Anderson will again write weekly posts throughout the month to celebrate and educate about electrical safety. Let’s take a look at some of last year’s themes.

Do’s and Don’ts. Mike covered generic tips for avoiding electrical hazards. In the United States, electricity is the cause of more than 140,000 fires each year, resulting in 400 deaths, 4,000 injuries, and $1.6 billion in property damage. Total economic losses due to electrical hazards are estimated to exceed $4 billion annually. Following his 10 safety tips could save your life.

Behavior-Based Safety. This applies the science of behavioral changes to real world problems. It focuses on what people do, why they do it, and a research-supported strategy is applied to improve what people do. Nickle implemented a BBS program last year and it has been a major contribution to safety excellence.

Benefits of a Safety Committee. Mike covered five elements of creating a successful safety committee within your organization. It covers setting goals, appointing a leader, and including a diverse group of members.

Don’t Ignore Near-Misses. According to the National Safety Council, 75% of all accidents are preceded by one or more near-misses, minor incidents, or close calls. With effective training, these behaviors and near-misses can be diminished.

Are there any safety topics you hope Mike discusses in the coming weeks?

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• First, create a fire escape plan and a designated meeting place outside. Then practice that plan. You can even keep a ladder on the upper floor of your home in you case you need to exit from that level.
• You should have smoke alarms on every level of your home and in every bedroom. Make sure you test them on a regular basis and change the batteries twice per year.
• Have a fire extinguisher in an easy-to-reach spot in the kitchen and learn how to use it.
• Child-safety wallplates and tamper-proof outlets will keep tiny fingers out of empty outlets. There are also plastic outlet caps you can place in empty receptacles.
• Switch locks can be installed to prevent children from accidentally turning appliances and lights on and off.
• All cords should be kept out of reach to the best of your ability. Children tend to chew on just about anything they can get their hands on.
• Electronic toys should be checked frequently for damage.
• Nightlights will help your child feel safe at night but should be kept far from fabrics like bedspreads or curtains.
• Fireplaces, wood-burning stoves, radiators, and baseboard heaters can be blocked off to prevent burns.
• Matches, lighters, and lit candles should be kept out of children’s reach.
• Install ground-fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) in any room with a water source within six feet of an outlet as they protect against shock or electrocution.

Even after following these guidelines, try getting down on your hands and knees and looking around to get an idea of what the world looks like to your child. They may see things from their perspective that you can’t see from yours. Make sure your little one is able to explore the house safely.

The post How to childproof your home: steps to prevent fire/electrical injuries appeared first on Nickle Electrical Companies.