Electricity in the home is one of the most important resources we have. It provides light, heat and power for cooking or running all those appliances that make our lives convenient — and enjoyable. But, electricity can also be dangerous. Accidents caused by electricity accounted for over 1,000 hospital cases and 55 deaths in Australia between 2014 -16. So, how can you be sure the electricity in your home is safe? Here are some practical electrical safety tips that you can follow quickly and easily to find out if there are any risks. But, we would stress that if you do need to get any problems fixed, ask a qualified electrician. DIY electrical work can be dangerous if you’re not sure what you’re doing.
Fit a safety switch
Top of our list of electrical safety recommendations is to make sure you have a safety switch fitted and it’s working. A safety switch is vital because if you turn on a faulty appliance and there is an electrical problem, the switch will ‘trip’ in a fraction of a second to cut the electrical supply and prevent anyone getting injured. You can reset the safety switch, but disconnect the faulty appliance first and get it checked and repaired before using it again.
You must have a safety switch in your home to comply with the law and the Australian Electrical Code. This law was introduced in 1991 for all new builds, but, if your home was built before this time, it may not be protected by safety switches. Detailed regulations vary from state to state, so ask your electrician to check.
Check all appliances and switches
Before it comes to an incident, check all your appliances, switches and sockets. Look for tell-tale signs like loose, exposed or damaged wiring and cracks in plugs or sockets. If you see any signs of damage or wear, switch off the power at the main switch, disconnect the appliance from the socket and tell others not to use it. The same goes for switches or sockets – mark them with coloured tape or a note and tell others not to use them. Then either have them repaired and tested by an electrician or dispose of them.
If you’ve got older appliances that haven’t been used for a while, it’s worth having them checked by an electrician. Wiring, plugs and regulations have changed over the past 10 – 15 years, so an old appliance may pose a risk.
One appliance that you must definitely check regularly is the smoke alarm. We recommend testing it once a month, change the battery once a year and replace the unit if it’s more than 10 years old.
If you’re buying new appliances, always check that they are suitable for use in Australia and have a regulatory compliance mark (RCM). This shows that they have been approved by an official body to meet Australian electrical safety standards.
Eliminate risks
There are some things you should check around the home to make sure there are no risks of accidents that could cause electrical problems. Make sure you don’t have long trailing cables, particularly on the floor or under carpets. Someone could easily trip over them, dislodge the plug and risk a shock.
You may have more appliances than sockets in some rooms. It’s tempting to plug several appliances into an extension bar, but be cautious about having too many live on the same bar. You can easily overload the circuit. An electrician can extend your radial circuit to give you additional sockets.
If you’ve got young children, protect open sockets with child-proof covers to make sure they can’t poke them with their fingers. Switch off appliances when they’re not in use — children can be adventurous if you’re not watching!
Make sure you don’t mix water and electricity – a very dangerous mix. So, never use any electrical appliances when you’ve got wet hands. Keep water away from your appliances, particularly when they’re switched on. Keep any cables off the floor; there’s a risk if you’re washing the floor or just wearing wet shoes. You must not bring any electrical appliances into the bathroom, although you can use shavers or hair dryers plugged into an approved bathroom socket. If you’re using appliances outdoors like hedge trimmers, mowers or jet washes, make sure they’re connected to a circuit breaker. If there is an accident or if you try to work in wet conditions, the circuit breaker will cut the power and keep you safe.
Call the professionals
As electricity can be dangerous, we don’t recommend tackling any major electrical work yourself. The general guidelines are that you can change light bulbs or fluorescent tubes, replace fuses and reset safety switches or circuit breakers.
Electrical repairs, replacing switches and sockets, and changing or extending wiring are jobs strictly for qualified, licensed electricians who work safely and ensure that any work complies with regulations.
If you need to have any electrical work done to make your home safer, please contact the friendly team at Maxwell Sparks for more information and a free quotation on 0418 649 254 or samuel@maxwellsparx.com.