Electricity Safety
Important Tips on Electricity Safety
Electricity safety is most assuredly a matter of life and death. Every year you hear stories of people who ignored basic safety rules and, sadly, didn't live to tell about it.
Many people are killed each year by lightning, which is the most natural form of electricity. The old adages of not standing under a tree and not getting out of a car if you've knocked a power line down, are too often overlooked, with deadly consequences.
If a tree comes down near your home and pulls electric wires down, STAY AWAY from them. They may be dead, but the may not be dead, and if they are live, then you might end up dead.
Don't swim, boat, or engage in water activities during thunderstorms. Water naturally attracts lightning, and water is an excellent conductor. The human body is mostly water, so, sadly, we make a very good conductor as well.
The home is a place where many accidents occur. Many times we just don't think about the appliances and conveniences that we take for granted. Here are some tips for home electricity safety:
Never use bulbs of too high a wattage in lamp or ceiling fixtures. Use the recommended wattage or lower.
Don't use electric cords if they are frayed or worn. Don't put rugs over cords, especially if the cords are running to space heaters, or other appliances that might make the wires warm to the touch.
Keep all hair-styling small appliances away from the tub and sink, in the bathroom. Or perhaps move them to the bedroom, which would be even safer. Never use curling irons or blow dryers when you are in the tub or still wet after a shower or bath.
Many accidents take place at work, when busy people don't stop to think. Here are some work-place electricity safety tips:
Be sure that if you are working on a machine, that it is turned off AND tagged so that no one can turn it on while you're working on it.
Be sure to wear protective equipment in electrical areas. This includes goggles and heavy gloves, which might stop some of the electricity if you are shocked by a machine or outlet.
If your office runs a multi-purpose copy machine, etc., be sure not to overload the circuit or outlet that such a machine is plugged into.
Make sure you don't use electrical equipment near any water. This includes outdoor equipment like electric trimmers or mowers, as well as indoor equipment that might have been affected by a flood, spill or leak.
If you experience a breaker tripping out, make sure you know why it tripped before you click the breaker back to “on”.
Electricity safety is everyone's concern. Follow these rules and use common sense around electricity.