Keep everyone safe from electricity by following these electrical safety tips…
- Keep electrical appliances, their cords and any extension leads away from water.
- Never touch a fallen or sagging power line. They can be live and extremely dangerous. Immediately call police or your local electricity distributor.
- Ensure cords are in good condition and if they’re worn or frayed, don’t use the appliance until it’s been repaired by an electrician.
- If you feel a shock, tingle or spark from an electrical appliance immediately turn it off, unplug it and have it repaired by a registered electrician.
- Always turn the light switch off before replacing a light bulb.
- Make sure any discarded appliance can’t be used by another person.
- Never poke anything into an appliance such as a toaster.
- Wear rubber-soled footwear when working in wet areas like the laundry.
- Fully unwind extension cords before use to prevent overheating.
- Don’t remove appliances by pulling on the plug. Always pull out by the plug.
- Don’t “piggy-back” power adaptors. Always use a power board with safety devices to avoid overloads.
- Use childproof plugs in power outlets to deter children from poking things into them.
- Never repair electrical appliances or cords, or perform electrical wiring work yourself.
- Always use a licenced electrician if you need electrical wiring or repairs, no matter how small the job.
- Have safety switches installed at your meter box if they haven’t been already.
- Only use extension cords outside that are rated for outdoor use and make sure the connections are protected from the weather.
- Testing safety switches every three months is a good rule of thumb. To do this you just need to press the ‘test’ or ‘T’ button.
- Before drilling into walls, find out where the electrical wires are, particularly around power points and light switches.
- Never use portable electric heaters in a bathroom.
- Switch off and unplug appliances before cleaning them.
- Avoid contact with overhead lines. If you’re working near them, always keep a safe distance – at least 6.4 metres for wires on poles and 10 metres for wires on towers. Keep this in mind when installing antennas, picking fruit or pruning trees, and using a ladder or a metal tape measure.
- Know the location of any underground power lines before digging at your facility. Call Dial Before You Dig national referral service on 1100.
- Keep kites and flying objects away from overhead powerlines.
- Water is a conductor of electricity. If water leaks into the light or power circuits in your home, a fault may develop, which could result in a fire or someone experiencing an electric shock. As soon as you notice a water leak, have it repaired by a licenced plumber.
- Turn off appliances like air conditioners, heaters and ovens if leaving your facility.
- Keep space around any appliance that generates heat to allow adequate ventilation and to prevent overheating.
- Always turn power boards off at the wall outlet if not in use for any length of time.
- Never place liquids on electrical appliances.
- Consider having additional circuits or outlets added by a qualified electrician so you do not have to use extension cords.
- Place lamps on level surfaces, away from things that can burn and use bulbs that match the lamp’s recommended wattage.
