Electrical safety in the home

There are many potential electrical hazards in the home. Below are some simple tips for staying safe.

• If a flexible power cable is damaged, have it replaced. Damaged leads can cause fires if the cable overheats. You could also get an electric shock.


• Make sure vacuum cleaners are unplugged from the electricity supply when changing belts, filters or bags.


• Maintenance of any electrical equipment needs to be carried out by a competent person. Always follow the manufacturer's instructions.


• Never use portable electrical equipment like radios (that plug into the mains), heaters or hair dryers in the bathroom. This could result in electrocution.


• Never use adaptors plugged into other adaptors, as you could overload power sockets. Ensure adaptors are in good condition, do not get hot and do not have any burn marks on them.


• Don’t use a bulb with a higher wattage than its light fitting. This can cause the light fitting to overheat.


• Poorly positioned flexible cables can trip people up. Also, the cable may get damaged, which can create a risk of someone getting an electric shock or cause a fire to start.


• Electrical equipment (for example, electric heaters) is often provided with ventilation slots to prevent overheating. If these slots get covered up, the equipment may overheat and could even catch fire. Never dry clothes by placing them over the ventilation slots of an electric heater.


• Don’t pull plugs out by the cable. This can damage the cable or plug, and result in the plug overheating, wires becoming loose in the plug, or even an electric shock.

For further information on electrical safety, contact OneCALL on 0845 8 507 507 or refer to the Electrical Safety Council website.