2. Adopting a casual approach while handling
electrical gadgets can turn out to be fatal. Short
circuits can set off serious electrical fires, which
can cause damage to both life and property.
Unfortunately, homeowners do not tend to be
vigilant about the condition of the electrical set-
up at their homes as long as gadgets and other
appliances appear to be working fine. Electrical
safety considerations need to be taken seriously.
Given below are ten ways in which you can
minimize the chances of electricity-related
accidents:

3. Organize the messy, cluttered wires –
Unorganized piles of electrical wires tend to get
worn out quickly. They can also cause serious
electrical fires. Steer clear of such risks by
neatly segregating and clamping the different
electrical cords with durable cable ties.
Preferably, label the wires too, with permanent
wire markers.
Check for voltage fluctuations – Frequent
voltage fluctuations and power trips can cause
irreparable damage to your valuable electrical
gadgets and appliances. If such fluctuations are
indeed happening at your home, contact a
qualified electrician as soon as possible. Never
neglect such problems.

4. Use fuses and circuit breakers of tested quality –
Do not go for the locally made, non-branded
electrical fuses – simply because they bear
slightly lower price tags than their branded
counterparts. The same goes for the circuit
breakers too. Check the load capacity of each of
the fuses before you make it a part of your
electrical set-up.
Check the wattage of light bulbs – What might
happen if the wattage of the bulbs does not
match with that of the outlet from which it is
powered? That’s right – a major electrical
accident. Choose bulbs of the correct
wattage, and check with an electrical consultant
if needed. This will also bring down unnecessary
electrical expenses.

5. Examine the gauge of the electric wires – Make
sure that the cables and wires used for powering
the electrical appliances at your home are of the
right ‘gauge’ (length and size). Do not use too
many extension cords as stopgap
arrangements. If you use cable ties on correctly
sized wires, detection of probable faults in the
electrical systems will also become easier.
Keep electrical cables out of kids’ reach – This
point is pretty much self-explanatory. Keeping
live wires within easy reach of little children can
lead to danger. Be careful, and arrange the
heavy electrical cables at areas of the house
where kids will have no chance of touching
them. Going for concealed wiring is advisable in
this regard.

6. Watch for signs wire damage – Electrical
gadgets and wires are not something which you
can keep on using until the day they completely
give out. Make a point to inspect the wiring
systems at regular intervals. If you happen to
find any problem, make arrangements to fix it
immediately.

7. Switch off appliances when not in use – You are
not in the room, but the television is kept
switched on, and the fan is still whirring. Is that
an ideal scenario? A careless attitude lies behind
most domestic electrical mishaps. SMART
HOME Automation Systems can assist with this
and particular lights and appliances can be
switched on or off from a touch of your smart
phone or tablet. This can also help cut down on
electrical costs!

8. Avoid overloading power points – Maintain
separate plug points for operating different
heavy electrical electronics and appliances (like
television, refrigerator, microwave, etc.). Trying
to power multiple devices from the same point
might seem to be convenient – but doing so can
be dangerous.
Wear protective gear while handling electrical
equipment – Wear gloves, rubber-soled shoes,
and other basic protective accessories while
working on the electrical wires at your home.
Personal safety always comes first!

9. In addition, have the contact details of a local
electrician close at hand, so that you can easily
fall back on expert help – in case of
emergencies. Change the wires, the cable ties,
and other electrical accessories when
necessary. Electricity offers many benefits – but
only when you are careful while handling it!

10. Visit our blog for more Home Improvement Articles!
About the Author: John Smith is a professional electrical engineer. He manages different types of home
depot in Ontario as well as office electronic setups. In this article, he lists out 10 basic ideas to keep readers’
homes safe from electrical hazards.