Garden safety
When you are using electrical equipment in the garden you’re in physical contact with the ground, and it could be wet. Don’t create your own bolt of lightning. Using electrical equipment outdoors could mean you are more likely to get an electric shock outdoors than when you are indoors. So, when using electrical gardening equipment please follow these simple suggestions for garden safety:
Fit RCDs – Residual Current Devices
An RCD is a potentially life-saving safety device that protects against dangerous electric shock and reduces the risk of electrical fires. It’s a sensitive switching device that in the blink of an eye turns the electricity off when it senses danger – reducing the risk of death or serious injury.
- Any socket that may be used to plug in a portable radio, a lawnmower, hedge trimmer or similar should have RCD protection.
- Check that your RCD is up to scratch. The technical jargon is that it has to have a maximum rated residual operating current of 30 milliamperes (mA). If unsure, Ask an electrician.
- If your sockets are not protected by an RCD, buy a good quality plug-in RCD adaptor from a good electrical shop, as a temporary measure. The safest option is to get a registered electrician to install permanent RCD protection to all the sockets you use, or might use, with your electrical garden equipment.
- RCDs need to be tested quarterly. Just follow what it says on the little notice attached. This normally involves pressing the test button and checking that the RCD switches off the supply in the blink of an eye.
- Regular testing is important, to ensure the RCD does its job in the event of a fault.
Make sure your mower cuts the grass, not the cable.
For garden safety:
- Buy a good-quality lawn mower from a well known manufacturer.
- Follow manufacturers' instructions closely.
- Keep the lawn mower, cables, connections and plug, free from damage.
- Check that the socket-outlet has RCD protection.
- Do not cut grass in wet conditions.
- Test the RCD using its test button unless you are certain that the RCD has been tested within the last 3 months.
- Wear shoes that protect your feet (not sandals).
- Keep children well away from the lawn mower.
- Do not pull a lawn mower close to your feet or near the flexible cable.
- Unplug the lawn mower and wait until the blades have stopped turning before doing anything like cleaning grass blockages.
Following manufacturers' instructions, checking the lawn mower is in good order, and being careful when cutting the grass, will reduce the risk of an accident.
Trimming the hedge? Don’t trim the cable instead.
For garden safety:
- Buy a good-quality hedge trimmer from a reputable retailer.
- Follow manufacturers' instructions closely.
- Wear gloves and goggles to protect your hands and eyes.
- Keep children well-away from the hedge trimmer.
- Do not cut hedges in the wet.
- Check that your socket-outlet has RCD protection.
- Test the RCD using its test button, unless you are certain it’s been tested in the last 3 months.
- Keep the hedge trimmer cable, connections and plug free from damage.
- Keep both hands on the handles provided.
Always be sure to unplug the hedge trimmer before removing jammed hedge trimmings.
Garden Ponds – Make sure electric pumps don’t electrify the water
The risk of electric shock is higher when there’s water about. Incorrectly installed or damaged mains supplied pumps can result in injury or death to you, your family or even your fish.
A mains supplied electric water pump in the garden should be
- Good quality and bought from a well known retailer.
- Protected by an RCD that is tested at least every 3 months.
- Installed in accordance with manufacturers' instructions.
- Provided with cables that are protected against accidental damage.
- Maintained in good working order, including cables and any connections.
If there’s a problem, switch off the water pump's electrical supply immediately and have the pump repaired by a registered electrician.
Flexible cables and connectors – make sure they stay flexible and connected
Follow these simple suggestions
- Buy good quality products from a well known retailer.
- Make sure the equipment used is suitable for the outdoors (it should state this on the packaging, and if in doubt you can ask a sales assistant)
- Keep well cleaned and maintained.
- Use in accordance with manufacturers' instructions.
- To prevent anyone tripping over the cable make sure it is well routed to stop it being damaged e.g. stepped on or cut.
- Keep as dry as possible.
If any damage is found, unplug immediately, and have the item repaired or replaced. You should always take extra care with flexible cables and connectors. If an ‘inline-connector’ is required it’s probably a good idea to get a registered electrician to make the connections.
Unwinding extension cable from the reel
You should always fully unwind cables. It might be a pain, but coiled up cable can overheat. This can cause damage and even a fire. Damaged cable is also more likely to give you an electric shock. So, make sure you keep the risk to a minimum – unwind, and stay safe.
Wet conditions
Never use electrical equipment in wet conditions – whether it’s pouring from the heavens or you’re watering the flowerbeds. Water and electricity do not make good bedfellows.
And of course, slippery conditions underfoot may also increase the risk of an accident.
Bright ideas for safer garden lighting
For mains supplied lighting in the garden follow these simple suggestions
- Buy good quality electrical outdoor lighting equipment from a reputable stockist.
- Make sure any outdoor lights are weatherproof.
- Ensure light fittings used in water features are waterproof.
- Have it installed by a registered electrician in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions and BS 7671 – Requirements for Electrical Installations (IEE Wiring Regulations). That’s the technical bit meaning it attains the national safety standard.
- Check regularly for damaged lighting fittings, cables and connections.
- Keep maintained and free from leaves and dirt.
- Before changing any lamps, make sure you switch off the power supply.
If any faults are found, switch off the electrical supply immediately, and have them repaired by a registered electrician.
FOR PHILIPPINE ELECTRICAL INQUIRIES AND ORDERS:
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