YOUR ELECTRICAL SAFETY IS OUR PRIORITY "SAFE ELECTRICAL SUPPLY AND SERVICES"

 "THE MOST IMPORTANT LESSONS IN LIFE ARE THOSE WE LEARN THROUGH EXPERIENCE. BUT READING OFFERS A REFERENCE POINT THAT CAN MAKE THESE EXPERIENCES MORE MEANINGFUL. FURTHER, BOOKS OFFER MENTAL 'SIMULATION' WHICH CAN TEACH ABOUT EXPERIENCES WE MAY NEVER HAVE A CHANCE TO ACQUIRE - KAZUO INAMORI

"SAFETY FIRST   - SAFE ELECTRICAL SUPPLY AND SERVICES"

ELECTRICIAN AND OTHERS WHO HAVE WORKED WITH ELECTRICITY FOR YEARS KNOW THEY ALWAYS HAVE TO FOLLOW SAFETY PRECAUTIONS. 

THEY'VE HEARD HAIR-RAISING STORIES ABOUT WHAT HAPPENS TO PEOPLE WHO IGNORE SAFE WORK HABITS. THIS POST IS LOADED WITH SAFETY REMINDERS TO HELP YOU STAY SAFE WHILE YOU WORK. 

FOLLOW THEM.

ELECTRICITY DESERVES YOUR RESPECT. 
CONSIDER HOW HOUSEHOLD CURRENT CAN AFFECT THE HUMAN BODY.

IF YOUR FEET ARE DRY AND YOU ARE WEARING RUBBER-SOLED SHOES, RECEIVING A SHOCK FROM A 120-VOLT CIRCUIT WILL DEFINITELY HURT, BUT IT WILL PROBABLY NOT CAUSE YOU SERIOUS HARM. 

HOWEVER, IF CONDITIONS ARE WET OR YOUR FEET ARE NOT PROTECTED WITH RUBBER-SOLED SHOES AND YOU ARE STANDING ON THE GROUND OR ON A METAL LADDER, 120 VOLTS CAN CAUSE THE MUSCLES IN YOUR HANDS TO CONTRACT SO THAT YOU GRASP THE SOURCE OF CURRENT INVOLUNTARILY.

THE CURRENT WILL CAUSE YOUR HEART TO BEAT WILDLY, VERY LIKELY TO THE POINT OF HEART FAILURE.

EXPECT THE SAME CONSEQUENCE IF YOU TOUCH BOTH LIVE WIRES OF A 240-VOLT CURRENT, EVEN IF YOUR FEET ARE DRY AND PROTECTED. 

CHILDRED ARE IN EVEN GREATER DANGER.

THE WIRING IN A MODERN HOME SHOULD HAVE SAFETY FEATURES, SUCH AS GROUNDING AND GROUND FAULT CIRCUIT INTERRUPTION.

BOTH GREATLY REDUCE THE POSSIBILITY OF DANGEROUS SHOCK, BUT THEY DON'T OFFER COMPLETE PROTECTION TO A PERSON WORKING ON EXPOSED WIRES AND DEVICES.

THIS IS WHY PROFESSIONAL ELECTRICIANS WORK CAREFULLY.
SO SHOULD YOU.

HERE ARE A FEW BASIC RULES FOR SAFE ELECTRICAL WORK. 
FOLLOW THEM AT ALL TIMES, EVEN WHEN YOU ARE DOING "JUST A LITTLE" ELECTRICAL JOB.

• POST A SIGN ON THE PANEL 

       TAKE STEPS TO MAKE ABSOLUTELY CERTAIN THAT NO ONE WILL TURN THE POWER BACK ON WHILE YOU ARE WORKING. IF POSSIBLE, LOCK THE SERVICE PANEL.

• USE RUBBER-GRIPPED TOOLS

       DON'T USE TOOLS WITH PLASTIC OR WOOD HANDLES UNLESS THEY ALSO HAVE RUBBER SLEEVES TO PROVIDE EXTRA PROTECTION AGAINST ELECTRICAL SHOCK.

• USE ELECTRICIAN'S TAPE

       ELECTRICIAN'S TAPE PROVIDES EXTRA PROTECTION AGAINST DANGEROUS GROUND FAULTS AND SHORTS.  EVEN IF NOT REQUIRED BY CODE, WRAP WIRE NUTS AND TERMINALS WITH TAPE.

• SHUT OFF THE POWER

       IF THERE IS NO ELECTRICAL CURRENT, YOU CANNOT RECEIVE A SHOCK.  ALWAYS SHUT OFF POWER TO THE CIRCUIT YOU ARE WORKING ON. DO THIS BY FLIPPING A CIRCUIT BREAKER OR COMPLETELY UNSCREWING A FUSE.  THEN TEST FOR THE PRESENCE OF POWER.

• TEST FOR POWER

       BE AWARE THAT MORE ONE CIRCUIT MAY BE RUNNING IN A BOX.  TEST ALL THE WIRES IN AN OPEN BOX FOR POWER, NOT JUST THE WIRES YOU WILL BE WORKING ON.  TEST EVERYTHING TWICE.
        REGULARLY TEST YOUR TESTER TO MAKE SURE IT WILL INDEED TELL YOU WHEN POWER IS PRESENT.  TOUCH IT TO A LIVE CIRCUIT AND SEE THAT IT GLOWS JUST BEFORE EVERY TEST.  MANY A WAR STORY TELLS OF SOMEONE TURNING OFF THE POWER, ONLY TO HAVE A FAMILY MEMBER OR CO-WORKER TURN IT BACK ON WHILE WORK IN IN PROGRESS
         POST A SIGN TELLING PEOPLE NOT TO RESTORE POWER.

• STAY FOCUSED

       MOST ELECTRICAL MISHAPS OCCUR BECAUSE OF SMALL MENTAL MISTAKES.  REMOVE ALL DISTRACTIONS.  KEEP PEOPLE, ESPECIALLY CHILDREN, WELL OUT OF THE WAY.  TURN THE RADIO OFF.  EVEN AFTER TURNING OFF THE POWER, WORK AS IF THE WIRES ARE LIVE.  WORK METHODICALLY, AND DOUBLE-CHECK ALL CONNECTIONS BEFORE RESTORING POWER.