Safety around your home

Top Energy is concerned about your safety.

Here are some quick tips to ensure you and your family are safe around electricity in your home.

• Keep all cords and appliances dry and clear of water or damp areas inside and outside.
• Always have dry hands when touching electrical appliances or sockets.
• Use Residual Current Devices (RCD’s) in the damp areas in your home, such as the bathroom, laundry, kitchen, garage, pools and spas, or when working with electrical equipment outside. An RCD monitors electric currents flowing along a circuit. If it detects a current being diverted to the earth (such as through a person), it cuts the power off instantly – preventing an electric shock from being fatal.
• Before using electric cords, make sure they are in good condition. Check for damaged or exposed wires, fraying or cracked leads, and cracked or broken power sockets or plug tops.
• Replace any damaged leads or have them professionally repaired.
• To avoid overloading, limit the number of appliances plugged into a socket or extension cord. Use one heater only per wall socket.
• Check and replace any wall sockets where the plug does not fit firmly into the outlet – a loose contact is unsafe.
• Switch them off at the wall when not in use and unplug them.
• When renovating and rewiring your home, buy the latest electrical safety products that meet or exceed AS/NZ electrical standards.
• Use safety devices such as recessed and shuttered sockets, shrouded plugs and RCD’s.
• Always employ a licensed electrician for electrical repairs to ensure the work is done to legal safety standards. Ask to see their practicing license and ensure you receive a Certificate of Compliance for all electrical work done on installations and fittings (except maintenance work such as replacing sockets and light fittings). Ask for an Electrical Safety Certificate for repair work done on appliances.
• When changing fuses or doing electrical work around the house, or if there is an electrical problem, always disconnect the power by turning the main power switch off first.

Remember, a heater is a fire hazard. Follow the ‘Heater Metre Rule’ and keep heaters at least one metre away from bedding, clothes, curtains, rugs and furniture.