About Electrical Safety

Electricity is fascinating and dangerous. Fallen powerlines can kill. If someone finds an electrical wire on the ground, they should stay away. Contact ENERGEX on 13 19 62 or dial 000.

Electricity enables us to do fascinating things like operate hospital equipment to saves lives and deliver a clean water supply to homes and businesses in the community. It is important to remember, however, that electricity is also dangerous.

How does electricity travel?

Electricity is very busy – it always has somewhere to go! Electricity tries to travel through things to get to somewhere else.

There are certain things that electricity travels through very easily. These things are called conductors. Conductors are materials like metal, water and things with lots of water in them, like animals or people.

There are some things that electricity can not travel through. These things are called non-conductors. Non-conductors are materials like wood, rubber, glass, plastic and wax. You will see non-conducting material used on electrical equipment like power cords. They are covered in plastic to help keep you safe.

If you touch electricity or something that is conducting electricity you will get hurt. Electricity can give painful shocks, burn and electricity can kill.