appliance that has gotten wet, don’t use it until a qualified repair person has checked it.
- Appliances. If an appliance repeatedly blows a fuse, trips a circuit breaker or has shocked you, unplug it and have it repaired or replaced.
- Entertainment/computer equipment. Make sure the equipment is in good condition and working properly; look for cracks or damage in wiring, plugs and connectors. Use a surge protector bearing the seal of a nationally recognized certification agency, such as Underwriters Laboratories.
- Space heaters. Space heaters are meant to supply supplemental heat, not be used as a primary heat source. When needed, keep them at least 3 feet away from combustible materials such as bedding, clothing, draperies, furniture and rugs. Don’t use one in rooms where children are unsupervised, and remember to turn it off and unplug it when not in use.
- Halogen floor lamps. Halogen floor lamps operate at much higher temperatures than standard incandescent lightbulbs. Never place a halogen floor lamp where it could come in contact with draperies, clothing or combustible materials. Turn the lamp off when you leave the room for an extended time, and never use it in children’s bedrooms or playrooms.
- Outdoor safety. Electric-powered mowers and other tools should not be used in the rain, on wet grass or in wet conditions. Inspect power tools and electric lawn mowers before each use for frayed power cords, broken plugs, and cracked or broken housings. If damaged, stop using it immediately. Repair it or replace it. Always use an extension cord marked for outdoor use and rated for the power needs of your tools. Remember to unplug all portable power tools when not in use. Since metal ladders conduct electricity, watch for overhead wires and power lines.
- Lightning. Do not use appliances such as hair dryers, toasters or telephones during an electrical storm. Do not take a bath or shower. Keep batteries on hand for flashlights and radios in case of a power outage, and use surge protectors on electronic devices and appliances.
For more information about home electrical safety, visit the Electrical Safety Foundation website.