Safe Use of Electricity
Electricity is invaluable in modern society. It is a resource that we use more and more. But it is essential that we continue to treat it with respect. Remember that the majority of house fires are started by electrical faults and that electricity itself can kill.
Emergencies
If any of your appliances or sockets spark or start to smoke, switch off at the fuse box or consumer unit. Allow a few minutes for plug to cool, then remove from socket. Phone PBHA on 020 3815 4123 and explain what has happened.
The safe use of electrical appliances
Buy the appropriate appliance for the job and situation; don't use an appliance for something it's not intended for; and follow the manufacturer's advice and instructions
Have the flex of a safe length, wire the plug correctly and use the correct fuse in the plug.
Keep all electrical devices away from water; don't touch plugs and switches with wet hands. Bathrooms should have a pull
cord to switch on the electric light. Any electric heaters in a bathroom should be wall mounted and professionally fitted.
Fit adequate guards to all electric heaters. Don't cover convector or other heaters with clothes, and ensure that curtains and furniture are well away from all heaters.
Switch off and always unplug any appliance before checking a seemingly simple problem.
When in doubt, don't take chances – tell your Key worker.
Do not touch any electrical appliance with wet hands. Always make sure that your hands are dry.
Keep yourself safe – don't add to the casualties by being electrocuted. Turn off the electricity supply at the socket or the mains if necessary. If this is not possible, use a wooden item to break the contact between the casualty and the electric current, or pull the person away by any loose, dry clothing. Do not touch the casualty's skin with your skin – skin is always slightly moist and will therefore conduct electricity.
If necessary, begin resuscitation, and then place the person in the recovery position. Cover any burns with sterile dressings, treat the person for shock and arrange for them to be taken to hospital.
It is best to have only one plug in one socket. An adaptor can be used occasionally to contain two plugs, if the adaptor is also fitted with a fuse. Never overload an adaptor – this can be dangerous and could lead to too great a demand on the electric circuit. A fuse would then blow at the mains box.
When using any electrical appliance, make sure that the flex is long enough for safe use; continued tension on the flex could pull the plug from the socket and/or loosen the wires within the plug.
Avoid trailing wire across other hazards, such as the kitchen sink, the cooker, or a main pathway through a room.
When using equipment regularly, check that the flex isn't getting worn – often, especially using an item almost automatically, it is easy to overlook a "creeping" fault. A cracked plug should be replaced; a plug that gets warm with use should be removed and the wiring checked for fit.
PBHA checks all the equipment it supplies every year for safety. If you are worried that something is not working safely, let your Key worker know as soon as possible.
It is generally better not to buy second-hand electrical goods. The exceptions may be a reconditioned cooker or washing machine from a reputable trader or a very new-looking item from a private sale if it still has its BS label of approval. "Bargains" from jumble sales or second-hand shops could prove costly in more than financial terms and should always be checked over by an electrician before use.
All electrical equipment is fitted with a fuse, as a safety measure. The various electrical circuits in a house are also protected from faults and over-loading by fuses in the fuse box, located near the main electric switch and meter. Most of our houses have fuses, which operate by a switch or a button. You can quickly see if a fuse has gone because one switch or button will be in a different position to the
others. There is often a label on the switch to say what it is for.
Sometimes if a fuse goes, you can just put the switch back on. However if it goes again, then there may be something more seriously wrong. Please report this to the office or to your Key worker as soon as possible.