• Overview
• Safety at Home
  • Overview
  • How to wire a plug correctly
  • Using appliances safely
  • Kitchen safety
  • Bedroom safety
  • Bathroom safety
  • Garage, Workshop and Garden safety
  • The Electrical installation - Fuses and MCBs
  • What to do if there is a Power Cut
• Safety at Work
• Safety on the Farm
• Equipment Protection
• Environment
• Storm Damage
• Safety Publications
• Safety for Young People/Schools

Using Appliances Safely

Always read the manufacturer's instructions carefully before you use a new appliance. The most vulnerable part of most appliances is the connecting flex and its associated plug. Most accidents associated with electric appliances are caused either by damaged or badly repaired flexes, or through wrongly-wired plugs.

Helpful DOs and DON'Ts

Flexes

• DO check flexes regularly for signs of wear, particularly on electric irons, kettles vacuum cleaners and portable tools.
• DO treat flexes with care; they are vulnerable to damage.
• DO make sure you have a long enough flex to comfortably work at an ironing board or when vacuuming without straining the flex.
• DON'T make joints in a flex, replace it with one of adequate length.
• DON'T repair a defective or damaged flex; replace it.
• DON'T use "bell-wire" or telephone/alarm wire for any mains-voltage appliances or connections.

Handling and using appliances

• DON'T drag an appliance by the flex nor pull on the flex to remove a plug from the socket.
• DON'T plug any appliance into a light bulb holder.
• DO note the maximum load allowed for a coiled extension lead - its rating is much lower with the cable fully wound than fully unwound. Many leads cannot safely handle electric heaters; they are only suitable for smaller appliances such as light portable tools.
• AVOID using multiple outlet adaptors; use fused multi-socket boards instead; better to have additional sockets fitted.
• TRY TO AVOID "spaghetti-junction" type cable connections behind music systems or computer equipment. Try to keep power cables separate from other connecting cables.

REMEMBER: If a plug shows signs of damage or defective operation - cracked or broken casing, signs of excessive heating, marked pitting of the metal contact - replace it without delay.