Origin Energy Institute

While home safety is important to everyone, the true extent to which you can safeguard your home against any electrical or gas faults depends on whether you're a home-owner of renter. If you're in the latter category, this may be affected by the flexibility of your landlord or agent.

If you are a renter, you may be restricted in what changes you can make to your home with regards to energy supply and you should certainly consult with your landlord or agent before making any changes. The following tips offer ideas on how to use energy safely and securely as well as valuable ideas on protecting your home and anyone who lives in or enters it.

After reading these tips you may find that your home requires repairs or alterations to be carried out. If this is the case, ensure that your landlord or agent engages a licensed electrical contractor or registered gas fitter to undertake the work. It is illegal and dangerous for an unqualified person to perform electrical and gas work. 

Appliances

• Never attempt to repair a faulty electrical appliance. Only suitably qualified electricians are permitted to undertake repair work on appliances. If the appliance is covered by a warranty contact the manufacturer for details on how to have the appliance repaired.
• Check appliances before you use them. Look for frayed cords or exposed cables and have them repaired by a suitably qualified electrician.
• Always read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions for all appliances.
• Be sure to store instruction booklets in an easily accessible place.
• When cleaning an appliance, turn it off and unplug it before removing any jammed items such as food or dust. Wipe over with a damp cloth only, and never immerse appliances in water unless stated in the manufacturer’s instructions.
• To disconnect an appliance always turn the appliance off at the switch and then at the power point. Remove from the power point by the plug, not the cord.
• To prevent appliance cords from becoming damaged on a bench top, or to keep them neat and compact, a curly cord can be used. These are available from hardware stores or other retailers.
• Don't position fan heaters where the air flow is restricted since this may cause overheating.
• If you need to use a portable light, use only approved hand lamps with protective guards.
• Before you buy a second-hand electrical appliance, check that it has a dated label stating that it has been tested as electrically safe.
• It's important to clean the lint filter in a clothes dryer after each use, as excessive lint can be a fire hazard.
• Never have curtains or towels over or near cook tops, heaters or lamps since the heat build-up may cause a fire hazard.

Electric blankets

• Check your stored electric blankets before using. Unroll blanket; check plugs, cord and controls for damage including cracks.
• Look for dangerous exposed wiring, kinks in blanket wiring or scorch marks on the blanket. If no faults are noticed, lie the blanket flat on the bed, plug in and turn on and check for hot spots. Do not use faulty electric blankets. If in doubt, take them to a qualified electrician for a safety check or repair.
• Never leave electric blankets turned on when not in use.
• Never create a ‘hot spot’ by leaving objects on a made bed with the electric blanket turned on.
• Never fold or crease an electric blanket to fit a smaller bed.
• When storing away, roll the blanket to ensure wiring is not damaged by creasing.
• Have electric blankets tested in accordance with the manufacturers’ instructions or at least every three years.

^ top

Entertainment equipment

• Before you go on holidays turn off and unplug your television set (and antenna connection), computer, stereo unit, video recorder, fax and other electronic equipment.

Switches and power points

• Don't touch a loose, cracked or broken power point or switch.  Refer immediately to your landlord or agent to organise repair by a licensed electrical contractor.
• If there's a build-up of grease, oil, dirt or moisture on or around switches and power points, request your landlord or agent engage a licensed electrical contractor to check for safety.
• It's not recommended to overload a power point by ‘piggy backing’ plugs into one socket or by using double adaptors. Use a power board with an internal overload switch or, better still, have an electrical contractor install additional power points.
• When young children are around fit safety plugs into power points that are not being used. These are available at hardware stores and other retail outlets.

Water and electricity

• Take care when using power points and appliances close to sinks, laundry tubs, baths or swimming pools. Electrical appliances should be kept at least three metres from the edge of the pool.
• If you need to use an appliance near water, turn it off and put it away straight after use, especially if children are nearby.
• Don't use an electrical appliance if your hands are wet, if you are in a pool, bath, shower or in the rain.

Extension leads

• Use extension leads only as a temporary measure.
• Avoid running leads through doorways, across driveways or near swimming pools.
• Keep extension leads away from heaters and cookers.
• Throw away or have a qualified electrical repairer fix extension leads that are damaged, frayed or have the inner wires exposed.
• Don't attempt to repair an extension lead using insulation tape.
• Place electrical cords in a position to prevent tripping or cover with carpet temporarily if necessary. Extension leads should not be placed under carpet for an extended length of time. 

  ^ top

Internal wires and cables

• Before you tie anything around a beam, check for electric cables or wires, which may be running along it.
• Don't attach clothes lines, swings or hanging baskets in direct contact with a beam which has electricity cables or wires attached.
• Report any loose wiring that is no longer fixed to a surface to the owner or agent for them to organise repair by a licenced electrical contractor.

Overhead wires

• If you notice any fallen, stay clear. Don't try to remove trees or debris around them. Keep at least six metres away and alert other people to stay clear and call your local electricity supplier directly on their emergency number.
• Call your local electricity supplier for additional information relating to trees and overhead wires.
• Take extra care around overhead wires when washing, painting or working on the roof of your house.
• Contact your electricity supplier to turn off or make safe the power when working close to wires attached to the house.

Underground cables and pipes

• If you plan to dig on your Queensland property, call the ‘Dial Before You Dig’ service on telephone number 1100 for advice about the location of electricity, gas, water or telephone services. This is a free service run by a network of member utilities situated in Queensland. Check your local telephone directory for services in other areas.

Switchboard and fuses

• Know where your switchboard is located in case of an emergency. If your switchboard is outside with your electricity meter, regularly maintain nearby shrubs or trees to ensure easy access. If the switchboard is inside a cupboard, do not allow other items to get in the way.
• If your switchboard has fuses that can be rewired, be aware that repairing a fuse can be dangerous. When replacing a fuse, always use the correct gauge wire and insert the fuse by holding it in the middle – not at the ends. It is recommended that the main switch be turned off before changing the fuse wire.
• Check that each switch, circuit breaker or fuse within the switchboard is clearly labelled to identify the electrical parts of the house it controls. If you find a fuse missing from the switchboard, advise the property owner or agent and ask for them to arrange for a licensed electrical contractor to replace it.

Pre-purchase electrical safety check

• If  you're thinking of purchasing a house, ask a licensed electrical contractor to check that all wiring is safe and that installation meets regulations and standards.

  ^ top