The Top Causes of Electrical Accidents
According to statistics, cases of electrical accidents have been on the rise. This is happening despite the growing awareness about handling electricity and electric appliances. What’s more worrying is that most of this accident is caused by human error or oversight. For instance, leaving an electrical appliance on after use, letting the electrical wires to fray, using a faulty electric accessory, handling electrical items with wet hands, and poor wiring. The following are the top causes of electrical accidents.
Many electrical accidents are a result of using worn out or low-quality plugs and cords. Substandard products will tend to overheat when running appliances that draw lots of power. This may lead to the plug or cord getting too hot and overheating. The next thing is the sheath melting and this may lead to a fire. Another scenario is the weak wires coming into contact and this may create a short-circuit which may damage or cause electronics and appliances to catch fire.
The general advice is to only use high quality and certified plugs, cords and extension cords. You shouldn’t overload a point with many accessories, and also to avoid using old, worn-out, frayed items.
Wiring Systems
Many accessories, appliances, and property damaged because of poor or faulty wiring. This has happened because the contractor didn’t follow the laid down procedure because of lack of proper knowledge or ignorance. The accident may also occur due to using substandard wires and related items. A short-circuit may lead to a spark which will ignite a flammable material and may lead to a fire hazard. Lack of periodically inspecting the wiring is also a cause because the covering tends to fray and the connections will get rusty or corroded and this increases the resistance.
You should ensure that the electrician only uses high-quality products and he/she should provide a warranty on the parts and workmanship. Periodic inspection also helps to eliminate problems before they become worse.
Fixtures and Appliances
This is one of the main causes of electrical fires and most people do it innocently. For instance, due to not finding a 60-watt bulb or trying to save the extra penny, a person will use a 100-watt bulb on the lighting fixture designed for a 60-watt unit. This will lead to the drawing of more current and may cause the contact points or worse to become too hot. If left for too long, it may start melting the wires and this may cause a short circuit. Plugging a cord into the wrong adapter is also another risk.
You can avoid such risks by strictly adhering to the recommendations, using the right plugs, cords, and extension, replacing worn-out or faulty sockets, plugs, and switches. You should immediately call in a qualified electrician as soon as you noticed a burning smell, flickering lights, sparks, buzzing noise or smoke.
Ignoring Safety Precautions
Electrical appliances and electronics normally have warnings. Sadly, many people ignore this warning. They will use a higher rated fuse, fit in too many appliances in an extension cord, install the wrong bulb in the light socket, use the wrong cables or wires, fail to replace bad wires and more. All these steps increase the chances of electrical accidents. You should ensure that you strictly adhere to the precautions and if in doubt, always seek assistance from a reputable electrician. The provider will offer guidance on the best appliances, fitting & fixtures.
Conclusion
Electrical accidents can be minimised by following the laid down rules and regulation. Avoiding touching naked wires, ensuring the wiring is done by a professional, not leaving electrical appliances plugged in when not in use, not operating faulty gadgets or appliances, dealing with a reputable and licensed electrician, having your electrics inspected and always going for quality service and products.
Electrician Portsmouth UK will offer a helping hand when having electrical related faults. The company has been in operation for more than 50 years and is one of the most repeatable. It provides a range of services that aim at ensuring your electrical system is in good shape and unlikely to cause an electrical accident.
Inspection, repair, new installation, and electrical testing are some of the services offered by the company. You can reach them via electricians-portsmouth.co.uk or by calling 02393 960142. Don’t be part of the growing statistics of electrical accidents!
