Electricity

Electricity is all around us in the appliances we used in every day of our life. They are
necessities, from light bulbs to TV to Microwave, it provides us heat, cool,
entertainments and safety environment. Electricity could be dangerous if we don’t use
properly.
Two of the major electrical hazards are electrical fire and short circuit.
Some of the fires are caused by electrical system failures and appliance, but most
of the times, those fires are caused by the misuse and poor maintenance of the electrical
appliances. We should never overload the circuit, we should never plug too many
appliances into extension cords. If we are using an extension cord, we need to buy a
heavy-duty cord and make sure it is in good condition. We should never run the extension
cords under a carpet or rug. We should replace all worn, old or damaged appliance cords
immediately. Before using the electrical tools, we need to check those tools regularly for
signs of wear. We need to replace any tool if it causes overheats, smoke or sparks. If we
are using halogen lamps or electrical heaters, we should keep them at least couple feet
away from any type of combustible materials, like clothes, curtains, paper, and furniture.
Remember to turn them off if we are going to leave the room for an extended period of
time. We should never use water to extinguish an electrical fire. Water is a good
conductor of electricity. We should use a fire extinguisher rated with C for electrical
fires. When there was a fire, shut off the main switch before extinguishing the fire. We
also need to check smoke alarm periodically to make sure it is working properly.
Short Circuit is another major electrical hazard. Electricity flows easily through
water. We need to keep power tools, radios, appliances, electric lawn mowers and
other electricity devices away from swimming pools, sprinklers, garden hoses. Electricity
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can flow through the body more easily if we are standing in the water or on the damp
floor. We should never operate any electric tools in the rain; we should never touch an
electrical appliance while standing on a wet floor; we should never operate an electric
heater, radio when we are in the bathtub or shower. If we drop hair dryers in the water,
pull the plug, don’t just grab the hair dryers. Before cleaning any appliance, we need to
disconnect the power cords. We should never force the plugs into the outlet, never try to
remove the third prong which it is the ground pin to make a three-prong plug fit a twoconductor
outlet. This is very risky practice.
What are the devices to protect us from electricity shock?
If we look around the outlets in our house, we might notice “GFCI” marked on
some of the outlets. We can find those outlets in the bathroom, kitchen, and garage.
What is “GFCI” outlet? A "GFCI" is a ground fault circuit interrupter. A ground fault
circuit interrupter is an inexpensive electrical device. If you don’t find it in your house,
please find an electrician to install it for you. The GFCI is designed to protect people
from severe or fatal electric shocks Because a GFCI detects ground faults, it can also
prevent some electrical fires and reduce the severity of others by interrupting the flow of
electric current.
All GFCIs should be tested once a month to make sure they are working properly
and are protecting us from fatal shock. GFCIs should be tested after installation to make
sure they are working properly and protecting the circuit. To test the receptacle GFCI,
first plug a nightlight or lamp into the outlet. The light should be on Then, press the
"TEST" button on the GFCI. The GFCI's "RESET" button should pop out, and the light
should go out. If the "RESET" button pops out but the light does not go out, the GFCI
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has been improperly wired. Contact an electrician to correct the wiring errors. If the
"RESET" button does not pop out, the GFC1 is defective and should be replaced. If the
GFCI is functioning properly, and the lamp goes out, press the "RESET" button to
restore power to the outlet.
Fuses and Circuit breakers offer another layer of protection for us. A fuse is the
safety valve of the residential electrical system. A fuse is designed to burn out or blow
out when there is a short circuit. Many houses have circuit breakers instead of fuses.
Instead of blowing out, circuit breakers automatically trip to the off position when short
circuit occurs. When there is a problem, we need to find the cause, before reset the
breaker by pushing the handle to the extreme off position and then to the on position. If
we find the faulty equipments or electrical appliances, have them repaired or replaced.
For some sensitive electrical devices like TV, Computer, and entertainment
systems, we need to buy a surge protector or backup battery protector. To protect the
kids, we should leave “dummy” plugs installed in those unused outlets.
With care and respect, we can prevent fires in our home and avoid injuries from
electricity.

References

U.S. Fire Administration
http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/citizens/all_citizens/home_fire_prev/electrical.shtm
Owatonna Public Utilities: Residential: Electric Safety
http://www.owatonnautilities.com/safety/safety-e-r.php