Are you using electrical appliances safely?

Here at Fulcher Edwards we spend a lot of our time promoting electrical safety especially when it comes to staying electrically safe at home and at work. We have seen and heard our share of electrical 'horror stories' and it is fair to say that not every electrical accident is down to dodgy wiring!

You don't need to spend money to stay electrically safe!

Unfortunately there are people out there who feel that electricians are seeing pound notes flashing before their eyes when they recommend electrical safety precautions are taken in homes. In most cases this is not the case.

In fact, using electricity in a safe way won't cost you anything at all – just a little care and attention. As electricians in London, we come across dangerous practices on an almost daily basis! Many people actually forget that what they are doing is dangerous, (old habits die hard!) Do you fall foul to any of these dangerous practices?

• Using switches and sockets with wet hands

Just finished the washing up? Or just out of the shower? Dry your hands before attempting to use switches and sockets! Water and electricity is a potentially lethal combination, never take risks with it!

• Overloading sockets

Overloading plug sockets can cause overheating and fire. In addition, many people overload extension leads by mistake. Extension leads are not really suitable for kitchen appliances - a kettle and toaster is enough to overload one! If you must use an extension lead in your home, ensure you use a bar type rather than a plug in adapter which could cause damage to the socket itself.

• Unsafe appliances

Just because an appliance works doesn't mean it safe! We are seeing an influx of slow cookers reappearing in time for Autumn, however we are also hearing stories of people finding them at car boots sales, and other dubious outlets. We have seen some 'interesting' relics including plugs with no shielding – which means that you could receive an electrical shock if you touch the pins whilst taking the plug in or out of the socket or if it's not plugged in properly. If you look at a plug on new appliances, you will see some black shielding on the bottom 2 pins. This is essential protection against electric shock. Do not use any appliance with old style plugs.

• Unattended appliances

One of the biggest home electrical campaigns at the moment is burns that can be caused by electrical equipment and appliances that are left unattended. The UK electrical charity Electrical Safety First have released a hard hitting video of how dangerous unattended hair straighteners can be. Hair straighteners can reach temperatures hotter than an iron – and we all know how dangerous they can be!

The bright colours often found on hair straighteners have unfortunately been mistaken for toys by young children who have accidentally grabbed hold of hot hair straighteners leaving them with serious burns which require hospital treatment. One tenth of all child burns are in relation to hair straighteners so it really is essential that children are kept away from them. It is of course easier said than done when you have toddlers under your feet whilst you are trying to get ready for work! However, there are some basics which will prevent a nasty burn from occurring:

• Unplug hair straighteners when not in use.
• Keep the cord away from where children could grab it.
• Keep hair straighteners out of reach of children when in use.
• Hair straighteners can take a while to cool down after use. There are purpose made storage bags for this purpose which means that hot straighteners are not left on the side for a child to accidentally grab.

A childs skin particularly a babies skin is very susceptible to burns and burns to the face can be particularly serious. So much so that Electrical Safety First have been nominated for an award on their video:

Beauty Burns - Electrical Safety First Campaign from Brickwall on Vimeo.

Always read instructions on appliances!

It might sound obvious but they can contain some useful safety information that you hadn't thought of – it also ensures you don't put yourself in un-necessary danger.

Never use appliances which are damaged or you have doubts about. These should be replaced. If you suspect that damage has been caused to sockets and even the wiring in your property, then please consult a qualified and registeredelectrician as soon as possible.