Prevent Electrical Injuries (NAPSA)—Eliminating the top electrical safety hazards could help prevent 40,000 electrical fires and hundreds of injuries and deaths annually, according to the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI). Data from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) indicates that the top electrical safety hazards include electrical fires caused by aging wiring and misuse of surge suppressors and electrocutions from wiring systems andlarge appliances. “While many of these electrical hazards can be eliminated, we often fail to take steps to avoid injury,” Michael G. Clendenin, executive director of ESFI noted. Electrical safety tips include: Your appliances and equipment should be approved by an independent testing laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL), Canadian Standards Associa- tion (CSA) or ETL-SEMKO (ETL). Use appliances and equipment according to manufacturer’s instructions. Replace damaged electrical equipmentor take it to an autho- rized repair center. Replace frayed cords, broken plugs or cracks, which are hazards; cut and throw out damagedcords. Use ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) protection to avoid shock when working where water is near electricity, such as your kitchen, laundry room, bath- room or outdoors. When using a generator, plug appliances directly into the generator or use a heavy duty outdoorrated extension cord, free of cuts and tears, with a three-prong plug. Never plug the generator into a wall outlet, a dangerous practice known as backfeeding. If you must connect the generator to house wiring, have a qualified electrician install a power transfer switch in accordance with local electrical codes. Use licensed electrical inspectors to check wiring in homes over 40 years old or those with major renovations. Flickering or dimming lights can be signs of problems. Install a new electrical safety device—an arc fault circuit interrupter (AFCI)—to stop electrical arcs, which cause fires. Arcs are not detected by most breakers and fuses. Use powerstrips and surge suppressors designed to handle the loads for their intended use. Avoid overloading circuits by plugging too many itemsinto oneoutlet. For moreelectrical safety infor- mation, including ESFI’s Indoor Electrical Safety Check booklet, visit www.electrical-safety.org or call 703-841-3329.
