DIY Electrician Beware
Posted by Carol Hart on Tue, May 11, 2010 @ 07:45 AM
There is a month for everything. Some monthly observances are relatively well known, like Black History month in February, and Breast Cancer Awareness month in October. Others are less well-known. (Did you know that January is National Bird Feeding Month? And that June brings National Accordian Awareness Month?) Every May, the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) brings us Electrical Safety Month.
ESFI cites some astonishing numbers about home electrical fires: 450 lives lost in an average 53,000 fires each year; 1400 injuries; 1.4 billion in property damages. This year, the ESFI is focusing attention on Do It Yourself projects.
The home improvement market has been growing at a steady pace for over 10 
years, and homeowners concerned about the costs of home service (like electricians!!) have turned into DIYers. Interestingly, there is a corresponding increase in the number of Emergency Room visits by DIYers trying to perform electrical work by themselves. (ESFI cites more than 400 home electrocutions each year).
More injuries can be laid at the feet of DIYers and Cheap Charlies (those who find the absolute cheapest electrician possible--regardless of whether he's qualified). 4000 people are injured annually by electrical outlets, and nearly 20,000 people are injured each year by improperly installed ceiling fans!!!!
Check out their website for more information and links: www.esfi.org.