Living together safely
Electricity can kill
Government statistics show that electricity cause more than 20,000 fires a year – almost half of all accidental UK house fires. Each year, about 70 people are killed and 350,000 seriously injured due to an electrical accident in the home.
But it’s not all doom and gloom. By taking the simple steps highlighted here you can vastly reduce any risk to you and the people you live with.
Never leave drinks or other liquids on or near electrical appliances such as a TV. If spilt, the liquid could drip into the appliance, which could case a fire, as well as giving you an electric shock.
Never retrieve toast stuck in a toaster whilst it is plugged in, and especially not with a metal knife – there are often live parts inside.
Don’t leave mobile phones on charge for prolonged periods of time as chargers can overheat and could cause a fire.
Don’t leave TVs, video and DVD players and music systems on standby. By switching off all appliances when not in use you will not only save money on your electricity bill and conserve energy, but you will reduce the risk of an electrical fire.
Don’t overload any sockets by plugging in more than one piece of electrical equipment at a time as this could d need to use an adapter, use a bar adapter which does not put pressure on the contacts in the socket.
Never drill holes or fix nails into walls or partitions without knowing what is hidden behind them. Walls and partitions conceal electrical cables and gas and water pipes. A cable and metal detector will help identify the presence of concealed cables and metal pipes.
Don’t take electrical appliances such as a hairdryer or radio into the bathroom. Water carried electricity efficiently and when the two mix results can kill.
Don’t use a bulb with a higher wattage than specified on the lamp. Using a bulb with a higher wattage than required for a light fitting will increase the risk of fire.
Don’t trail flexible cables under carpets, rugs or across walkways. Not only are they a major trip hazard, but also a potential fire risk. Repeated stretching and treading on the cable may damage the cable insulation.
Always make sure that straighteners are switched off and unplugged when not in use, left in a safe place and that the cable is not would around the straighteners. This will reduce the risk of electrical fire. Take care when using straighteners as they can get hot very quickly and increase the risk of the user suffering burns.
Don’t try to force a foreign 2-pin plug into a 3-pin plug socket as this can cause danger of electric shock or fire. Always use a converter plug when using an appliance, which has a foreign plug. Where possible this should be a short-term solution and you should look into an appliance which has a British 3-pin plug.
All electrical appliances and equipment, which are used outdoors, should be plugged into a socket protected with an RCD.
What is an RCD?
An RCD is a life-saving device, which is designed to prevent you from getting a fatal electric shock if you touch something live, such as a bare wire. For more information on RCD's visit our RCD's Explained page.
Make sure you know where your Consumer Unit (fuse box) is located so you can reach it quickly in emergencies.
What is a consumer unit?
A consumer unit is used to control a distribute electricity around the home. It usually contains a main switch (to turn electricity on/off), fuses or circuit breakers and one or more residual current devices (see RCD).
Do…
✓ Report any problems with the electrical installation or appliances to your landlord straight away.
✓ Use appliances according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
✓ Use an RCD when using electrical equipment outdoors.
✓ Regularly check the condition of plugs, cables and extension leads.
✓ Check that any adaptor used complies with the British Standards and is adequately rated for the connected load.
✓ Remove plugs from sockets carefully. Pulling out any plug by the cable puts a strain on the terminations with can be dangerous.
Don’t…
✗ Carry out and DIY repairs or electrical installations or appliances.
✗ Bring mains powers portable appliances into the bathroom.
✗ Ignore worn flexes on appliances.
✗ Use and electrical appliance with wet hands.
✗ Overload adapters, particularly with high current appliances such as kettles, irons and heaters.
Look out for these danger signs when using appliances
- Frayed, cut or damaged leads.
- Cracked or damaged cases on plugs or appliances.
- Burn marks on plugs, leads or appliances.
- Blowing fuses.
- Loose cord grips in plugs or appliances.
If you notice any of the above danger signs, stop using the appliance and report the problem to your landlord straight away.
Tenant responsibilities:
- Do not attempt to extend, repair or replace damaged or worn-out parts of the electrical installation yourself.
- Ensure all electrical appliances are used responsibly and in accordance with the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Report any problems with the electrical installation or appliances to your landlord straight away.
- Allow access to the property should an electrician need to visit to carry out an inspection of the electrical installation/fix and reported problem.
If you have reported a problem to your landlord and they have refused to put the situation right or ignored your request, you should contact your local authority who will be able to assist you. Local authorities will ensure a landlord is meeting their legal obligations and can take enforcement action against them if they are found not to be.
Landlord responsibilities:
Your landlord is required by law to ensure:
- That electrical installation in a rented property is safe when a tenancy begins;
- That the electrical installation is maintained in a safe condition throughout the tenancy; and
- That any appliance provided is safe and has at least the CE marking (which is the manufacturer’s claim that it meets all the requirements of European law).
In order to meet the above requirements your landlord will need to carry out regular basic safety checks to ensure that the electrical installation and appliances remain in good working order. For more information about landlords and tenants safety visit the Safety in Rented Homes page.
What to look for in a new accommodation:
- An electrical report confirming that the electrical installation is safe for use (known as an Electrical Installation Condition Report).
- Certification confirming that any recent electrical work meets the UK national standard BS 7671 (Requirements for Electrical Installations).
- That sockets, switches and light fittings are in good condition with no signs of damage.
- That any appliances are provided with manufacturer’s instructions, have up to date PAT test stickers on them (not required if appliance is new and has not been used before) and are in good working order.
Portable appliance testing (PAT)
- The safety of appliances you bring into your accommodation is your responsibility. If you are in any doubt as to the safety of an appliance get it tested or replaced.
Your landlord or college should have a system for inspecting and testing the portable equipment they provide.
FOR PHILIPPINE ELECTRICAL INQUIRIES CONCERNS AND ORDERS:
EMAIL US: SAFEELECTRICAL2013@GMAIL.COM
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