In the UK we have had strict electrical safety laws for businesses and their premises since the Health and Safety at work act introduced ‘PAT’ in 1974. This legislation and the mandatory testing of the electrical equipment companies and businesses use has helped save countless lives through preventing electrical fires from old and faulty equipment. However there is no similar legislation requiring compulsory checking for electrical equipment in the home and I recognise this is not feasible for a number of reasons, not least being the cost which would be involved.
‘Electrical Safety First’, which includes some the UK’s most knowledgeable electrical safety experts, have found electricity causes more than 20,000 house fires a year, almost half of all accidental fires in the home. Accidents in the home involving electricity result in around 350,000 serious injuries and 70 deaths in the UK. In 2013/14, fire and rescue authorities in England attended roughly 28,600 fires caused by an electrical source. Almost all of these fires were completely avoidable and, if we are to make horrific fire stories a thing of the past, we all need to be more careful.
Unfortunately older people in society suffer disproportionately from domestic fires within the home as they often live in older housing with faulty electrics or old appliances, or they are suffering from long-term medical conditions such as Dementia which increases risks and potential dangers around electricity. The Department of Communities and Local Government’s figures show that over half of fire fatalities related to electrical accidents are among the over 65s.
This is why ‘Electrical Safety First’ ran a campaign and published a report earlier this year called ‘Shock to the System’ in order to show just how dangerous electricity is for the elderly and how we can help to prevent electrical fires.
Just a few simple checks can dramatically help improve electrical safety. For example getting your fusebox, plugs, sockets, light fittings and cabling checked to ensure it is all in good condition with no discolouration or scorch marks. We need to take responsibility for turning appliances off, not leaving appliances unattended, not use electrical appliances inappropriately and ensure they are maintained properly and replaced as soon as they become at all unsafe. We have all read the terrible stories of mobile telephone chargers setting on fire under someone’s pillow when left on overnight or the tumble dryer causing a fire when left on whilst it’s owner was out or in bed.
For more information regarding electrical safety I would urge people to look on Electrical Safety First’s website (www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk) for information on how to improve the level of electrical safety in everyone’s homes not just the elderly. Please make South Derbyshire’s and the UK’s homes safer.
(This piece was originally written for the Burton Mail Newspaper).