Ensuring
electrical safety is an important matter regardless of age, but as we
get older, possible electrical dangers can become more apparent due
to memory or mobility problems. If you have an elderly relative, it
may be worth your while checking their home electrics. Ageing
electrical wiring can pose a problem for an elderly person and they
may be unaware of it's danger until they receive an electric shock or
injury.
Now
we know that persuading an older person to consider their electrics
(and anything else for that matter!) is easier said than done. There
are many older people who are perfectly happy and are able to make
decisions about electrics themselves. However, if you are aware of
any electrical danger in their home, it is worth mentioning it to
them. You never know, they might be unaware of the real dangers.
What
electrical dangers might be lurking around
Older people are often more at risk of electrical accident and injury
because of old or poor quality housing and faulty appliances. At
Fulcher Edwards we carried out an electrical visit to a lovely man
who was attempting to use an ancient vacuum cleaner. Every time he
used it, it blew the fuse plug! Thankfully no electrical accident or
shock occurred, but he did cause damage to his wiring because of it.
Luckily we were able to persuade him to part with it, before an
electrical accident occurred.
Modern facilities that we are used to in our own homes simply do not
exist in some older homes. From basic kitchens to the flowered wall
paper and carpets, it is easy to tell how modern a home is from just
looking around. However the hidden electrical dangers can
potentially make things far worse.
Checking the age and condition of some essential electrical fittings
will give you an idea of the level of electrical safety in the
property. Look out for:
- Fusebox
All fuse boxes should have a mains switch (a way of being able to
switch it on and off) and a full set of breakers or fuses. If all
seems fairly modern then that is a good sign. Look out for fuse
boxes with wooden backs, cast iron switches or a mix of fuses or
breakers. If there is evidence of these things then a call to a
qualified and registered electrician would be a good move. Fuse
boxes of this type are very much out of date and would benefit from
an upgrade.
Similarly, if a more modern fuse box appears to be tripping often or
fuses are regularly blowing, then it would be a good idea to contact
your local electrician. As electricians in South East London, we get
calls of this nature on a regular basis. We can often put right a
simple problem cost effectively as long as the householder does not
leave it too long before contacting us.
- RCD
Ideally, an RCD protected house is the safest one. Fuse boxes (known
as consumer units) fitted within the last few years should have RCD
protection as standard. Have a look on the consumer unit for a T or
Test button. If it has one press it to ensure it is working as it
should. An RCD cuts the power in a fraction of a second if an
electrical fault develops, an appliances malfunctions or someone in
the house accidentally touches a live wire.
An RCD is great peace of mind, however it is not essential. If the
cost of replacing an otherwise safe fuse box would be too costly,
then some RCD sockets or plugs would be a good alternative to ensure
the safety of high risk appliances such as kettles, lawn mowers and
washing machines.
- Plugs and sockets
Potential electrical danger can
often be spotted by taking a closer look at the sockets and switches.
Cracks and breaks are an electrical danger and affected sockets or
switches need to be replaced. Look out for singe marks (where the
shape of a plug can be seen) and discolouration. Both of these are a
sign of over heating. Buzzing and crackling when the socket is in
use and 'green goo' coming from below the socket are also signs that
you need to call in an electrician to take a look.
The type of plugs and sockets will
give you an idea of the age of the wiring in the property. Look out
for round pin sockets and sockets fitted on skirting boards, these
are signs that the wiring is over 50 years old and should be checked
by a qualified electrician.
- Light fittings
Look out for signs of cracking or burn marks around light fittings.
This is a sign that all is not well. If you spot this, stop using
them immediately and contact an electrician. Further signs that all
is not well include curled labels on flex, discolouration and
scorching. If a switch sparks when you switch it on then this is
also something that an electrician should look at.
Braided flex hanging from ceiling light fittings is another sign that
the wiring is very old.
- Cables
Take the time to inspect the cable condition of appliances that are
being used. Look out for cuts, wear and tear and ensure that no bare
cable can be seen. Check that plugs are securely on the end of the
cable. Damage to the cable would need to repaired by replacing the
cable and plug or alternatively replacing the appliance.
Never use PVC tape to repair cable and avoid trailing cables over
carpets and under rugs as these can present a trip hazard.
- Check the smoke alarm
Having a working smoke alarm can prevent a serious house fire.
Electrical fires are currently the biggest cause of a house fire in
the UK. Smoke alarms save lives, and are low cost or free to fit.
Local fire services can fit smoke alarms to eligible households free
of charge. If you are looking for mains powered smoke alarms, then
these will need to be installed by a qualified electrician. Here at
Fulcher Edwards we are fire alarm specialists in South London.
What
else you can do to help
If the home is rented, then some of the electrical concern can be
alleviated by asking the landlord to carry out an EICR on the
property. It is recommended that an EICR is carried out once every 5
years or with every change of tenancy. Responsible landlords ensure
this is carried out and certainly if the property is rented to an
older person, this responsibility becomes more justified in our
opinion.
If the home is owned, a full electrical check is recommended once
every 10 year to check all is working as it should be. Ask an
electrician to carry out an EICR report to determine the condition of
the electrics.
Call
for Government Support
Such is the concern for electrical safety for the elderly, that the
electrical safety charity Electrical Safety First has asked for
Government support to ensure older people live in safe homes. The
initiative is backed by several care charities including Contact the
Elderly and the Carers Trust.
Carrying out a good deed for an elderly relative or neighbour could
be a life saver.
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