It’s easy to use electricity safely at home if you understand the risks and take care. Our tips can be a helpful start.
General appliances
- Remove electrical appliances with damaged/frayed cords or cracked or broken plugs
- Turn off power points before plugging/unplugging appliances
- Turn off all appliances such as heaters, ovens and stove tops when leaving your home
- Maintain exhaust fans in a clean condition, free of lint
- Ensure adequate space around appliances to prevent overheating
- Remove all combustible material from stoves, heaters and lamps
- Extension cords should not be used in wet areas – unless specially designed to do so
- Licensed electricians should undertake all your electrical work and repairs.
Electricity and water
- Be extremely careful when using appliances connected to power points near sinks, baths or swimming pools
- If an electrical appliance has been immersed in water it must be discarded immediately
- Switch off and unplug all portable electrical appliances, such as hairdryers, shavers, etc after use
- Don’t use portable heaters in bathroom areas. Instead, you should have either a strip heater installed high on the wall or a ceiling unit installed by a registered electrical contractor
- Don’t use extension leads or power leads in wet areas unless specifically designed to do so
- Never touch anything electrical with wet hands or bare feet.
Kitchen appliances
- Regularly clean range hood filters
- Clean ovens and hot plates regularly to prevent the build-up of spilled fats and burnt foods
- Install a ventilation system, flue or exhaust fan in the kitchen to remove fumes while cooking
- Switch off and unplug your toaster before trying to remove toast, muffins or crumpets that are caught in the toaster
- Remove bread crumbs from the toaster regularly as a build up can be hazardous
- Never leave cooking unattended. If you must leave the room take something with you as a reminder that you are cooking (eg. a wooden spoon)
Extension leads
- Extension cords with damaged plugs or cords should be discarded
- Position extension cords along walls and around furniture
- Extension cords should have 3 pins (plugs with 2 pins are not earthed and should be used only with double insulated electrical equipment)
- Cords should not be draped over benches where they can be caught or grabbed.
Powerlines
- Ladders, boat masts and poles should be kept well clear of overhead power lines
- Monitor weather conditions. Powerlines can sag in extreme heat and sway in strong winds
- Powerlines are difficult to see at dawn and dusk
- Plant low growing plants near power lines.
Underground cables and pipes
Contact Professional Before
you Dig it out.
Switchboard and fuses
- Be familiar with where your switchboard is located
- Keep access to your switchboard free of obstructions
- Label switches, circuit breakers or fuses
- Repairs or installation work must be undertaken by a licensed electrical contractor.