Safety

Put safety first

Because we use it everyday, it’s easy to forget how dangerous electricity can be. Even if you are handy around the house, never, ever do your own electrical work. Not only is it dangerous, it’s illegal - a licensed electrical contractor must carry out all electrical work.

Top 10 electrical safety tips 

1. Install circuit breakers.
2. Read all the instructions for appliances carefully before using them to make sure they are used correctly and safely.
3. Switch off appliances before removing the plug from the power point.
4. Switch off appliances at the power point, when not in use.
5. If your appliance fails to operate, blows a fuse, overheats or sparks heavily, disconnect it and have it checked by a licensed electrical contractor.
6. Broken switches and sockets are dangerous. Have them immediately replaced by an electrician.
7. Remember that light fittings are usually connected to live wires, even if the light switch is turned off. Light fittings, switches and power points should not be removed for painting.
8. Aluminium ladders, metal scaffold and painters' trestles can be a real electrical hazard. When working close to wiring, they should not be used.
9. Nailing and fixing metal roofing and tile battens can be dangerous so take care to avoid contact with electrical cables.
10. Electrical equipment should be kept away from pools and spas at all times. Never use extension cords near a pool.
    

Safety in bathrooms, laundries and wet areas

• No matter how careful you are, never use electrical appliances near basins and baths that contain water
• Use permanently fixed electric wall heaters
• Always unplug electrical appliances when not in use
• Ensure that children cannot pull electrical appliances into the bath, shower or basin.

 

Cords and plugs

 

• Always remove a plug from the power point by firmly grasping the plug, NOT the cord
• Look out for damaged or incorrectly wired cords and plugs – these are the most common cause of electrical accidents
• Regularly check all cords, particularly extension cords for fraying or wear and tear
• Never ‘repair’ worn or damaged cords with PVC insulation tape. Have the cord replaced
• Avoid overloading power points by connecting double adaptors in piggy-back fashion, or by connecting one power board to another
• If an extension cord is wound on a reel, always fully unwind it before use - otherwise it could overheat if used for heavy electrical loads

 

Power lines and trees

Safety outside the home is also important and care must be taken if working on the roof and especially near the point when the electrical wires connect to the building or property. 

Trees that are allowed to grow too close to power lines can be a serious hazard and it is the responsibility of the land owner to see that trees on the property are kept at  a safe distance.  All electrical wiring outside the home is the responsibility of the network provider Western Power and they have useful safety information on their website about trees and power lines.

 

Electronic equipment protection

Spikes and surges
How problems occur
How to minimise your risk
Protective devices
Security Lighting
Safety Switches

Spikes and surges

Modern appliances including microwaves, air conditioners, TVs and DVD recorders, computers, fax machines, stereos, clock radios and reticulation controllers all have sensitive electronic components. These appliances can be damaged by what are known as electrical ‘spikes and surges’ which can occur on all general purpose power supplies.

How problems occur

Spikes and surges can arise from:

• storm, wind or lightning.
• trees touching overhead wires.
• bush fire.
• vandalism.
• vehicles colliding with power poles.
• operation of customer equipment.
• unforeseen failure of generation, transmission or distribution equipment.

 

How to Minimise Your Risk

Your risk will be reduced by:

• unplugging electrical appliances when not in use.
• checking manufacturers' warranties.
• purchasing appropriate insurance.
• fitting protective devices.
  
  

Protective devices

A range of protective devices are available to safeguard sensitive electronic components from spikes and surges. Just ask at your local electrical appliance retailer, electrical/hardware store or supermarket, or talk to an electrician.

Some of these devices have a three-pin plug and connect directly to your power point like an adapter. Your electrician can also fit devices to your switchboard or replace power points with surge-arrester types.

Security lighting

It a fact that leaving a light on turns burglars off. The simplest and cheapest precaution you can take to help avoid burglary and vandalism is to leave the light on - whether you're home or not.

Newer, energy-efficient, compact fluorescent lights will cost you less than two cents per night to leave on. Not only does leaving the lights on deter unwanted visitors, it also allows neighbours and passers-by to see if there is anyone trespassing on your property. As well as having a light on inside your home, it’s a good idea to leave a light on near your front door, back door and along pathways. To save energy, it’s a good idea to connect these outside lights to a motion sensor.

Neighbourhood Watch and the Western Australia Police Service also recommend leaving a light on to improve your security.

According to the WA Police  "burglars are less likely to offend against homes where lights have been left on. Strategically placed exterior sensor lighting will also increase security on your property. Put simply, criminals do not like to be seen going about their business."

Synergy and the Western Australia Police Service support and recommend your participation in Neighbourhood Watch. For further information on Neighbourhood Watch or information about securing your home and valuables call (08) 9356 0555.

Safety switches

A safety switch is an electrical safety device specially designed to provide a high level of personal protection from electric shocks. If a safety switch detects even a very small irregularity in your power supply, it will switch the power off within 10 to 15 milliseconds to prevent electric shocks.

However, it is important to note that a safety switch will not protect against all instances of electric shock. For example, if you touch the active and neutral conductors while handling faulty a plug or appliance, and there is no current flow to earth, the safety switch will not detect the contact and cannot protect you from an electric shock. This is why it is so important to repair faulty appliances and plugs as soon as you notice the problem.

Safety switches are mandatory in all new homes.
We recommend that you install a safety switch to protect all power points. Some people choose not to protect power points for fridges and freezers (as inadvertent tripping of the safety switch could result in food spoilage if your home is unattended) but it's best to discuss your options with your licensed electrician.

There are three types of safety switches:

1. Switchboard units - installed on the main switchboard, these provide complete installation protection or selected circuit protection.
2. Power point units - inbuilt in a standard power point, these provide single point or single circuit protection.
3. Portable units – these are suitable for use with extension cords and portable power tools.

A licensed electrical contractor should install all safety switches (apart from portable unit switches). Always keep your appliances in good order and test your safety switch at least once a month, by pressing the test button.

Please remember, a safety switch is no substitute for common sense, proper care and maintenance.