Electrical SafetyEvery week in the UK someone dies in an electrical accident at home, and one in eight has had a serious electrical shock.
New research commissioned by the Electrical Safety Council (ESC) shows just how little the UK thinks about electrical safety:
- Over half of us haven't checked our electrics or had them professionally checked - in the last 12 months
- A third of us say we are not concerned about electrical safety and;
- Almost 13 million homes in the UK do not have adequate RCD
(residual current device) protection which can save your life, protect
against dangerous electrical shock and reduce the risk of electrical
fires.
RCDs are particularly important when using mains powered tools or
electrical equipment outdoors & ESC gas launched a campaign. The Plug into Safety campaign aims to
raise awareness of the dangers of electricity in the home and garden by
encouraging us to take a few minutes to check our electrics and use RCD
protection.
Of 281 survey respondents who have experienced an electric shock, the most typical causes of accidents are:
- Using appliances that are faulty (23%)
- Cutting or drilling through cables (11%)
The ESC wants the Plug into Safety campaign to increase awareness of
RCDs in much the same way that smoke alarms were promoted by the
Government's Fire Kills campaign. When Fire Kills started only 9% of
households had smoke alarms now they are in over 80% of homes. With help
from a range of partners including the fire service, housing providers,
government and electricians - the ESC aims to take RCDs mainstream.
- Around 12,500 house fires, 750 serious injuries and 10 deaths are caused by unsafe electrics in the home each year
- The electrics in your house can become damaged or worn due to wear & tear. Cables, switches, sockets & other equipment deterioate with prolonged use, so they need to be checked & necessary repairs / replacements made in good time
- It's important to have your home electrics inspected & tested to check that they are still safe to use. These checks should be done at least every 10 years & if they have been done there will be a label on the fuse board indicating this
- If you are moving house, going to let a house or just moved into a new home you need to know about the electrics in your house .
- Check the following website for further information & order free leaflets/DVD on electrical safety in your home @ Electrical Safety Council
Result of a DIY home owner having wired an 10.5 kW electric shower circuit with 2.5 mm2 cable and a 45 A circuit-breaker . - www.esc.org.uk