Ensuring Safety Around Electrical Appliances

Electricity is definitely a useful asset in our day to day lives, but it is also very dangerous if not handled properly and in the way it is intended to be used. Every day, people are injured due to accidents involving electricity, with damage also being caused to homes and building due to improper safety guidelines and general negligence.

Avoiding most of these accidents is actually quite easy: it involves a little bit of attention and following of some general safety guidelines, some of which are as follows:

• Handle Cords in the Correct Manner – Most electrical devices are connected to the wall by means of a cord, which will be the means of transferring electricity from the wall outlet to the device itself. Power cords should always be firmly connected to the wall socket before switching on the wall socket or the device itself. Avoid touching any metallic part of improperly connected cords, as you risk getting an electrical shock. When unplugging a cord, never pull out the cord itself from the wall: this can easily damage it.
• Wall Sockets – Wall sockets that are damage or malfunction should never be used without being looked at by an electrician beforehand. While they will most likely just cause your circuit breaker to trigger, this may not happen, thus leading to a potential fire hazard. When plugging in many cords to one wall socket through the use of a device like a power board, take care not to plug in too many devices at once: doing so can overheat the power board, and devices may not work correctly due to insufficient amperage to power them all.
• Don’t Attempt Electrical Repairs – It is alright to change a non-working electrical bulb by yourself but attempting any kind major repairs is just asking for unnecessary trouble. Instead of trying to do what you cannot accomplish with your skill level, consider contacting a professional Sydney electrician for things like a proper power pole replacement.
• Replace Damaged Wires as Soon as Possible – While new data cabling is only necessary when they are non-functional, electrical wires can still keep on working even when damaged. This can be dangerous if most of the damage has occurred to the insulation and cladding, as this layer is the only thing that protects you from receiving a powerful electrical shock upon touching live wire. Ensure the replacement of all damaged cables as soon as possible. Also, avoid using such wires while waiting for a replacement.
• Don’t Mix Electricity and Water – These two elements just don’t mix too well. It is quite easy to receive an electrical shock when your hands and feet are wet, which means that some extra precautions should be taken when working around wet areas. Some of theme include wearing rubber slippers when entering such areas, keeping electrical devices away from water and taking care not to wet any extension cables that haven’t been designed for use in wet areas.