Lessons Learned: Electricity Safety in the Home and Office

25 Apr Lessons Learned: Electricity Safety in the Home and Office

To help reduce the risk of an electrical fire, it is recommended that all electrical work is performed by a qualified electrician, including electrical inspections when buying or remodeling a home. The following are additional tips to follow to keep your home and office safe from electrical fires:

• Check electrical cords to make sure they are not running across doorways or under carpets where they can get damaged.
• Have a qualified electrician add more receptacle outlets in your home to reduce the use of extension cords.
• Use lightbulbs that match the recommended wattage on the lamp or fixture. Check the sticker on the lamp to determine the maximum wattage lightbulb to use.

Facts & figures

• From 2011-2015, Electrical distribution or lighting equipment was involved in the ignition of 34,000 reported home structure fire, on average, per year.
• These fires involved equipment such as wiring, lighting, cords and plugs.
• Electrical distribution or lighting equipment ranked first in direct property damage and third among the major fire causes in the number of home fires.

It’s always a good time to review electrical safety in your home and office. Click here to download more tips and helpful information. Electrical Safety Tip Sheet.