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Remember Electrical Safety Over the Holidays
17 December 2007
CitiPower and Powercor is urging its customers to identify and eliminate electrical safety risks, both around the home and in the community this festive season.
A variety of items, from Christmas tree lights to toys and frayed electrical leads all have the potential to become a safety hazard. Families should exercise caution when decorating Christmas trees and homes, and ensure lights are installed safely. Always read the instructions that come with Christmas lights carefully and do not place them outside the home if they were not designed for that purpose.
- When bringing older lights out of the cupboard for another year, check that the insulation is not cracked and that all the bulbs are correctly fitted and in good working order before use.
- If in any doubt about the safety of your lights either have them inspected by a qualified electrician or replace them.
- Ensure that children do not play with toys, including kites and high-powered water guns, near overhead powerlines.
- Always switch off and unplug decorative lights when they are left unattended or when watering a Christmas tree.
CitiPower and Powercor also urge parents to keep a close eye on young children playing near electrical equipment during the holidays. Children must be discouraged from putting toys in electrical outlets that don’t belong there, and safety plugs should be plugged into all unused power points.
If your home is not fitted with electrical safety switches, you might consider having them installed as a measure to help protect your family from the potential of an electric shock.
More information is available at Energy Safe Victoria’s website.