The Importance of Electrical Safety

Whether you’re a seasoned electrician or you’re simply carrying out a home DIY project, electrical safety is of the utmost importance. 

When dealing with live surges of electricity, it’s easy for nasty accidents to occur – particularly if you don’t have much prior experience in this field. Fire risks and electric shocks are just a couple of the dangers posed when working with high voltages of electricity. That’s why it’s vital to take the correct safety measures from preventing such incidents from occurring. 

In this article, we share a few ways that you can ensure electrical safety is upheld throughout any upcoming projects.

Training and awareness

Before you begin any new project, it’s important to debrief all workers or helpers on any safety measures that should be undertaken. Everyone involved should be provided with the correct PPE – such as protective gloves, goggles, and face masks where applicable, to properly stowing equipment so as not to cause hazards. When working with any electronics, do the relevant research to that you know exactly what you’re doing before you dive into any wire tampering.

Invest in the right tools

Alongside carrying out extensive research on how to get the desired result for your electrical project, it’s vital that you also invest in the correct tools for the job. Arguably the most important piece of equipment in your tool kit should be your Approved Voltage Indicator (AVI). An AVI is a special tool that allows you to detect whether a wire is live or not. Upon using this tool, if it indicates that electricity is present, you know that you must take necessary measures to turn off power supplies. This can prevent you, or anyone else, from being electrocuted on the job. As well as an AVI, you will also need the following:

• Pliers/Cutters – for cutting wires 
• Wire strippers – for stripping the wire coating away when fusing cables together
• Insulated screwdrivers – to allow for safe removal of plug fixtures

Protect against fires

Another serious consequence that can come from faulty electrics is fire hazards. There are a few fundamental pointers when it comes to electrical fire safety.

These are as follows:

• Don’t overload plug sockets – too large a surge in electricity in home plug sockets can lead to sparks which can quickly cause house fires

• Unplug any devices when not in use – this helps to reduce the amount of electricity that is supplied to plugs and helps you to save on utility bills in the process 

• Don’t leave things on charge for too long – charging appliances for long periods can also lead to overload. Ensure you’re always present when charging devices
• Keep any appliances away from water – this may sound obvious but always keep devices away from any water sources at all times