May is National Electrical
Safety Month—time to begin year-round electrical safety awareness
efforts, according to the Electrical Safety Foundation International
(ESFI).
“Despite the fact that improved product safety engineering,
standards and electrical codes have reduced electrical hazards,
thousands suffer from electrical shock and fires each year,”
said ESFI President Brett Brenner.
To increase electrical safety awareness and protect those at home
and in the workplace, ESFI has developed an electrical safety tool
kit that includes statistics on electrical hazards and recommendations
to avoid electrical shock, burns and fires.
Electricity kills nearly 400 people and injures thousands more each
year. Most of these deaths and injuries could be avoided with an
increased awareness of electrical safety, such as noting locations
of power lines when working outside. Power line contact with construction
equipment, ladders, and gardening tools are among the leading cause
of electrocutions. Use of ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs)
to protect against lethal electrical currents can also reduce electrocutions.
Estimates indicate electricity causes 140,000 fires each year. These
fires kill hundreds of people, injure thousands more, and cost billions
of dollars in property damage. Aging electrical systems, combined
with the growing power demands, contribute to electrical fire hazards.
Overloaded circuits, flickering lights, and discolored electrical
outlets and light switch face plates, point to the need for electrical
upgrades. Addressing these hazards can save lives, reduce injuries
and cut economic losses caused by electrical fires.
For additional electrical safety information, visit the Foundation's
web site at www.electrical-safety.org
or call 703-841-3229.
Kentucky Association of
Electric Cooperatives, Inc.
4515 Bishop Lane * Louisville, KY 40218
502-451-2430 * FAX: 502-459-3209 Terms of Use
