WISE PRECAUTIONS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXX, 19 December 1936, Page 3

WISE PRECAUTIONS

IN THE USE OF ELECTRICITY EDUCATION OF PUBLIC DESIRABLE SAFE I'Y REGULATIONS The assembly, installation and repair of electrical appliances by unskilled persons who are ignorant of the first principles of safety raises the question, what are wise precautions to take in the use of electricity? There is no doubt that the education of the public in the use of electrical energy is vciy desirable, but there is one great difficulty and that is to give information which will be effective without on the one'hand frightening timid peqple and on the other failing to impress the more reckless. A point which is often overlooked is the proper maintenance of the wiring end apparatus. A carpet wears out and is replaced, a house is painted periodically, but an electrical installation is

expected to last for ever without any attention. Proper maintenance is a good investment. Flexible cords, es-

pecially those attached to radiators, vacuum cleaners, kettles, jugs, toasters and other portable appliances, should bo renewed when they show signs of wear or damage, and any unusual occurrences, such as a flickering lamp, should be investigated by a qualified person The electrical supply authority is required by law to inspect every electrical installation once every five years in order to see that It is in good order. The consumer should not rely solely on this inspection, however, but should have repairs carried out promptly when lie sees that they are needed. The electrical supply authority will always give advice to a consumer at any time.

The consumer is required by Jaw to

notify the electrical supply authority of intention to have installed any. electric line, wire, fitting, aparatus and appliance, and oi intention to have made any addition or alteration to tlie instal-

lation. This notice is especially necessary with portable and semi-portable appliances .because these may be placed in any position. What is suitable for most situations is not necessarily suitable for all situations.

There is an old saying that there is

nothing made which someone will not make cheaper. It does not necessarily follow that tlie more costly article is the safer, but there are certain limits, and because some are' tempted to disregard these limits, either because of ignorance or in order to secure business,

it has always .been necessary ,in the interests of public safety to lay down minimum standards relating to material, method of installation and workmari-

'ihese regulations specify the type of hand-lamp to. be used when working on a motor-car, when exploring under the iiouse or in the roof, etc; the ordinary lamp-holder on . the end of a piece of flexible cord should never be used as a hand-lamp. The regulations specify the types of flexible cord to be used to give the greatest service, and the regulations prohibit the use of portable appliances in bathrooms. The installing of wiring, the repairing of appliances nnd apparatus, arid the renewing of flexible cords appear to the consumer.to be simple operations but, actually, they require expert knowledge. To protect* the public the law requires that before a person is permitted . to do- this- class of work wihout skilled supervision lie must serve an apprenticeship of three years, pass an examination and be not less. than ,19 years of age. Every person who is . permitted to work without supervision is able to produce a licence to show that he is qualified and that he has knowledge of the safely regulations. Consumers, for' tlieir own protection, lire urged to see the licence before allowing any person to cany out electrical work. It is cheaper to employ a qualified electrical wireman than to have a fire or an accident, or to be fined for breaking the law. It must also be remembered that work which has been done contrary to tlie regulations may result in the cancellation of a fire insurance policy, and , this is a -serious matter in the event of a fire.

COMMON SENSE PRECAUTIONS

The average consumer’s only interest, is in what apparatus does after it is connected up and switched oh. It is assumed that everything,is right, while all the time something may. be wrong due to the consumer’s ignorance of electricity’s characteristics, or due to the consumer’s abuse of the device, not knowing that it has been abused. To assist consumers to understand what precautions to take the following suggestions have been prepared by expo. Mi . . . It is not wise to change a lamp with the current switched on or-to change a lamp in a bathioom when standing in or on the bath, even when the switch is off. It is not wise while the current is oh, to leaye an electric iron on liny material thdt will burn. It is not wise to let extension cords become worn and the insulation broken by kinks and bends, or coiitact with .iiiarp edge?. Handle flexible cords carefully and keep them free from kink's. , It- is not wise to add wiring to your premises that lias not beeii installed bv a competent electrician and approved b.v the electrical supply authority. It is not wise to replace a burned out fuse with one. of greater size. A fuse is a .safety .valve and when.it blows it is a sign, that something is wrong. -A fault may have developed in aii extension cord, or an appliance, or you may Have taken more current than is safe, perhaps by connecting too many devices to one outlet, or some one device that requires a heavy current. Correct the fault before having a fuse replaced, and remember that the fuse is protection against overheated wires. It is not wise to suspend, an outdoor radio aerial so that it crosses above or beneath an electi'ic power wire. If they come in contact the covering on the latter is hot likely to prevent the aerial from becoming alive. It is not wisp to handle a broken wire that has fallen in the, street or on the ground. It is likely to bo alive. Notify the electrical supply authority. It is not wise to handle portable apparatus when in contact with' metal rinep which enter the ground, such as a I water-pipe, or when in contact with a ! bath, . -wash-tub, range, stove or any | metal object .which is in contact with i the ground. I . It is not, wise to qomiect a- portable appliance with a lanijj-hoklef, the .wiring !

to the holder may not be large enough for the current required. A number of these portable appliances are shown in foreign magazines connected to a lamp-holder, but the wiring in these countries is different.

IL is not wise to tie knots in flexible cords, or to lengthen them by means of joints ; there are proper connectors for this purpose. It is. not wise to alter the position of a flexible cord by tying it over with string. A proper insulated hook should be used or the connection on the ceiling moved to the new position. It- is not wise to take portable appliances out into the garden unless they are of a type specially made for the purpose and equipped with a flexible cord having three insulated conductors and. a plug having , three pins:- even then, it is a wise precaution to use rubber goloshes.

ELECTRICITY NOT DANGEROUS

One might imagine from some of the foregoing that the use of electricity might be dangerous; tins, however,' is far from the truth; Modern civilisation contains many,dangers,, but it is the abuse and not the use of modern equipment of all kinds that results in danger. Most people know that it is dangerous, to bring, a light near petrol, that it is dangerous to leave poisons within reach of yruing children, .that it is dangerous to step off a mpving tram or bus.'' V ~ .. v : , .'I ..... One is hot afraid of a railway 'station 1 platform because death lurks just over the edge; one knows of the. danger amt j avoids it. ... ...

Kli/.c'-ri.i by ,js in such v .-<i»\!un)i).',. ; i'tsi now tb,H ; one cannot get- away, from it, therefore,; it is.wise to learn .liowTo.usi.' it pfbpej’ly. Above ah, do not do, vom own repairs, extensions or- alterations unless you <afe qualified, and do not let others.do. them for you unless you know that they are qualified. This 'is one of the obvious cases where “a little knowledge is a dangerous thing,” Treat the electrical inspector .as, your friend, he can give you good advice and often save you money; his job is service to the consumer.