Electrical Safety Tips

Follow these tips will ensure the safety of your love one and your workers.

Inside your home:

• Unless you are a qualified electrician you should never wire any part of your home, install

or move lights, switches or power points, rearrange electrical wires, carry out electrical

maintenance or replace frayed cords on appliances. Always get a qualified and registered

electrician to do an electrical safety check of your home before renovations begin or before

moving into a new home.

• Make sure you use an extension lead that is appropriate for the power loading you need.

Check that it has a three-pin plug and is approved by SIRIM. Extension leads with only two pin plug are not ‘earthed’ and are dangerous. If an appliance is faulty, a non-earthed plug can cause power to flow through your body with potentially fatal results. Fully unwind leads before you use them so that they do not overheat. Do not overload adaptors by plugging in too many appliances into one socket or power point.

• When painting around light fittings, do not remove the light plate as this will expose live wires even when the light is switched off. Mask around it instead.When tiling around light fittings, switches or power points, get a licensed electrician to remove the light plates and deactivate any exposed wires before you begin.

• Always install safety switches such as RCD (Residual Current Device) when using electrical equipment outdoor and have them checked regularly.

• Water and electricity do not mix.Never bring portable electrical appliances into the bathroom or wet area or use electric power tools in wet conditions.

• Check for wires before drilling into walls, floors and ceilings.When a metal drill comes into contact with concealed wiring, it can spell disaster; so always make sure you know where the wires are run first. Be particularly careful when drilling around power points and light switches.

• Inspect and test the electrical wiring installation at your home at least once every 5 years by

an Electrical Installation Contractor holding a valid certificate issued under the Electricity

Rules, 1999 and ensure that an Inspection and Testing of LV Wirings of Installation certificate

is issued by the Electrical Installation Contractor for the inspections and testing carried out.

Outside your home:

• Find out what is hidden beneath the earth surface before you dig. Always consult SESCO

to detect if there are underground power cables before you dig any holes. Always follow the safe work guidelines as it could save your life.

• When painting eaves, replacing or cleaning gutters, avoid getting close to the electrical wires that connect your home to the power pole. Always watch out for power lines when using ladders or carrying other tall or long objects.

• Never interfere with the electric meter or divert electricity from the main power lines to your home. It is not only illegal; it can also be extremely dangerous. The result can often lead to serious property damage, severe injury or even death.

• Never plant tree beneath a primary overhead power line operating at a high or extra high

voltage. Always make sure trees are planted at least 8 metres from the overhead power

lines.