ACCIDENTS WITH ELECTRICITY

Press, Volume LXXXIV, Issue 25437, 8 March 1948, Page 8

ACCIDENTS WITH ELECTRICITY

CONCERN EXPRESSED BY INDUSTRY

“WRONG REPORTS OF FIRE CAUSES”

(P.A.) DUNEDIN, March 7. Concern over the incidence of electrical accidents and the number of fires which were wrongly attributed to electrical faults was expressed by -dele.gates to the annual conference of the New 7 Zealand Institute of Electricians w’hich was continued in Dunedin on Saturday. It was clear that a number of these accidents would have been avoided with a little extra care, said Mr C. J. Suckling (Christchurch). This applied to the trade as well as to the general public. “The Canterbury branch desires the council to ask the Government to request the National Film Unit to make a film on electrical accidents,” said Mr Suckling. “This would be shown for publicity purposes both in theatres £nd to electricians.”

A motion to that effect was carried. Remits from the Grey district-and Southland branches which requested that greater greater care be taken in ascertaining the true cause of fires before attributing them to electrical faults, were briefly discussed. Council members said that the matter had already been referred to those concerned.

Two remits which dealt with the sale of electrical fittings which were of possible danger to the public were both referred to the institute’s representative on the New Zealand Standards Institute. Mr J. W. S. Scott (Southland) moved that in the interests of public safety, sale of component parts should be restricted to persons qualified to fit them and Mr H. D. Bodaington (Gisborne) moved that manufacturers be compelled to fit 3-core flex and 3-pin plugs to immersion heaters, jugs, and kettles. These appliances, fitted with 2core flex, are sold in large numbers by chain stores and furniture and hardware shops, it was stated. “The purchasers often fit 3-pin plugs themselves,” said Mr - Boddington, “and then use the appliances connected to plugs near sinks, or from electric ranges. Frequently the appliances break down to earth and thus create a hazard because of lack of earthing. “If we do not take some action in the near future there is a danger that we will be left behind in the new field of electronics which is rapidly spreading in this country,” said Mr D. M. Air (Hutt Valley). On his motion the conference decided to request the council of the institute to set up a sub-committee to investigate the training of men for the installation and servicing of electronic equipment in industry. The aim of the sub-committee is to discover what facilities are at present offered by educational institutions in New Zealand and to investigate what methods are being used overseas.