While we all use electricity everyday and can not imagine life without all the benefits it brings, it can be dangerous, even deadly. Because of the dangers involved, a person who is working on electricity around the home needs to be aware of electrical safety. Knowing some basic safety measures might save a life.
When working in and around electrical systems, you should be conscious of your actions - all of them, continuously. Merely a moment of distraction can lead to a terrible burn or even death. So, be alert.
This sounds obvious, but sometimes people forget. Electrical safety requires that before you begin work you should shut off the power, throw the circuit breaker or unplug the appliance. You must be sure there is no live electricity before you start work.
To be sure the circuit breaker did turn off the electicity, test the circuit. Use a tester to make sure that there is no current. Only after testing is it safe to begin work.
Never work on anything electric while standing in water. Water is such a good conductor of electricity, just standing in dampness and using a hair dryer is dangerous. If an electrical appliance that is plugged in falls into a sink or bathtub, never try to unplug it or retrieve it. Make sure the electricity is completely turned off before retrieving it from the water. People have died by reacting automatically and not thinking about the consequences.
If you must work with electricity in the wet, always wear rubber boots and gloves. They'll lessen the chance you will get shocked. Be sure to plug tools and appliances into a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlet or extension cord before commencing the job.
Always dry your hand before grabbing any cord to plug it in or unplug it. The cord can be slightly frayed but not visibly so. Touching a frayed cord with wet hands can cause a very unpleasant, shocking surprise.
If you are working outside, find where underground lines are before doing any burrowing and always seek out overhead wires and be sure not to unwittingly hit them. If utility lines are down, don't touch them and call the utility company to send someone qualified to fix the problem. In the meantime, keep children and pets away from the downed lines.
When working outdoors on something that requires a ladder, a wooden or insulated fiberglass ladder is preferable over aluminum because they won't conduct electricity. Once on the ladder, look around to be sure there are no electrical wires. Only then is it safe to begin work.
While you're working with electricity, be certain that everyone in the household knows that. Tell them explicitly that you are going to turn the electricity off and they should not to turn it back on. It could be deadly if such a mistake occurred. It is not enough that you are alert, you need to be certain those around you are, too.
When dealing with electricity, being conscious of the hazards and remaining alert can mean the difference in life and death. So, stay alert.
When working in and around electrical systems, you should be conscious of your actions - all of them, continuously. Merely a moment of distraction can lead to a terrible burn or even death. So, be alert.
This sounds obvious, but sometimes people forget. Electrical safety requires that before you begin work you should shut off the power, throw the circuit breaker or unplug the appliance. You must be sure there is no live electricity before you start work.
To be sure the circuit breaker did turn off the electicity, test the circuit. Use a tester to make sure that there is no current. Only after testing is it safe to begin work.
Never work on anything electric while standing in water. Water is such a good conductor of electricity, just standing in dampness and using a hair dryer is dangerous. If an electrical appliance that is plugged in falls into a sink or bathtub, never try to unplug it or retrieve it. Make sure the electricity is completely turned off before retrieving it from the water. People have died by reacting automatically and not thinking about the consequences.
If you must work with electricity in the wet, always wear rubber boots and gloves. They'll lessen the chance you will get shocked. Be sure to plug tools and appliances into a ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlet or extension cord before commencing the job.
Always dry your hand before grabbing any cord to plug it in or unplug it. The cord can be slightly frayed but not visibly so. Touching a frayed cord with wet hands can cause a very unpleasant, shocking surprise.
If you are working outside, find where underground lines are before doing any burrowing and always seek out overhead wires and be sure not to unwittingly hit them. If utility lines are down, don't touch them and call the utility company to send someone qualified to fix the problem. In the meantime, keep children and pets away from the downed lines.
When working outdoors on something that requires a ladder, a wooden or insulated fiberglass ladder is preferable over aluminum because they won't conduct electricity. Once on the ladder, look around to be sure there are no electrical wires. Only then is it safe to begin work.
While you're working with electricity, be certain that everyone in the household knows that. Tell them explicitly that you are going to turn the electricity off and they should not to turn it back on. It could be deadly if such a mistake occurred. It is not enough that you are alert, you need to be certain those around you are, too.
When dealing with electricity, being conscious of the hazards and remaining alert can mean the difference in life and death. So, stay alert.
About the Author:
Electrical safety information was provided by emergency electrical services and residential electrical work.
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