Adopting a casual approach while handling

electrical gadgets can turn out to be fatal. Short

circuits can set off serious electrical fires, which

can cause damage to both life and property.

Unfortunately, homeowners do not tend to be

vigilant about the condition of the electrical set-

up at their homes as long as gadgets and other

appliances appear to be working fine. Electrical

safety considerations need to be taken seriously.

Given below are ten ways in which you can

minimize the chances of electricity-related

accidents:

Organize the messy, cluttered wires –

Unorganized piles of electrical wires tend to get

worn out quickly. They can also cause serious

electrical fires. Steer clear of such risks by

neatly segregating and clamping the different

electrical cords with durable cable ties.

Preferably, label the wires too, with permanent

wire markers.

Check for voltage fluctuations – Frequent

voltage fluctuations and power trips can cause

irreparable damage to your valuable electrical

gadgets and appliances. If such fluctuations are

indeed happening at your home, contact a

qualified electrician as soon as possible. Never

neglect such problems.

Use fuses and circuit breakers of tested quality –

Do not go for the locally made, non-branded

electrical fuses – simply because they bear

slightly lower price tags than their branded

counterparts. The same goes for the circuit

breakers too. Check the load capacity of each of

the fuses before you make it a part of your

electrical set-up.

Check the wattage of light bulbs – What might

happen if the wattage of the bulbs does not

match with that of the outlet from which it is

powered? That’s right – a major electrical

accident. Choose bulbs of the correct

wattage, and check with an electrical consultant

if needed. This will also bring down unnecessary

electrical expenses.

Examine the gauge of the electric wires – Make

sure that the cables and wires used for powering

the electrical appliances at your home are of the

right ‘gauge’ (length and size). Do not use too

many extension cords as stopgap

arrangements. If you use cable ties on correctly

sized wires, detection of probable faults in the

electrical systems will also become easier.

Keep electrical cables out of kids’ reach – This

point is pretty much self-explanatory. Keeping

live wires within easy reach of little children can

lead to danger. Be careful, and arrange the

heavy electrical cables at areas of the house

where kids will have no chance of touching

them. Going for concealed wiring is advisable in

this regard.

Watch for signs wire damage – Electrical

gadgets and wires are not something which you

can keep on using until the day they completely

give out. Make a point to inspect the wiring

systems at regular intervals. If you happen to

find any problem, make arrangements to fix it

immediately.

Switch off appliances when not in use – You are

not in the room, but the television is kept

switched on, and the fan is still whirring. Is that

an ideal scenario? A careless attitude lies behind

most domestic electrical mishaps. SMART

HOME Automation Systems can assist with this

and particular lights and appliances can be

switched on or off from a touch of your smart

phone or tablet. This can also help cut down on

electrical costs!

Avoid overloading power points – Maintain

separate plug points for operating different

heavy electrical electronics and appliances (like

television, refrigerator, microwave, etc.). Trying

to power multiple devices from the same point

might seem to be convenient – but doing so can

be dangerous.

Wear protective gear while handling electrical

equipment – Wear gloves, rubber-soled shoes,

and other basic protective accessories while

working on the electrical wires at your home.

Personal safety always comes first!

In addition, have the contact details of a local

electrician close at hand, so that you can easily

fall back on expert help – in case of

emergencies. Change the wires, the cable ties,

and other electrical accessories when

necessary. Electricity offers many benefits – but

only when you are careful while handling it!

About the Author: John Smith is a professional electrical engineer. He manages different types of home

depot in Ontario as well as office electronic setups. In this article, he lists out 10 basic ideas to keep readers’

homes safe from electrical hazards.

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