Electricians warn about winter dangers

The National Electrical and Communications Association (NECA) has reminded residents across Australia to think about electrical safety and make it a priority during the winter months.

“Many people would have pulled out heaters and electric blankets that haven’t seen the light of day since last winter. Heaters and electric blankets are like any other electrical appliance and can be damaged during storage,” said James Tinslay, CEO, NECA. “NECA and electricians across Australia urge anyone using old electrical appliances to make sure they do not have damaged plugs or wiring before turning them on. A quick visual inspection can help identify a fault.”

Electrical appliances that are faulty can only be repaired by someone with an appropriate licence and repairs should never be undertaken by members of the public. If a fault is identified, residents should dispose of the appliance or contact their local licensed electrician to determine if it can be repaired. “There is a real risk if damaged electrical appliances are used so it is our strong advice that if a fault is identified to stop using it and either throw it away or get it fixed by a licensed repairer,” he added.

NECA supports the installations of residual current devices (RCDs), also known as safety switches, into all homes as an extra level of protection. It is compulsory for all new homes and homes that have had significant renovations to install RCDs but this means many older homes still don’t have them installed.

“A simple inspection by a licensed electrician could identify whether a home is at risk by having dangerous old wiring or the omission of a safety switch. Anyone concerned about the state of their wiring or who needs a safety switch installed should contact their local licensed electrician and discuss options to have this fixed,” he added.