Needless to say, electricity is an essential aspect of our lives. We can’t imagine our day-to-day life without it. It powers the modern world, from lighting up our homes and keeping us warm or cool to running complex and mammoth industries and machinery. It makes the world go round.
This very important utility can pose a number of dangers if not handled properly, as you may already know. Making electrical safety more than a precaution. So, if you’re asking why electricity safety is important? Read on because this guide delves right in.
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Preventing Accidents and Injuries
This is possibly the most important reason why electricity safety is important. Electrical accidents and hazards claim millions of lives every year.
Yes, you read that right: a whopping 1.2 million people die from electrical-related accidents every year.
And let’s not even get started on how many people are injured from such hazards. These accidents can range from the unassuming incidents of flicking a switch to even serious electrical repairs. Common accidents include faulty wiring, overloading circuits, and improper use of appliances.
These hazards cause burns, shocks, paralysis, and fatalities, as we’ve already found out.
How To Practice Electrical Safety To Prevent Accidents?
Here are a few ways you can practice electrical safety to prevent accidents and injuries.
- Regularly inspect cords and outlets for any wear or damage.
- Don’t overload sockets and power strips.
- Make sure to always turn off the power source before working on electrical systems.
- Use Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs) in wet or damp areas like kitchens and bathrooms.
Protecting Property from Damage
In the U.S. alone, over 50,000 electrical fires are reported in homes every year. These fires can stem from unobtrusive issues like circuit breakers to major problems, neglected and outdated systems, and improper installations by unlicensed electricians.
As we’ve mentioned before, these fires not only damage property but cost you thousands upon thousands of dollars in repairs and wasted resources.
Not only for homes, but the negligence of electrical safety can cause damage to progress in workspaces, loss in commercial spaces, and a world of other damage to different spaces.
How To Practice Electrical Safety To Protect Property from Damage?
Here are a few ways you can practice electrical safety to protect your property from damage.
- Invest in high-quality circuit breakers to regulate circuit load, especially in homes.
- Replace outdated wiring and make sure all your electrical systems meet current standards and codes according to where you live.
- Use surge protectors to protect appliances during power fluctuations.
- Schedule regular inspections by licensed electricians to spot and fix potential accidents. So, if you’re looking for Residential Electrical Repair in St Louis, MO, or for commercial electricians in New York, make sure you hire professionals who are experts at their job.
Ensure Compliance with Regulations
Electrical safety doesn’t only protect you and your property from damage; an often overlooked benefit is that it ensures compliance with necessary codes and regulations according to where you live.
There are laws for electrical safety that make sure your residence meets the necessary safety standards.
When your home or office complies with all the essential codes and regulations by way of maintaining electrical safety, you avoid legal penalties and fines. Which, if you know, can be hefty and often financially draining. Practicing electrical safety laws also protects your insurance coverage.
Electrical safety keeps you out of any legal concern, so you can continue to be a law-abiding citizen while enjoying your electrical benefits.
How To Practice Electricity Safety To Ensure Compliance?
Here are a few ways you can practice electrical safety to ensure compliance with regulations.
- Hire certified and licensed electricians for all installations and repairs. They can provide expert guidance because they’re updated on the codes and regulations according to your location.
- Familiarize yourself with and educate yourself on local and national electrical codes. A quick Google search will get you up to speed.
- Make sure to keep records and documentation of all inspections and upgrades to ensure compliance with necessary regulations and codes.
Emphasizing Energy-Efficiency
Electrical safety emphasizes and promotes energy efficiency. It encourages the use of safe and modern electrical systems because they operate more efficiently and conserve energy. These systems are built to save energy and cut back on harmful emissions, significantly lowering your energy bills.
When you use overloaded or outdated electrical systems and wiring, you can expect energy consumption to be as high as a kite.
Understandably, they lose efficiency over time due to a lack of maintenance and faulty parts, causing them to overuse themselves and use up a ton of energy in the process.
How To Practice Electricity Safety To Emphasize Energy-Efficiency?
Here are a few ways you can practice electrical safety to promote energy efficiency.
- Replace old appliances with newer energy-efficient models. Make sure to do your research on its energy-conservation abilities.
- Use LED light bulbs instead of traditional lighting settings because those take up a lot of energy and also just create bad lighting!
- Distribute electrical loads evenly across different circuits to prevent overloading. You can ask your electrician for the best tips to do this.
- Turn off and plug out appliances when they’re not in use to save energy and reduce strain on circuits.
Tips To Practice Electrical Safety
We’ve got some more tips to practice electricity safety at your home, office, or wherever you are!
- Replace frayed or damaged cords immediately.
- Use power strips with surge protection with multiple devices.
- Childproof electrical devices with outlet protectors and wire covers.
- Maintain safe distances from power lines when you’re outdoors.
- Don’t DIY complicated or major tasks.
- Test your smoke detectors regularly and replace batteries as needed.
Conclusion
And there you have it! We hope you enjoyed our take on why electrical safety is important and acknowledge its importance in your life. Whether you’re at home or at the office, you have to understand the risks and potential dangers associated with not maintaining electrical safety properly.