Whether you’re at home or at work, electrical safety should be high on your agenda.
Studies have shown that around 71% of all electrical fires – or close to 20,000 – can be attributed to faulty appliances, while as many as one thousand accidents involving electrical shocks are reported in the workplace every year. Worryingly, in the region of 30 of these prove fatal.
On the positive side, however, simple steps can remove the risk of these avoidable episodes occurring. Here are our top ten tips on electrical safety:
- Inspect all electrical cables to check whether they’re damaged
- Never overload your socks and, if possible, avoid using extension leads
- If you have to use an extension cable, keep the usage to a minimum and under no circumstances plug one into another
- Don’t be tempted to purchase cheap – or even counterfeit – chargers; the likelihood is that they won’t conform to necessary safety standards and could therefore prove to be a dangerous mistake
- Dry your hands before using any form of electrical equipment and never use it close to a water source
- Keep children away from outlets to protect them from inquisitive fingers
- Look up and down to keep an eye out for overhead and low-lying electrical cables
- Drones are increasingly being used for professional purposes as well as for pleasure, and it’s important to avoid flying them close to power lines
- Talk to your family and colleagues about electrical safety and how they can all help to protect themselves, each other and your premises
- Before cleaning appliances, ensure they are turned off and unplugged
When it comes to all things electrical, it’s advisable to engage qualified professionals such as ourselves to carry out your PAT testing and fixed wire testing. That way you know that your electrical installations and appliances are properly installed and safe to use.
And finally, to keep everyone as safe as possible – and to reduce your utility bills – turn appliances and sockets off when they’re not being used. A modern TV, for example, will use between 0.5 to 3 watts when on standby…
At MS Electrical we offer PAT testing, fixed wire testing and EICRs in Cambridge. To request a no-obligation quotation please call us on 01223 850301 or complete our enquiry form.