Safety Tips

Electrical safety is a shared responsibility. The following tips can help protect your home and family from electrical hazards.

Outlets & Plugs

• Check for outlets that have loose-fitting plugs — they can overheat and cause fire.
• Replace any missing or broken wall plates.
• Install safety covers on all unused outlets within a child’s reach.
• Make sure plugs fit your outlets. Never force a plug into an outlet — plugs should fit securely.
• Never remove the ground pin (the third prong) to make a three-prong plug fit a two-conductor outlet. This can lead to electrical shock.
• Avoid overloading outlets with too many appliances.

Cords & Extension Cords

• Make sure cords are in good condition — not frayed or cracked.
• Keep cords out of traffic areas where people could trip over them.
• Never nail or staple cords to a wall, baseboard, or any other object.
• Do not place cords under carpets or rugs, or rest furniture on them.
• Extension cords are for temporary use only — they are not intended as permanent household wiring.
• Check that extension cords are not overloaded.
• Make sure extension cords have safety closures to help prevent young children from shock hazards and mouth burn injuries.

GFCIs

• GFCIs (Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters) can help prevent electrocution.
• When a GFCI senses current leakage in an electrical circuit, it assumes a ground fault has occurred and interrupts power fast enough to help prevent serious injury from electrical shock.
• Test GFCIs monthly according to the manufacturer’s instructions to make sure they are working properly.

Circuit Breakers & Fuses

• Circuit breakers and fuses should be the correct size current rating for their circuit.
• If you do not know the correct size, have an electrician identify and label it for you.
• Always replace a fuse with the same correct size fuse.

Water and Electricity Don’t Mix

• Don’t leave plugged-in appliances where they might come into contact with water.
• If a plugged-in appliance falls into water, never reach in to pull it out — even if it is turned off. Unplug it first.
• If an appliance has gotten wet, don’t use it until it has been checked by a qualified repair person.

Appliances & Equipment

• Check the wattage of all bulbs in light fixtures to make sure they are correct for the size of the fixture. If you don’t know the correct wattage, check with the manufacturer.
• Make sure bulbs are screwed in securely — loose bulbs can overheat.
• If an appliance repeatedly blows a fuse, trips a circuit breaker, or has given you a shock, unplug it and have it repaired or replaced.
• Check that entertainment and computer equipment is in good condition and working properly — look for cracks or damage in wiring, plugs, and connectors.
• Use a surge protector bearing the seal of a nationally recognized certification agency.

Call 811 Before You Dig

Alabama law requires calling 811 before any digging project. This free service locates buried utility lines and prevents dangerous accidents. Learn more at al1call.com.