Electrical Safety

Electrical safety is extremely important and it is essential that you know exactly what you are doing. If you do not know then you should employ a professional electrician! Accidents with mains voltage electricity can be fatal; it is in your own interests to ensure that you know exactly what you are doing before attempting any DIY electrical work.

All electrical pages are for information only!

New rules have been introduced for electrical safety in the home.
Please read this document by clicking here before starting any electrical work.

Before working on any electrical circuit you must ensure that it is isolated correctly and cannot accidentally be switched back on. Please read the article on safe isolation procedures before doing any electrical work. If you are not 100% certain what you are doing call a qualified electrician. Building regulations are changing all the time and modifying your home electrics could be against new rules and could invalidate your home insurance, if in doubt check first.

IF YOU ARE IN ANY DOUBT ABOUT ELECTRICITY, DO NOT TOUCH IT!
CALL OUT A QUALIFIED ELECTRICIAN

http://www.electricalcompetentperson.co.uk/

Electrical Emergency

Should you be unlucky enough to see a shock victim here is some advice: -

Never directly touch a casualty who is still in contact with the faulty electrical equipment, if you do electricity will pass through you as well, giving you an electric shock!

Turn off the electricity at the main switch immediately.

If you do not know where it is or cannot isolate the electricity from the casualty you can push or pull the casualty away from the source of the shock using something which is nonconductive like a plastic or wooden broom handle.

DO NOT PUT YOURSELF AT RISK

Call for an ambulance immediately by dialling 999 if the casualty has been unconscious or is burnt or unwell.

Under no circumstances should a neon indicator screwdriver be used to prove that a circuit is dead before working on it. Please see safe isolation procedures

In general remember the following rules:

• Identify the source(s) of supply;
• Isolate;
• Secure Isolation;
• Test that the equipment/system is DEAD;
• Begin work.