Safety

Although electricity cannot be seen, smelled or heard, it can be felt, and just one touch can be deadly. Please follow our safety tips to help you stay safe around electricity!

At Home:

• When buying electrical equipment or appliances, always look for the Underwriters Laboratories seal of
approval and make sure it applies to the entire appliance, not just the plug or cord.
• Do not run cords behind radiators, under carpets, through doorways, around pipes, or near metal
products.
• When working outside, avoid contact with overhead power lines or exposed wires. Be careful when
installing CB antennas or towers. Improperly installed antennas might topple and cause power outages,
injuries and even death.
• Check all extension and appliance cords frequently to be sure they are not worn or frayed. If they are,
replace them immediately. Don't patch a broken cord.
• Always unplug small electrical appliances after using them. Even when the switch says "off" power is
still present, and appliances can electrocute you if they contact water.
• Do not plug power tools or heavy appliances into a lamp socket. Plug them into a wall outlet. Lamp
cords are not made to carry a heavy electrical load.
• Do not pull a plug from a wall outlet by the cord. Grasp the plug itself and pull it straight out.
• Do not plug too many appliances into one socket. Wires may overheat, destroy insulation, and cause a
fire.
• If you have doubts about appliance grounding, cord sizes, or other electrical questions, check with a
licensed electrician.
• Fly kites only in open fields, away from electric wires. Do not use wire, metal or wet string on a kite. If
your kite catches in a wire or on a high pole, don't try to remove it--call IELD. Don't use metal in
making a kite. Don't fly kites on or near a public highway. Don't fly a kite in wet or stormy weather.
• Be sure tools and appliances are properly grounded. A three-prong plug used in a two-wire receptacle
must have an adapter. Connect the "pigtail" wire on the adapter to the metal screw on the outlet cover
plate to get grounding protection. Never use a tool or appliance with a two-wire connection outdoors or
in a damp location.
• Never use an electrical appliance near a tub or sink. If an appliance falls into water, DO NOT reach for
it. Immediately unplug it from the wall outlet.
• Improper handling of electrical appliances can cause fire. Don't let wires overheat. Disconnect if there
are any sparks. All electrical wires are designed to carry only a certain amount of electricity.
Overloading them causes them to overheat, gradually destroys the insulation, and can create a hazard.
Turn off any appliance that smokes or stops running.
• To prevent overheating, make sure the cord is large enough to carry the electricity necessary to operate
the tool or appliance. Heavy duty extension cords should be used with portable tools and other heavy
duty appliances--never ordinary lamp cords.

• Have at least one fire extinguisher handy for home fires.