theDIYpal Blog: Electrical Cords Safety

Electrical cords that are damage or used improperly can posed a serious risk, they can be a source of shock hazards, fire hazards or tripping hazards.

Here are some few tips to prevent injuries or accidents involving electrical cords from occurring.

Before using electrical cords, make sure they are not damage, check the insulation make sure they are not chafed or cut. Make sure all the prongs are there and not damage.

Use GFCI along with your electrical cord when working outdoors, in close proximity with water, or in damp conditions.

Remove all cords out of foot traffic paths, they pose a tripping hazard when stepped on. If this is not unavoidable, use duct tape to keep them flat and secure on the floor, use this only as a temporary solution.

Move cords or furniture so cords are not covered. Heavy weights or traffic can damage cords, crushing insulation or breaking wire strands, creating a fire or shock hazard.

Unwrap cords. Wrapped cords trap heat that normally escapes loose cords, which can lead to melting or weakening of insulation.

Do not use nails or staples to fasten electrical cords, nails and staples can tear or crush the insulation or cut the wires inside, presenting a fire or shock hazard.

Do not overload cords, make sure extension cords are not carrying too much load than what they are supposed to, if so replace cords with a higher capacity cords (16 AWG handles 1375 W, use 14 or 12 AWG for heavier loads). Too much current will cause the wires to get hot. If the cord, plug, or outlet feels warm, it may be overloaded, and can be a fire hazard.

Do not use extension cord as a permanent wiring, extension cords are not as safe as permanent house wiring. Have additional outlets installed, installed wiring can carry more current and is protected from accidental damage that could cause shock or fire.

Do not pull on the electrical cord itself when unplugging, remove them by the plug.

When using electrical cords, make sure they do not come in contact with water, water and electricity do not mix and can result in serious shock or fire.