Common Causes of Electrical Accidents

We use electricity every day to light our homes and operate numerous household appliances. We also use electricity in the workplace, of course. Lights and other common household and office appliances are generally safe to use but improper use can lead to serious accidents or even death. Always use electrical appliances as directed. You should take special care when making electrical repairs and if you aren't sure how to do it safely, call a professional to handle the job.

Unsafe Equipment

According to the Oklahoma State University Department of Environmental Health and Safety, using unsafe equipment commonly leads to electrical safely accidents. Examples of unsafe or faulty equipment include damaged extension cords, homemade extension cords, plugs on which the third prong (technically known as the grounding pin) has been removed to make a three prong plug fit a two prong outlet and tools or equipment with exposed wires or damaged insulation. If equipment appears damaged or altered in any way or does not seem to be functioning properly, don't use it.

Not Turning Power Off

Not turning the power off before attempting an electrical repair frequently leads to accident and injury. Even if you think the power is off, you should confirm that before beginning your repair work. If you are not certain how to turn off the power or aren't certain that it is indeed off, call a professional instead of attempting the repair yourself.

Unplug appliances before attempting to repair them, as well. Don't even stick a fork into a toaster to remove a stuck piece of toast without unplugging the toaster first. Again, if you aren't sure how to safely repair an appliance, call a professional or simply purchase a new one. Do not try to use an electrical appliance after making repairs if you aren't absolutely sure the repairs were done correctly and safely.

Overloading Outlets

Overloading outlets can lead to electrical accidents and fires. Outlets have a certain number of places to plug in items for a reason. Using extension cords or outlet adapters to plug in more items than intended can cause problems, including blown fuses or even electrical fires, which can be deadly. If you need more places to plug in things, consider installing more outlets (or calling an electrician to install them for you) instead of overloading outlets and risking your safety.

Sources:

Oklahoma State University. http://ehs.okstate.edu/MODULES/electric/accidents.htm . Electrical Safety.