Staying safe within your home is key for all. To do this, you have to take necessary precautions which means being vigilant with specific elements of your home. Electrical safety is one of these elements, and with some basic understanding you can implement these into your home to protect everyone. At IPF Electrical we are electrical experts with a wealth of knowledge within our industry. In our latest post we take a look at electrical safety whilst at home.
Electrical safety is the process of ensuring that all appliances, fittings and various other electrical installations are all working as they should be. Checking the integrity of the things you use most is key to ensure that you reduce the chances of accidents or injury. With an emphasis being placed on electrical safety, the team at IPF Electrical conduct many a test and remedial work on people’s homes to ensure all is working as it needs to be.
Electrical safety does not need to be complex, and there are a range of simple checkers and preventative measures you can take to protect yourself at home. Some of these checks include the following:-
Ensuring that your fused box is RCD protected will mean that in the event of a power surge or a fuse tripping out the power supply will be cut off to that appliance. This is a very common safety measure in most homes.
Overloading plug sockets is one of the most common ways to trip the electrics or cause potential incidents in your home. Ensure that all plugs are showing no visible signs of wear and tear, and try not to plug in too many appliances at one time.
The storage of items is another basic and easy process. Never store items that are combustible next to fuse boxes, meters or other appliances. And also never run cables under rugs or carpets due to the heat which could cause fires.
It goes without saying that electricity and water does not mix. This means that keeping appliances away from bathrooms is key to ensuring that no accidents or incidents occur.
We are all guilty of using appliances when not at home. This may be leaving the washing machine or dishwasher on. There is a chance when left unattended that a fire may occur which could be detrimental to your home. Only use these appliances when you are within your home.
As mentioned above staying safe at home is really important. With a vast array of electrical appliances always being used, it is really important to make sure that safety precautions are taken where possible. Below you will see the key areas appliances are used and the best ways you can stay safe at home.
The kitchen is the location within your home where you find most accidents or fires tend to occur. This is why it is important to make sure that you lay down some ground rules within your home. The main reason it tends to be a key place for incidents is usually down to the fact that there is always a mixture of water and electricity.
Mitigating the risk of water and electricity coming into contact, there are some very basic things in which you can do. The first one is to make sure that electrics are kept at a minimum of 30cm away from the sink. This is to limit the chance of water making contact with sockets and appliances. Equally, appliances beneath worktops should have a separate fuse circuit so that it is more accessible.
Alongside limiting the contact of water and electrics, ensure that cables and leads are kept tidy within the kitchen. Check them regularly to ensure that there are no issues, and if there are then replace as necessary.
Even outside your home is it important to make sure that you focus on your electrical safety. The use of mowers, strimmers and hedge trimmers are the most commonly used appliances. Even though they make the process of cutting grass and bushes easier, there is a chance that accidents and incidents can occur. Especially if you cut through the lead, or find yourself cutting on a wet surface.
The best way to combat this is to make sure that you have an RCD safety cut out on the equipment in which you are using. This will help to ensure that if you do cut the cord then you are protected from the electric shock that may occur afterwards.
Alongside the kitchen and outdoor areas of your home it is important to make sure the bedrooms, front room, dining room and bathroom are also taken care of in the same level of attention. Ensure that you are taking the necessary precautions to ensure that electrical safety is at a high within your home. This will only help to prevent injury or accidents from occurring.
Electrical safety whilst at home is crucial to ensuring that everyone is safe. With the amount of electrical appliances being used in today’s home increasing, it is crucial that you consider the implications if something is to go wrong. As well as making sure that all the correct preventative measures are in place. At IPF Electrical we are accredited electrical engineers with a keen focus on electrical testing and remedial work. For more information on our services please do Contact Us.