Make a Christmas lights safety list and check it twice
Andrew Bailey from Master Electricians Australia said the festive season is too often marred by preventable electrical accidents in and around the home.
“Making your Christmas display safe doesn’t mean you’ll be out of the running for the local Christmas lights competition,” said Mr Bailey.
“Your home can be covered in decorative lights inside and out and still be electrically sound; you just need to be vigilant and keep electrical safety top-of-mind.
“A relatively minor investment in electrical safety measures such as safety switches and outdoor -rated equipment can prevent injuries and even deaths from poorly designed displays.”
The first item on Master Electricians’ Christmas lights safety checklist is to ensure the equipment you buy meets national safety standards.
“Many decorative lights are manufactured outside of Australia where safety standards are lower, but an Australian Approval number indicates the product is safe to use here,” said Mr Bailey.
“When you’re purchasing decorative lights always look for an approval number such as Q12345, V01294, or N12345.
“Also ensure you’ve bought extra low voltage lights that are designed for external use. Generally these types will have a transformer.”
Mr Bailey said even though your outdoor connections need to be weatherproofed, you must still turn off all outdoor lights during rain or storms. He also stresses that lights and cords need to be kept clear of powerlines, swimming pools, driveways, walkways and of course, out of the reach of children.
“If you have any suspicions about the safety of Christmas lights you’ve used in previous years, dispose of them or have them checked by a qualified tradesman,” he said.
“And remember not to piggy-back double adapters or overload power boards. It’s a very common and very dangerous mistake to make.”
Mr Bailey urged home owners with extensive lighting displays to consider having a Master Electrician install additional outdoor power points, rather than overloading existing circuits.
Master Electricians Australia has published a checklist for Christmas lights safety available here
30th November 2011
