Electrical safety tips for home, work and outdoors

Electrical safety is everybody's business and prevention of electrical problems by observing electrical safety tips can save lives and property.

Below is a list of preventative measures that can be taken to keep safe in myriad environments.

Review your home's electrical plan and check areas regularly for places that need repair or replacement.

• Low-lying electrical switches, open switch plates and old electrical cords with exposed wiring are accidents waiting to happen.
• Research safer electrical choices such as surge protection, and make the necessary changes.
• Promptly put away electrical appliances, home tools and any personal gadgets that might produce an electric shock, especially when living with small children.
• Watch for bulbs that flicker or become too hot as they may have loose or bad wiring.
• Check that no one has a mess of octopus connections in their room.

Workers should also be vigilant and share in the responsibility of keeping and maintaining a hazard-free work environment.

• Observe the workplace's main circuit breaker especially when using electricity on peak times, as well as summer and holiday season, where electrical use is higher than usual.
• Workplace administrators should invest in a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI), which break the flow of electric current in damp or wet areas.
• This is essential in workplaces such as construction sites, drilling and mining sites, big restoration projects or road repairs.

In case of fire caused by electrical malfunction, never use water to put it out as this can result in electrocution and more damage.

• Use a fire extinguisher, keep a safe distance and have someone call the fire department, emphasizing that it is an electrical-induced fire.
• In case of bad weather such as hurricanes, tornadoes or flash floods, turn off the main switch to cut the power supply, and move all electrical appliances to higher ground.
• If you have to go outside, keep away from downed or broken power lines.

• Call your electrical utility provider if your home or workplace power lines become too close to trees and reachable to people.
• Remove any vehicle that is parked close to a weighed-down power line as it can trigger fire, especially if the parked car is very hot.
• Always rely on professional help when having electrical work done. Don't risk life, limb or property by doing DIY electrical-related tasks, especially if you're not trained.

*Not only is it dangerous, it may even be illegal in some provinces, such as Québec, to do your own electrical wiring. The solution: consider hiring a master electrician.