Ensuring electrical safety in the home

Safety is a prime concern when it comes to electricity in the home. Incorrect use of appliances or faulty wiring presents many risks that can be avoided by following a few simple rules. Here are some basic guidelines on electrical safety to help you ensure that you and your family are as safe as possible.

Always let the pros handle your electricals

Electrical work of any kind should always be carried out by a licensed electrician. Apart from safety reasons, law dictates that you will have to pay a substantial fine if you attempt electrical work yourself. Before hiring them, check that the electrician has a valid licence.

You can purchase items such as light fittings, power points and light switches yourself, but they have to be installed by an electrician. The same goes for appliances requiring fixed wiring for installation such as air conditioners, ceiling fans, stoves and ovens.

Have an electrical safety assessment

Having your home assessed for electrical safety means any defects or potential risks can be identified and addressed before they become a problem. Your electricity supplier or an electrician can do this for you.

Safety switches

A low-cost way to ensure everyone in your home is protected from an electric shock is to install a safety switch. These are designed to automatically switch off the electricity supply when any defective appliances, switches or wiring are used. Safety switches are believed to reduce fatalities or accidents related to electricity by almost 90%. It is now mandatory for safety switches to be installed in all homes. Newly constructed homes must also have them on the lighting and the power circuits.

You can confirm whether your home has a safety switch by checking your switchboard. You’’ll find this with your electricity meter in most cases. Look for a switch with a “test” button alongside it. If you can’t find one, you probably need a licensed electrician to install a safety switch. If there isn’t a safety switch in a home you purchased, have one installed within three months of the sale.

A safety switch should be tested on a regular basis. Just press the “test” button and the switch should turn off. Get an electrician to look at it if it doesn’’t. Don’t forget to reset it by switching it back to the ON position.

Being a safe electricity user

Here are some good ideas to be sure you use electricity safely:

• Do not use electrical appliances close to water.
• Do not use faulty appliances with defects such as broken plugs or frayed cords. Take them to a licensed repair person or electrician.
• Do not overload power points and power boards; install more power points instead.
• Only use heaters in the bathroom that are designed for bathroom use.
• Insert safety plugs in power points you are not using.
• Do not use second-hand appliances unless they have been checked by a professional.
• Do not trim trees close to powerlines.

Most importantly, short of changing a worn lightbulb, never carry out electrical work yourself. It is dangerous and can also invalidate your home insurance policy. Get free quotes from electricians now.