Be The Host Of A Safe And Memorable Garden Party This Summer.
At least one person in the UK dies each week from an electrical accident at home and 1.2 million are seriously injured. Garden parties have been identified as a particular area of risk as people make the most of the final weekend of our very British ‘summer’, The Electrical Safety Council today finds that 69% of people are endangering their family and friends lives unknowingly.
Over a million UK adults have attended a garden party where an electrical accident has occurred. The ESC therefore recommends the use of a simple, but vital, electrical safety device, which is designed to protect against fatal electric shocks if you touch something live, such as a bare wire.
Garden Party hosts top safety blunders:
- 69% don’t ensure power sockets outdoors are not exposed to wet weather or water hazards
- 68% of hosts don’t check plugs and leads for signs of damage before use.
- 38% tidy up by mowing the lawn or trimming the hedge but do not use RCD protection.
- 12% use indoor decorative lighting outside.
- It’s great that people are being imaginative with their garden parties but electrical safety is still not the priority it needs to be. Using an RCD is a simple safety measure but it is vital, especially when doing anything outdoors, where there is increased risk of electric shock. RCDs offer a level of protection that ordinary fuses or circuit breakers cannot provide.
Tips for Garden Party Success and Safety
Make it safe: Ensure every item of electrical equipment at the party is protected by an RCD. This is especially important outdoors where they may be more exposed to weather or water.
Smarten up the garden: Mow the lawn and trim the hedge but always ensure you use an RCD with your electrical equipment.
Check leads and plugs for damage: When digging out old electrical equipment such as fairy lights or taking stereos or speakers into the garden, check for any faults or damage. If in doubt, don’t use. Also ensure all equipment is protected from water and bad weather and is suitable for outdoor use.
Tidy all electrical leads and cables away: Make sure these are tidied to avoid trip hazards and accidents.
Remove fragile items: Disposable glasses not only minimise washing up but also reduce the chance of broken glass causing an accident. And make sure any ornaments are out of harm’s way.
To check if you have RCD protection, have a look in your consumer unit (fusebox) to see if there is a device having a button marked ‘T’ or ‘Test’. This is an RCD – there may be more than one. You should test RCDs about every three months to confirm they are working properly – it should cut off the power in the areas of your home that it protects. If it doesn’t, you should get advice from a registered electrician. Please note that RCD protection in your consumer unit may not cover your entire home. If you do not have RCD protection in your consumer unit, plug-in RCDs should be used, especially for equipment used outdoors. These are available for around £10 from a DIY or garden centre.
Many gardeners are competing to hold bigger and better summer garden parties but with that comes additional safety risks. Your guests may be celebrities or just your neighbours , however it is your duty as host to protect them from hazardous accidents and fires. We all want to create a party to remember but you want to ensure that isn’t for all the wrong reasons.
