THE BASICS OF ELECTRICAL SAFETY Electrical accidents and fire disasters can and do occur even with our best intentions. There are three (3) major causes of electrical accidents: carelessness, mis-use and getting in a hurry. And there are two (2) reasons for these unsafe acts: We know better but intentionally, do something unsafe, and, we don’t know better. Whichever the case, anyone can bring disastrous results. DO’s AND DON’T’s FOR ELECTRICAL SAFETY Do use extension cords on a temporary basis. Do put safety covers on unused receptacle outlets and extension cords. Do unplug an appliance and call an electrician if the receptacle face - plate feels hot or if there is sparking, smoke, color or odor coming from the outlet, plug or appliance. Do examine appliance and extension cords regularly for signs of wear and tear or damage to insulators. Do unplug all non – essential electrical appliances when not in use. Do use extension cords that have been listed by a nationally recognized testing laboratory. Don’t use extension cords as permanent, substitute for inadequate house wiring. Don’t use extension cords that are worn or damaged and don’t attach extension cords to the all with nails or staples. Don’t put extension cords under rugs where they might be walked on, don’t rest anything on an extension cord. Don’t overload cord with too many appliance. Don’t touch any appliance that has emitted an electrical shock until the appliance has been unplugged. Don’t place electrical appliances where they might come in contact with water. Never reach into water for plugged-in appliance… turn off power first, then unplug it. Don’t place an appliance cord where it might touch a hot surface. Don’t leave any wiring exposed in outlets and switches. Use the correct size faceplate. Don’t ignore switches or outlets that don’t work. Obtain the help of a licensed electrician. Don’t let cords hang over countertops where children can pull down an appliance. Saving tips When it comes to electricity, the little things you do matter. Save money by using electricity efficiently. With these easy, yet useful tips that allow you to lower your consumption and in turn, lower your electric bill. Lighting Use natural light whenever possible. Turn off lights when not in use. Use compact fluorescent lights (CFL) instead of incandescent bulbs. A 16-watt CFL produces the same light as a 60-watt incandescent bulb at a quarter of the energy cost. Clean bulbs regularly. Dirt lessens illumination by as much as 50%. Use low wattage light bulbs in areas that do not need strong lighting such as hallways, foyers and doorways. Use lamps that provide direct lighting over desks, beds and other work areas. Using them saves energy instead of the higher wattage lighting used to illuminate the whole room. Cooking Plan ahead. Prepare all ingredients before cooking to avoid frequent switching of electric stove. Thaw frozen food thoroughly before cooking. Match pots and pans to stove element. Avoid using a big burner for a small pan to lessen heat Transfer loss. Cover pots and pans. Cover pots with lids to prevent heat from escaping. Use flat-bottomed pots and pans when using electric stove. They provide faster heat transfer. Switch off. Turn off the electric stove during the last minutes of cooking. The remaining heat will make the food simmer. Washing Machines Wash or dry full loads to maximize use of washing machines and clothes dryer. Do not over-wash clothes. Delicate clothes do not take as long as dirty work clothes. Keep the lint filter of clothes dryer clean. A dirty filter restricts air flow. Dont overload your dryer. Hang clothes to dry on sunny days. Ironing Do all ironing at one time. Iron during cooler hours of the day. This helps lessen the demand for electricity during peak hours. Dampen clothes moderately. Excessive moistened clothes take longer to iron. Switch off the electric iron in the last few minutes of ironing. The remaining heat will be enough to press the last few pieces of clothing. Other Appliances Unplug all electronics when not in use. If a transformer or voltage regulator is used, unplug it from the outlet and turn it off. Transformers consume more electricity when it heats up. Appliances will operate more efficiently and use less energy when they are in good working order. Keep them well-maintained. When using electric fans, lock the oscillator when fan is needed in one direction only, thus, air is blown directly where needed. Clean fan blades and motor regularly to keep it running efficiently
Posted on: Tue, 21 Oct 2014 04:12:52 +0000
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