Electrician Indoor Electrical Safety Check
Indoor
Electrical Safety Check
Tips For the Safe
Indoor Use of Electricity
© 2004 Electrical
Safety Foundation International
The Indoor Electrical Safety
Check booklet is made possible through a grant from Intertek
Testing Services.
No endorsement of any particular product,
company or service is implied by their mention in this publication.
Contents
Note: Throughout the booklet, words
in blue are listed in the
glossary.
Introduction
Each year many consumers are injured and
killed in and around their homes. Unsafe conditions such as overloaded circuits
and damaged wire insulation as well as the misuse of extension cords and other
electrical products create fire and electric shock hazards.
The U.S.
Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimates that between 1994 and
1998, there was an annual average of 208 accidental electrocution deaths related
to consumer products. In 1999, there were an estimated 150 accidental
electrocutions. This reduction is due to improved product safety engineering,
better standards and electrical codes, safer installations, and better safety
awareness thanks to attentive consumers and the efforts of organizations like
the ESFI.
However, during the 1994-1998 period
there was an estimated annual average of 165,380 electrical-related home
structure fires which accounted for an annual average of 910 deaths, nearly
7,000 injuries, and nearly $1.7 billion in property damage. While the numbers
vary from year to year, there is no clear downward trend as we see with
electrocutions. This underscores how important it is for us to remain vigilant.
Take a few minutes to look for and
correct electrical safety hazards in your home. It does not take too long to
check the insulation on a cord, move an appliance away from water, check for
correct wattage light bulbs, or
have ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCls)
and arc fault circuit interrupters (AFCIs)
installed. On the other hand, it sometimes takes a lifetime to overcome severe
electrical injuries that can result from overlooking these simple things.
Electricity is a powerful and useful
energy source that also must be treated with respect and extreme caution. This
brochure is intended for use only as an information guide, NOT a training or
instruction manual.
ESFi
Electrical Safety Foundation International
1300 N. 17th St., Suite 1847
Rosslyn, VA 22209
Phone: 703-841-3229/Fax: 703-841-3329
E-mail: info@esfi.org
Web: www.electrical-safety.org
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