Business & Home Holiday Electrical Safety

11/15/2016 (Permalink)

At work and at home, prevent fires by practicing electrical safety.

It’s the holiday time of year and you probably have parties to give and celebrations to attend. At work and at home you have holiday decorations up. Enjoy your holidays, but please remember to be safe. Here are a few tips to keep your business and your home safer from potential electrical fire cleanup and other hazards that the holidays can bring.

1. Inspect electrical decorations and cords.

Carefully examine electrical decorations and cords for damage before you use them. Have your family or employees check for cracked or frayed sockets, loose or bare wires, and loose connections. Repair any damage before use.

2. Avoid overloading electrical outlets.

When you overburden an outlet you can cause a power outage or create heat that can result in fire. In general, plug in only one high wattage appliance per outlet.

 3. If you have a live Christmas tree, water it daily.

A dry tree becomes a fire hazard.

 4. String together no more than three strings of incandescent lights.

When you connect more than three strings you can blow a fuse or create conditions for a fire.

 Keep your holidays safe. Call 860-216-2785 and ask for ask your Emergency Ready Profile.

5. Use electrical extension cords properly.

They are for temporary use only. Don’t use one that feels hot. Don’t run extension cords through walls or ceilings or nail or staple them to walls or baseboards. Make sure that cords are not pinched in doors, windows, or under heavy furniture, which could damage the cord’s insulation. Keep extension cords out of high-traffic areas like doorways or walkways where they pose a tripping hazard. Ensure that all extension cords are certified by a nationally recognized testing laboratory such as UL, CSA, or ETL, and read the manufacturer’s instructions. For more, go to Extension Cord Safety.

 6. Use battery-operated candles.

The Electrical Safety Foundation International says that candles start about half of all home decoration fires. By using battery-powered candles you greatly reduce this risk at home or at your place of business.

 7. If you’re cooking stay in the kitchen.

Whether you’re cooking in the break room, cafeteria, or your home kitchen stay with the stove or oven.

Every year, especially at holidays, people begin to cook then run to another room to quickly do something and forget to go back to the stove in time to prevent a fire. Never leave a stove or oven that’s in use.

 8. Keep anything that burns at least three feet any source of heat.

Don’t store newspaper near the fireplace or have paper decorations above a heater, for example.

9. At work check your fire alarms and fire protection equipment.

The holiday season is the perfect time to inspect fire alarms and fire suppression systems or devices. Inspect regularly, perhaps twice year, and make sure everything’s in working order. Are your portable fire extinguishers adequately charged?  Are all your smoke alarms working? Do you have enough fire extinguishers, the right types, and are they in the right places?

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Bloomfield, Connecticut
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