To keep these risks to a minimum, ensure that portable electrical equipment is safely used, stored and checked.
Electrical accidents cause over 30 deaths and 4,000 injuries each year.
Most accidents in the home involve faults in, or misuse of, domestic appliances, flexes, plugs or connectors. A large number of accidents relate to electrical maintenance or DIY activities.
The majority of electric shock fatalities in the home are caused by faulty plugs, leads and appliances. Many of these can be avoided by taking some simple steps.
Before Purchasing Portable Electrical Equipment
Before purchasing portable appliances you should check that each appliance at least has the CE Mark, which is the product manufacturer's claim that it meets all the requirements of European Legislation. We recommend that appliances with additional safety marks, such as the British Standard Kitemark or the 'BEAB Approved' mark (which indicate that the equipment has been assessed by an independent body as meeting with the relevant product standard) are purchased as these tend to provide greater assurance of electrical safety.
When using portable electrical equipment, it is advised to read and follow the manufacturers instructions.
