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home electrical safety
electricity can kill
No one ever thinks they're about to be electrocuted. Yet sadly, it happens. And it happens to people like you - home handymen and women, young and old - who think that doing electrical work like rewiring plugs and fixing toaster elements is easy and perfectly safe. Nothing could be further from the truth.
is there a killer in your home?
You or a family member could be seriously injured or killed if you undertake specialist tasks such as –
- replacing or rewiring a plug, switch or power point
- repairing electrical appliances (eg irons, toasters, washing machines, etc)
- installing or altering fixed electrical wiring.
You may have done jobs like this before and seemingly had no problems. But the risk attached to this kind of behaviour is enormous. One slight mistake and someone could be killed.
some simple jobs you can do yourself
Not all work involving electricity requires a licensed electrician. It is safe for you to perform simple tasks such as –
- changing an electric light bulb
- changing the starter in a fluorescent light fitting
- replacing a fuse
- resetting a circuit breaker or safety switch.
However, when doing any of the above work, be careful. Ensure the electricity is turned off (except when resetting a circuit breaker or safety switch where power needs to remain on) and take due care.
stay safe tips
- Never touch anything electrical with wet hands or use electrical appliances in a wet place or near water, such as a hair dryer near a bath or basin containing water.
- Don't use an electric heater in the bathroom unless it is specially designed for bathroom use.
- Don't use electrical cords or appliances near the pool.
- Don't play with kites or planes near overhead powerlines. Fly planes and kites in a big open space like a park or an oval, where there are no powerlines. Call ENERGEX (or your local electricity supplier) if a kite or plane does get caught in powerlines.
- Don't trim trees near powerlines. Call ENERGEX (or your local electricity supplier) to come and trim the tree. Click here for information on powerline friendly trees.
- When carrying long metal objects such as ladders or swimming pool skimmers, watch out for electric wires running overhead.
- Never attach swings, clothes lines, hanging baskets, or the like around beams which have electrical wires attached.
- Tempted as you may be to do unauthorised electrical work and repairs around the home, stop and think about your family. It's just not worth it. Unauthorised electrical work is illegal and you can be fined up to $1,500. Also you can void your home insurance policy if it is found that damage has occurred as a result of unauthorised electrical work.
hot water safety tips
- Install a hot water shut down valve on your tap to stop hot water running once the temperature reaches 50oC and will not function until the temperature lowered.
- An alternative to the hot water shut down valve is a tempering valve which allows you to nominate a temperature between 35oC and 50oC.
- Run cold water through the tap after using hot water to ensure the next user isn't caught unawares.
generator safety tips
ENERGEX understands that some people have a need for generators. However, if residents are going to install generators, they must ensure these are kept in well ventilated areas. Also, residents shouldn't overload their powerpoints or connect the generator to their home wiring unless installed by a licensed electrician.
The Electrical Safety Office has provided additional information on portable generator safety. To view this information, please visit their website.