Follow these electrical safety tips in and around your home to help ensure your safety and that of your family.
- Label the circuit breakers in your electrical panel. Include information about what room and/or appliance each circuit goes to, as well as the maximum amperage each circuit can sustain.
- If you have an electrical panel equipped with fuses instead of circuit breakers, and a fuse blows, turn off all appliances and lights that are on the circuit before changing the fuse. Always replace a fuse with another that has an identical rating.
- The ground prong on a plug is a safety mechanism, so never tamper with it. Similarly, do not use adapters to plug a three-pronged plug into a two-pronged outlet.
- Never leave appliances that generate heat unattended, they can cause fires.
- When unplugging an appliance, always pull on the plug itself, not the cord.
- Keep cords away from heat.
- Do not leave cords in areas where people walk frequently. Not only is this a tripping hazard, but it can also damage the cord.
- Never use electrical appliances in or near water.
- Always ensure that the extension cord you are using is rated for the amperage needed to power your device.
- When using extension cords outside, ensure that the cords are outdoor specific extension cords, and that they have three-pronged plugs.
- Always use light bulbs that have the appropriate wattage indicated on the light socket.