Electricity is dangerous on some occasions

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34146, 6 May 1976, Page 14

Electricity is dangerous on some occasions

Gleaming bright—a credit to your kitchen—but that toaster, electric jug or iron could be a killer. So too that refrigerator, washing machine or clothes drier. With a little carelessness these home aids can also turn into death m achines.

Electricity has brought so much convenience into the home, office and factory that its lethal powers are all too often ignored. I nlikc the rogue ear jumping a lane on the motorway and charging' towards you. a dangerous electrical appliance shows no sign that it is charged with potential death.

Outwardly a faulty appliance may show nothing different to the eye: it’s when you touch it that you find out — or your friends or relatives get the message when they find you dead. year and March 31, 1976, Between April 1 last 28 people were electrocuted. But deaths alone are not the sole hazard from electricity. In the

same period 105 non-fatal accidents were recorded in New Zealand, from electric shock. Frequently such accidents, as well as the shock involved, cause painful burns. Electrical equipment is designed so that usually a fault condition blows the fuse and disconnects the power. When the fuse does not blow, in some circumstances. the appliance may still not be lethal until a

second element of fault enters the picture. Thus a faulty refrigerator, washing-machine or hair drier may became fatally alive when plugged into the mains through a faulty cord. Sheer carelessness Some accidents result from . heer carelessness — from the irresponsibility of people who abuse equipment, allow frayed flexible cords to continue in use without immediate repairs, or who meddle with electrical wiring or appliances when they have neither the skill, training nor knowledge to do the work safely. In a different category are the occasional electrical accidents resulting from deteriorating wiring in homes. Usually this comes about with age, as older-type insulation perishes. Sockets, switches and light fittings become loose and sloppy with wear, or structural alterations to a building are not done with full regard for existing wring.

Maybe not enough householders realise that in law the onus for electrical safety in the home is placed fairly and squarely on their shoulder. However, to help the householder, electrical supply authorities are required by law to inspect household wiring free of charge once every 10 years, when asked for this service by the occupier.

Inspections more frequent than once every 10 years entitle a supply authority to charge for the service. This still does not exempt people from the responsibility of ensuring that their homes are safe from electrical hazard.

XX ires to house Another electrical danger comes from the wires feeding power from the street pole to the house. Especially where insulation on such wires has deteriorated. these wires are potentially lethal to housepainters, or to some unfortunate person who carries a metal ladder underneath. Power boards do their best to let people know that if a house is being repainted, a board will disconnect the power while the work is being done. Another service provided by supply authorities is to inspect electrical appliances. If an owner takes an appliance to the testroom or norminated depot! of his local supply author-! ity, it will be tested at no charge to the owner but| “testing” does not cover! repairs.

The cost of these, carried out by a licensed tradesman, still remains the responsibility of the owner, in the same way that the owner of a car must keep it in a condition which will allow the issue of a warrant of fitness.

The “Electrical Wirring Regulations 1976” regulate strictly the standards of electrical safety in appliances made and sold in New Zealand. While established electrical manufacturers with reputations to maintain have the expertise needed to make appliances conforming to New Zealand standards, non-standard equipment sometimes reaches the New Zealand consumer.

It has happened that smaller, newer manufacturers have begun making electrical products, or have branched into electrical goods production without sufficient regard for safety standards.

Although new products should be manufactured to comply with the relevant New Zealand standard before being allowed on the market, through ignorance this procedure has sometimes not been followed. Likewise imported lines of electrical goods have sometimes been distributed for sale by importers unaware of these requirements.

Protection The prime purpose of the wiring regulations is to lay down requirements which protect against hazard to life or the danger from fire caused by electrical faults. But while the regulations exist to forbid unacceptable electrical equipment from being made or imported, there is no mandatory approvals in New Zealand nor an army of inspectors to police the rules.

Unsafe applicances may be reported to an electrical supply authority when a shopkeeper or his staff have the electrical knowledge to recognise dangerous features, or a customer may realise a potential hazard and report it.

Unsafe appliances may be reported to an electrical supply authority when a shopkeeper or his staff have the electrical knowledge to recognise dangerous features, or a customer may realise a potential hazard and report it.

The supply authority then follows up the complaint, and if justified, the New Zealand Electricity Department takes action to see that the dangerous equipment or appliance is withdrawn from sale or is modified.