With May being National Electrical Safety Month this is a good time to reacquaint ourselves with some basics, such as reading the use and care instructions and safety tips provided with electrical appliances, paying attention to all safety markings on electrical equipment, and checking every power cord to make sure it isn't damaged. These are simple things to do, but they are important for the safety of you and your family. Consumers can get plugged into electrical safety and help protect themselves from electrical accidents by taking a few minutes to check their homes for unsafe conditions. Most electrical systems are installed during the construction of the home and are often overlooked until there is a problem. The misfortune for some is that an electrical problem often causes fires and deaths.
All electrical equipment has a limited life span.
Electrical switches and receptacle outlets that are used more frequently are likely to fail sooner. If you notice a switch is loose or a plug falls out of the receptacle, have it checked out before a fire happens or someone is electrocuted. Dim or flickering lights, arcs or sparks, sizzling or buzzing sounds from your electrical systems, odors, hot switch plates, loose plugs and damaged insulation, among other things, are signs of potential hazards and should be looked at by a qualified electrician. One person is electrocuted in the home every 36 hours. One person is electrocuted at the workplace every day.