While we all depend on electricity in many aspects of our lives, we often take it and electrical safety for granted. Be vigilant about keeping yourself and your family safe from electricity and its potential to cause fires.
Here are 10 things you can do to stay safe:
- 1. Keep dry. Never touch electrical equipment/cords with wet hands, feet, or clothes, and never use electrical equipment near water.
- 2. Avoid overloads. For example, don’t plug six cords into an outlet that’s only capable of handling two.
- 3. Repair or replace damaged cords. Damaged cords should only be repaired by a qualified electrician. It’s safer to replace the damaged one with a new one.
- 4. Unplug items immediately after you use them. That way short circuits or failure to turn an item off won’t cause damage.
- 5. If you smell something burning, turn the item off immediately and unplug it from the outlet. This could be a sign that an appliance plug is overheating and starting to melt.
- 6. Cut the item off and unplug it immediately if it’s getting warm. You’ll also want to turn off the circuit breaker (found in the breaker box) to this outlet. Check to see if there’s any damage to the outlet and/or plug.
- 7. Purchase a special fire extinguisher just for electrical fires.
- 8. Turn off the circuit breaker when working on any switches, plugs, outlets, or fixtures.
- 9. Do not unplug a cord from the other side of the room.
- 10. Install outlet covers if you have small children in your home.
While these are some great tips to keep you safe, we were only given one set of eyes, ears, hands, and feet, so take time to protect them. And we only have one heart, which wasn’t designed to receive an electrical shock, so please be careful. If you’re not comfortable working with electricity or unsure of the extent of your electrical knowledge, leave it to the professionals. The life you save may be your own.
Nickle is here to help if you’re in need of service or simply have a question. Feel free to contact us here.
Nickle Safety – It’s How We’re Wired
Mike Anderson, CHST
Safety Director
