Electricity
Electricity
Electrical distribution equipment poses serious fire safety threats that can even be fatal, especially when equipment is used incorrectly
- Protect electrical outlets with plastic safety covers if small children are present in your home
- Never operate electrical appliances around bathtubs, showers, or puddles of standing water
- Use ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) protection when working where water is near electricity, to protect against electric shock … This means you should use GFCIs in your kitchen, laundry room, bathroom, and outdoor locations
- Replace or repair frayed, loose, or otherwise damaged cords on all electronics
- Shut off the circuit and have it checked by an electrician if any switches feel warm
- Take note of any discolored switch plates, because discoloration could indicate that the electrical wiring behind the switch plate is overheating
- Remember: symptoms of potential wiring problems include household lights that dim or flicker, a TV picture that shrinks in size, frequent blown fuses, or circuit breakers that trip frequently
- Multi USB charger are not allowed on campus and should generally be avoided. They are prone to overheating and a multitude of these devices have been recalled by the Consumer Product Safety Commission over safety concerns.
- Never use an extension cord as a replacement for permanent wiring
- Avoid running extension cords across doorways or under carpets
- Make sure power strips and surge suppressors are designed to handle the loads you will be using them for
- Connect power strips and surge protectors directly into a wall outlet. Do not connect multiple power strips or surge protectors together
- Avoid overloading circuits by plugging too many items into the same outlet
- Avoid the use of “cube taps” and other devices that allow the connection of multiple appliances into a single receptacle, and try to only plug one high-wattage item into
