Home Electrical Safety Challenge, Week One Cooking up Safety
Posted by Carol Hart on Mon, Apr 25, 2011 @ 11:28 AM
May is National Electrical Safety Month. In celebration, the Electrical Safety Foundation International has developed the Home Electrical Safety challenge as a simple exercise to give your home an electrical "check-up". Each week during National Electrical Safety Month, use the Challenges to take a look at a different area of your home. Learn to identify potential electrical hazards and correct them. Making a few easy changes to improve safety can also lead to increased energy efficiency and savings on your utility bills. You can visit ESFI’s Virtual Home at http://virtualhome.esfi.org to learn more about home electrical safety.
Is your home ready for the challenge?
Week 1: Cooking Up Safety in the Kitchen
1. Are the range, oven, and exhaust hood clean and free of debris?
2. Is the cooking area around the range/oven clear of combustibles, such as towels, napkins, and pot holders?
3. Is there enough room to allow for air circulation behind the refrigerator?
4. Are the refrigerator coils free of dirt buildup that reduces efficiency andcreates a fire hazard?
5. Are there electrical appliances placed near the sink?
6. Have you tested your ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) thismonth?
7. Do you plug all of your counter top appliances into GFCI-protectedoutlets?
8. Are all electrical cords in good condition with no signs of fraying, cracking,or other damage?
9. Are there any appliance cords placed close to a hot surface like thetoaster, oven or range?
10. Do you have appliance cords that are dangling from counters or tables where they could be pulled on or tripped over?
11. Do you leave your toaster, coffee maker, and other counter top appliances plugged in when you are not using them?