The
discovery
of
electricity
Electrical safety in the home
Electricity is safe if you know the rules
Electricity is very safe when it is used properly.
Even though you can’t see electricity, it is a very powerful
force that must be treated with respect. If not, it can kill
or injure you.
Here are some simple rules for electrical safety:
•
Never touch an electrical appliance or switch while
your hands or feet are wet, and never use any
electrical appliance near water.
•
Never use a faulty electrical appliance, or one that
has a frayed cord, a cracked or broken plug, or any
appliance that has given someone a shock or “tingle”.
•
Never repair electrical appliances or cords or do
any electrical wiring work unless you are a qualified
electrical trades person.
1
The discovery of electricity fact
sheets reviewed and updated with
the assistance of STAV Publishing
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friendly
Warning signals
Any of the following warnings could mean that your electrical
equipment is dangerous and should, therefore, be looked at by a
registered electrical contractor:
•
A tingle, a shock or a spark from any electrical appliance. This
warning should never be ignored as it means that electricity is not
flowing through the appliance as it should. The appliance should
be switched off, unplugged and repaired.
•
A fuse or circuit breaker that often needs to be reset. This could
mean an electrical fault in the house wiring, in an extension cord
or in an electrical appliance. Ask your parents to call a registered
electrical contractor.
•
A shock or tingle from any fixed metal surface (a pipe or the
kitchen sink). This could mean that the house wiring is faulty. If your
parents can’t contact an electrical contractor, they should ring your
electricity supply authority immediately.
2
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friendly
Good safety habits
Most people know that electricity can be dangerous. Yet, they still do
silly things such as leaving a plugged-in hairdryer where it can fall into a
bath or basin. Or they unplug appliances without switching the power
off first. The following are some good habits that you can learn easily.
1. Outdoors
3
•
When you fly kites or model aeroplanes, keep them well away from
overhead power lines. Never climb on to roofs or trees close to
electrical equipment or power lines.
•
When near a swimming pool, make sure that electrical appliances
aren’t used in wet areas or near where they can fall into the pool. In
some situations, even the smallest electrical current in water
can kill.
•
Anyone using portable electric power tools outside the house
should wear shoes and stay clear of wet areas. Extension cords
should be put clear of walkways in case someone accidentally trips
and causes a serious accident.
•
Electrical cords that are used outdoors should be checked
regularly for damage, as they can become worn quite quickly.
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2. Indoors
In the bathroom
4
•
If you’re using a hairdryer, shaver or any electrical appliance,
wear slippers or shoes, and make sure that you have dried
yourself properly and that you are not standing in a wet spot.
•
Put electrical appliances away after you’ve used them. Don’t
leave them lying around where they may fall into the bath,
washbasin or sink.
•
After a warm bath or shower in cold weather, dry yourself quickly
and put on warm clothes. Portable electric heaters should not be
used in a wet area, such as the bathroom.
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In the Kitchen
•
Switch off and unplug the toaster before trying to pullout any stuck
toast or crumpets.
•
Watch out for cords hanging over benches, especially if there are
small children around to pull at them. Many children have been burnt
this way.
Anywhere in the house
NOTE: When we say that
an electrical appliance or
the house wiring should be
checked or repaired, we
mean that this work should
be done by a registered
electrical contractor. Electrical
work may look easy however,
unqualified electrical handymen
have caused many electrical
accidents and deaths. It is
illegal to work on any house
wiring unless you are licensed
to do so.
5
•
Always switch off appliances - the radio, the iron, the food
processor – at the power point before you pull out the plug. When
you want to use an appliance again, make sure the power point
switch is off before you plug it in.
•
Put safety plugs into unused power point sockets so that small
children can’t push metal objects into them. You can buy these
plugs at your local hardware store and most shops that sell
products for babies or young children.
•
Regularly check your electric blanket for damage before switching
it on. Look for frayed cords or any damage around the plug and
heat control switch areas, or any creases or sharp kinks in the
heating elements. Don’t use the blanket if it is damaged. Ask your
parents to replace it, or to get it fixed by a qualified trade person.
•
Any cracked plugs, frayed cords, broken switches and sockets
must be replaced or repaired immediately by a qualified trades
person.
•
Carefully place extension cords around furniture or along wall
edges. Never leave cords across the floor or under rugs because
someone may trip and cause a serious accident or fire.
•
Extension cord plugs should have three metal cores. If you find one
with only two, it means that it is not earthed and is, therefore, very
dangerous. Don’t use it.
•
Home-made electricity cords have caused many deaths. Never
make or repair electric cords and never join cords by twisting and
taping. If you know that you have one in your home, disconnect it,
cut it up and throw it away so that no-one will ever use it.
print
friendly
6
Safety Switches
By law, safety switches are compulsory in all new homes and house
extensions built after November 1991.
These switches protect people against the most frequent cause of
electrocution. That is, electrical current passing through a human
body to earth. The switches can cut the power within 1/30th of a
second, which is fast enough to prevent electrocution in most cases.
Safety switches do not protect against all types of electrical shock,
so care should still be taken when using electricity.
Any Registered Electrical Contractor - can provide more information
on safety switches.
Electric Shock - What happens
Electrical shock may not kill immediately. It may stop the heart,
cause burns, contraction of muscles, and it may paralyse breathing.
Often, the victim cannot let go of the appliance that is passing the
current to his or her body.
Electric shock - What to do
•
•
Protect yourself and any bystanders
Do not touch the victim
Shout or call for help. If possible, switch the power off and pull the
plug from the socket without getting electrocuted yourself. If not,
without touching the victim’s skin and using one hand only, drag the
victim clear.
Use the victim’s own dry clothing, a towel or dry piece of wood. If
using clothing, be careful of metal buttons, studs or belt buckles
which may be in contact with the victim’s skin.
Once the victim is free, start resuscitation immediately. If you are not
trained in these techniques, quickly call for help.
Further information
Power and water safety
<http://www.powerwater.com.au/powerwater/
factsheets/Safety_with_electricity.html >
Safety of electricity supply: regulations
<http://www.ocei.vic.gov.au/community/
soesupply_comm.html>
Safety: general
<http://www.culverco.com/sseng/>
print
friendly
Electrical safety in the home
Electricity is safe if you
know the rules
Electricity is very safe when it is used
properly. Even though you can’t see
electricity, it is a very powerful force that
must be treated with respect. If not, it
can kill or injure you.
Here are some simple rules for electrical
safety:
• Never touch an electrical appliance or
switch while your hands or feet are wet,
and never use any electrical appliance
near water.
• Never use a faulty electrical appliance, or
one that has a frayed cord, a cracked or
broken plug, or any appliance that has
given someone a shock or “tingle”.
• Never repair electrical appliances or
cords or do any electrical wiring work
unless you are a qualified electrical
trades person.
Warning signals
Any of the following warnings could mean
that your electrical equipment is dangerous
and should, therefore, be looked at by a
registered electrical contractor:
• A tingle, a shock or a spark from any
electrical appliance. This warning
should never be ignored as it means
that electricity is not flowing through the
appliance as it should. The appliance
should be switched off, unplugged and
repaired.
• A fuse or circuit breaker that often needs
to be reset. This could mean an electrical
fault in the house wiring, in an extension
cord or in an electrical appliance. Ask
your parents to call a registered electrical
contractor.
• A shock or tingle from any fixed metal
surface (a pipe or the kitchen sink).
This could mean that the house wiring
is faulty. If your parents can’t contact
an electrical contractor, they should
ring your electricity supply authority
immediately.
2. Indoors
Good safety habits
• Put electrical appliances away after
you’ve used them. Don’t leave them lying
around where they may fall into the bath,
washbasin or sink.
Most people know that electricity can
be dangerous. Yet, they still do silly
things such as leaving a plugged-in
hairdryer where it can fall into a bath
or basin. Or they unplug appliances
without switching the power off first.
The following are some good habits
that you can learn easily.
1. Outdoors
• When you fly kites or model
aeroplanes, keep them well away from
overhead power lines. Never climb
on to roofs or trees close to electrical
equipment or power lines.
• When near a swimming pool, make sure
that electrical appliances aren’t used in
wet areas or near where they can fall into
the pool. In some situations, even the
smallest electrical current in water can
kill.
• Anyone using portable electric power
tools outside the house should wear
shoes and stay clear of wet areas.
Extension cords should be put clear of
walkways in case someone accidentally
trips and causes a serious accident.
• Electrical cords that are used outdoors
should be checked regularly for damage,
as they can become worn quite quickly.
In the bathroom
• If you’re using a hairdryer, shaver or
any electrical appliance, wear slippers
or shoes, and make sure that you have
dried yourself properly and that you are
not standing in a wet spot.
• After a warm bath or shower in cold
weather, dry yourself quickly and put on
warm clothes. Portable electric heaters
should not be used in a wet area, such
as the bathroom.
In the Kitchen
• Switch off and unplug the toaster before
trying to pullout any stuck toast or
crumpets.
• Watch out for cords hanging over
benches, especially if there are small
children around to pull at them. Many
children have been burnt this way.
Anywhere in the house
• Always switch off appliances - the radio,
the iron, the food processor – at the
power point before you pull out the plug.
When you want to use an appliance
again, make sure the power point switch
is off before you plug it in.
• Put safety plugs into unused power point
sockets so that small children can’t push
metal objects into them. You can buy
these plugs at your local hardware store
and most shops that sell products for
babies or young children.
The discovery of electricity
fact sheets reviewed and
updated with the assistance
of STAV Publishing
• Regularly check your electric blanket for
damage before switching it on. Look for
frayed cords or any damage around the
plug and heat control switch areas, or
any creases or sharp kinks in the heating
elements. Don’t use the blanket if it is
damaged. Ask your parents to replace
it, or to get it fixed by a qualified trade
person.
• Any cracked plugs, frayed cords, broken
switches and sockets must be replaced
or repaired immediately by a qualified
trades person.
• Carefully place extension cords around
furniture or along wall edges. Never leave
cords across the floor or under rugs
because someone may trip and cause a
serious accident or fire.
• Extension cord plugs should have three
metal cores. If you find one with only
two, it means that it is not earthed and is,
therefore, very dangerous. Don’t use it.
• Home-made electricity cords have
caused many deaths. Never make or
repair electric cords and never join cords
by twisting and taping. If you know that
you have one in your home, disconnect
it, cut it up and throw it away so that
no-one will ever use it.
Safety Switches
By law, safety switches are compulsory in all
new homes and house extensions built after
November 1991.
These switches protect people against
the most frequent cause of electrocution.
That is, electrical current passing through a
human body to earth. The switches can cut
the power within 1/30th of a second, which is
fast enough to prevent electrocution in most
cases.
Electric shock What to do
• Protect yourself and any bystanders
• Do not touch the victim
Shout or call for help. If possible, switch the
power off and pull the plug from the socket
without getting electrocuted yourself. If not,
without touching the victim’s skin and using
one hand only, drag the victim clear.
Safety switches do not protect against all
types of electrical shock, so care should still
be taken when using electricity.
Use the victim’s own dry clothing, a towel
or dry piece of wood. If using clothing,
be careful of metal buttons, studs or belt
buckles which may be in contact with the
victim’s skin.
Any Registered Electrical Contractor
- can provide more information on safety
switches.
Once the victim is free, start resuscitation
immediately. If you are not trained in these
techniques, quickly call for help.
Electric Shock What happens
Electrical shock may not kill immediately.
It may stop the heart, cause burns,
contraction of muscles, and it may paralyse
breathing. Often, the victim cannot let go of
the appliance that is passing the current to
his or her body.
Further information
Power and water safety
<http://www.powerwater.com.au/
powerwater/factsheets/Safety_with_
electricity.html >
Safety of electricity supply: regulations
<http://www.ocei.vic.gov.au/community/
soesupply_comm.html>
Safety: general
<http://www.culverco.com/sseng/>