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Any questions or comments should be directed to: aragorn@stellimare.com.

Home Electrical Safety Checklist

This is a simplified checklist based on the one in the Electricity Merit Badge pamphlet. It is not the checklist in the pamphlet.

• Outlets: Check that outlets are not loose or wobble. Replace any broken outlets or broken or missing plates. Remember to shut off power to the house before replacing any outlets, and have an adult help you. Verify the outlet is dead with a volt meter.
• Cords and Plugs:
  • Check for cracks, or other damage to the cord, throw away o replace if damaged
  • Check that the plug is not loose in an outlet. Adjust plug prongs or replace plug.
  • If plugged in, check for hot spots in the wire, especially where the wire connects to the plug. If there is a hot spot, or if the rubber feels soft: unplug, cut off the bad part of the cord, and everything after it, and replace the plug, or replace the whole cord.
  • If the plug looks like it should have a third prong but doesn't, or if any of the prongs are missing or loose, replace the plug.
  • Computer equipment, and other electronic devices should be connected to a surge suppressor.
• Extension Cords: Same checks as on other cords, but also: Make sure that extension cords are not overloaded. They should be plugged directly into a wall outlet, not into an outlet on a power strip.
• Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI): Make sure your house actually has one. Hit the "test" button. The "reset" button should pop-up and both outlets should be dead. The GFCI may be located inside a bathroom, or it may be outside outlet. Hitting the GFCI test button outside should kill power to the bathroom outlets as well (if a GFCI isn't in a bathroom). Hitting the "reset" button will reset the GFCI.

  Many hair driers have a GFCI build into the cord. These are for added safety, but do not replace a house GFCI.

• Lightbulbs: Make sure they are of the proper rating and that there are no empty sockets. Burnt out incandescent light bulb (the ones that just have a nifty little wire in them that glows) can be used to fill in any empty sockets. Replace any screw-in type fluorescent light bulb when they go out as they can burn up and smoke over time.
• Halogen Lamps: Make sure halogen lamps are away from drapes or anything else that that can burn easily. Halogen lamps operate at a very high temperature. Never touch a halogen bulb, or any other glass part of the lamp that is near the bulb, with your bare hands when replacing it. The oil on your hands will cause the bulb to explode when turned on.
• Circuit Breakers & Fuses: If your house uses fuses, make sure that nobody has placed a penny or other metal in place of the fuse. Make sure all fuses are of the proper rating. IF SOMEONE PLACED A A PENNY OR OTHER PIECE OF METAL IN PLACE OF A FUSE, DO NOT REMOVE IT WITH YOUR HANDS OR YOU COULD GET A FATAL SHOCK. Instead, call an electrician out, or someone else who has training on working with energized electrical circuits.

  Make sure everyone knows where the main breaker is to turn off all power to the house in case of an electrical fire, or other emergancy.

• Plug-In Appliances: Check the cord on the appliance. Make sure no plug-in appliance is left near a water source when not in use, such as hair dryers and curlers left in a bathroom.
• Appliances If any appliance blows a fuse, or trips a breaker often, or gives you a shock, have it repaired or replaced. Note: Some appliances may trip household breakers because there is too much load on that circuit, not because there is something wrong with the appliance.
• Space Heaters: Keep space heaters three feet away from anything that can burn, like the clothes you are wearing. Do not use space heaters with extension cords not rated for 15 or more amps. Unplug heaters when leaving a room.
• Outdoor Safety: Ensure all cords used outside, like for electric lawn mowers and other lawn tools, are rated for outdoor use and have the correct amp rating (15-20 amps is usually okay, 20 amp rating for larger motors like lawn mowers). Do not use power tools or lawn equipment when it is raining, or use an electric lawnmower on wet grass. Check all cords for damage before and after use.

Other safety tips:In a lightning storm, unplug all computer, and other sensitive equipment (game consoles, TVs) to prevent them from being damaged by a sudden voltage spike caused by a lightning strike. Avoid using radios, cell phones, and telephones in a lightning storm. The high energy of a lightning bolt can damage the electronics in the reciever.

Discovery Channel's MythBusters performed an experiment in 2005 to find out if you could receive a fatal electric shock from talking on the phone or from taking a shower in an electrical storm. The result was that you can be-- and having your house wiring properly grounded is very important... The turned off computer survived.