RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL SAFETY

Electrical safety and pride in our work are priorities at Sparks Fly Electrical Darwin that’s why we have provided some of our best Electrical Safety Tips. If you have an electrical emergency contact us today.

Because we work with electricity on many different sites and locations around Darwin and the surrounding areas, safety is an important aspect of our work and must never be over looked.
Call Sparks Fly Electrical Darwin for any electrical safety concerns. We are available after hours and on weekends and are happy to answer any questions you may have.

Electrical Safety Starts At Home

When it comes to your family’s safety, electrical awareness starts around the home. And for a lot of us, our home is now our office. Here at Sparks Fly Electrical Darwin, we respect the importance of electrical safety and know that with the right education, anyone can understand the basics. 

To understand the dangers of electricity you must first understand what electricity is for. After all, the whole purpose of electrics is to get electricity to do useful and interesting things, not to do us harm. Electricity is both familiar and full of mystery. We all know what electricity does, or at least have a rough idea, based on practical experience.

Sparks is very familiar with the electricity that flows through our homes. That electricity comes from power stations that burn coal, catch the wind, harness the sun or from nuclear reactions. It travels from the power stations to our houses through wires hung high in the air or buried in the ground. Once it gets to our houses, it travels through wires through the walls until it gets to electrical outlets. From there, we plug in appliances to get the electricity into the electrical devices we use every day. Everybody knows that electricity is not free and is getting more expensive.

Things to Remember

• Electricity can be stored in batteries. We know that some kinds of batteries are rechargeable which means that when they’ve been drained of all their electricity, more electricity can be put back into them by charging. We know that electricity can be measured. We know that where there is voltage there is current, and resistance to it. And we know that electricity can be very dangerous. So be familiar with where your switchboard is located. Another important one of our Electrical safety tips is to have up to date safety switches installed to protect your family
• Keep access to your switchboard free of obstructions and keep the labels on your switches, circuit breakers or fuses up to date.
• And only use licensed electrical contractors can undertake repairs or installation work.

Why is electricity dangerous?

Voltage applied to a person causes an electric current to race through the tissues, and the greater the voltage, the greater the current. The greater current, the worse it will be.

If the current is sufficiently high, it will cause severe muscle contraction, fibrillation of the heart, and tissue burns just to name a few. The lack of any visible signs that a conductor is electrified makes electricity a stealthy and dangerous hazard. The pain caused by an electric shock will be intense, leading electricity at times to be employed as a method of torture. Death caused by an electric shock is referred to as electrocution. Electrocution is still a means of judicial execution in some countries, though its use has become rare in recent times. So unless you feel like you want to try out what the death penalty feels like, leave it alone and call us.

Don’t Risk it. Use a licenced electrician

Electrical Safety Tips in residential and commercial settings

Try not to use power points around very young children, they get curious.

After using electrical appliances, it is good practice to get in the habit of turning the appliance off and isolating it from its power supply.

Be extremely careful when using electrical appliances around water whether near a sink, bath or swimming pool

Immediately discard any electrical appliance if it has been immersed in water

Don’t use portable heaters in bathroom areas. Instead, you should have either a strip heater installed high on the wall or a ceiling fan/heat unit installed by a licensed electrical contractor

Don’t use extension leads or power leads in wet areas unless specifically designed to do so

Never touch anything electrical with wet hands or bare feet

Remove electrical appliances with damaged/frayed cords or cracked or broken plugs

Turn off power points before plugging/unplugging appliances

Turn off all appliances such as heaters, ovens and stove tops when leaving your home

Maintain exhaust fans in a clean condition, free of lint

Ensure adequate space around appliances to prevent overheating

Remove all combustible material from stoves, heaters and lamps

Do not use extension cords in wet areas – unless specially designed to do so

Licensed Darwin electricians should undertake all your electrical work and repairs

Kitchen electrical appliances

Regularly clean range hood filters.
Clean ovens and hot plates regularly to prevent the build-up of spilled fats and burnt foods.
Install a ventilation system, flue or exhaust fan in the kitchen to remove fumes while cooking.
Switch off your appliances before unplugging. and unplug your toaster before removing toast, muffins or crumpets.
Never leave cooking unattended and if you must leave the room take something with you such as a wooden spoon as a reminder.

Electrical extension leads and cords

Discard extension leads and cords with damaged plugs or parts
Position extension cords along walls and around furniture 
Ensure extension cords have 3 pins. This is because plugs with 2 pins are not earthed and should be used only with double insulated electrical equipment
Do not drape cords over benches. They can be caught or grabbed

Power lines and over head cabling

Keep ladders, boat masts and poles well clear of overhead power lines
Monitor weather conditions
Power lines can sag in extreme heat and sway in strong winds
Power lines are difficult to see at dawn and dusk
Plant low growing plants near power lines
Become aware of underground cables and pipes, Contact Dial before you Dig before any digging work

Electrical safety tips for Switchboards and fuses

Be familiar with where your switchboard is located
Have proper safety switches to protect your family
Keep access to your switchboard free of obstructions
Label switches, circuit breakers or fuses
Only licensed electrical contractors can undertake repairs or installation work

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