Posts tagged “Electrical safety”

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Thirteen tips to reduce electrical risks at home

Posted on 8th April 2020 at 12:27

We are all spending a lot more time in our homes. Here are some simple things you can do to minimise risks of electrical shocks, fires, and accidents.

Electrical risks at home

If you have unprotected contact with electricity it can cause a shock and burns, which could be fatal.

Household electrical accidents, including electrocutions and electrical fires, cause around 70 deaths and 350,000 injuries each year in the UK, according to the Electrical Safety Council (ESC). Almost half of accidental house fires in Britain are caused by electricity.

Mother and children with tablet computer

Electrical safety in schools

Posted on 28th February 2020 at 13:19

Leaders in testing, inspection and certification, Bureau Veritas, have highlighted safety risks in the UK’s schools.

All of the country’s education institutions are being urged to take a more rigorous approach to safety and compliance.

New standards for electrical installation and inspection

Posted on 20th February 2020 at 13:13

The new Electrotechnical Assessment Specification (EAS) was released last month. It’s intended to be used by bodies that certify and register anyone carrying out electrical installation and inspections. It is part of work to improve electrical safety and competence to meet the requirements of the Building Regulations. It will come into effect in September 2020, but it can be used voluntarily from now on.

Are you protected against an arc flash?

Posted on 20th January 2020 at 12:11

Although health and safety are always taken seriously in industrial settings, the dangers and risks of an arc flash aren’t always recognised.

An arc flash is an electrical explosion that can happen in all types of industrial and electrical environments including utilities, civil engineering and railways.

Unsafe electrical devices at home – worrying figures

Posted on 2nd December 2019 at 12:21

Between January and July this year British Gas engineers discovered over 25,000 dangerously unsafe electrical devices during their home visits.

That’s about one in every 20 homes where they have carried out an electricity and gas safety check when installing meters. The most common faults involved old ovens and boilers.

British Gas says that its engineers regularly visit customers who haven't had their electrical wiring or gas appliances checked for 10 to 20 years. In some cases, the unsafe appliances they discover could have a devastating effect on health and safety.

Residual Current Device warning

Posted on 29th October 2019 at 09:19

Quality, health and safety experts, Bureau Veritas, have warned that an increasing number of AC-type residual current devices (RCDs) are being affected by direct currents (DC) from modern electronic devices, electric appliances, and renewable energy sources.

The previous (17th Edition) Wiring regulations said that AC-type RCDs should be used for sockets that might supply outdoor equipment. However, with increasing number of domestic, commercial and industrial sites now installing renewable energy sources such as solar panels, Bureau Veritas says that these RCDs might not be fit for purpose.

Is your property electrically safe?

Posted on 3rd August 2019 at 11:17

Electrical installations and appliances are linked with around 350,000 serious injuries and almost half of all domestic fires each year.

The best way to reduce this risk is to use a competent, registered electrician for repairs or renovations in your home.

However, there aren’t any requirements for regular electrical safety checks in UK homes.

One third of us have bought counterfeit electrical products

Posted on 21st March 2019 at 19:22

It’s difficult to identify counterfeit electrical products, just by looking at them.

The problem is growing as more products are bought online. Some online sellers are misleading shoppers with images taken from official product sites and fake official safety marks. They are often priced only slightly lower than the recommended retail price to avoid suspicion.

Thanks to the humble plug

Posted on 19th February 2019 at 18:11

There are some things in the home that we just take for granted. The humble three pin plug and socket are amongst them.

When is surge protection needed?

Posted on 30th November 2018 at 13:04

The new Wiring Regulations have introduced changes that focus on surge protection to help improve safety in our homes and commercial premises.

An electrical surge, or ‘transient overvoltage’, is a brief voltage peak between two or more conductors. A surge can be just a few volts or thousands of volts.