You can avoid many potential accidents by taking care with everyday aspects of your electrical appliances. You might not think twice about how you use plugs and power leads but it can make all the difference.
It’s important to make sure all appliance power leads and plugs are in good condition. For instance, when you unplug things pull on the plug, not the lead, and keep leads and extension cables away from moisture, heat, and metal pipes. Never cover them with a rug or furniture or expose them to corrosive materials.
Before you use an appliance, check the state of the lead. Is any part of the cable worn, split or frayed? Does it feel hot when in use or does the plastic sheath soften at all? If so, replace it immediately. You should also check that the lead is securely attached to both the appliance and the plug.
Plugs
You can also check the plug itself. Look for signs of damage or discolouration on the casing. Check that it’s is marked on the back as conforming to British Standard BS 1363. Make sure the lead is firmly clamped in the plug and that no coloured wires are showing.
You can also check the wiring of the plug: in the UK all modern appliances use a square pin 13 amp plug. Use a screwdriver to remove the cover and check:
- the brown wire goes to live (L)
- the blue wire goes to neutral (N)
- the green and yellow wire goes to earth (E)
- that the screws holding the three wires are tight
- that the fuse is the correct size and meets British Standard BS 1362 and that it is securely in its holder.
Extension leads
If you use extension leads a lot, problems can include tripping over the cord, and cable damage due to wear, particularly where leads are walked over, flexed at a single point or stored badly. When leads are fitted to power tools, they can become tangled and a conductor may eventually fail. They also have a greater capacity for overloading circuits, increasing the risk of fire.
Avoid using extension leads if you can reach a power socket with the appliance’s own lead – but don’t stretch it out taut as this is can cause even more trips and falls. Other things to consider:
- avoid leads that are more than 15 m long
- only use extension leads fitted with suitably-insulated connectors and plugs – don’t join cables by twisting the bared ends of wires together, even if you bind them with insulating tape
- position the lead to prevent damage to it
- if the lead has to cross a pathway, cover it with a rubber protector strip
- check that the extension lead plug contains a the right fuse for the equipment you’re using
- when using a cable drum extension lead completely unwind the cable from the drum to avoid it overheating