The new electrical safety champion, the Electrical Safety Council, warns that dads and corded power tools may not always be a good combination, as the latest research commissioned by the new charity reveals that almost half of dads in the UK have had an electric shock whilst doing DIY:
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| A competent looking DIYer. |
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| A plug-in RCD unit. |
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In a campaign to raise awareness of RCDs and the importance of using them, director of the
Electrical Safety Council, Emma McCarthy, has called on families to make sure that dads use an RCD when working with electric drills, saws or other corded
power tools.
Emma McCarthy warns dangerous DIYers: "Electricity can and does kill. Before picking up a corded power tool or getting stuck in with the electric lawn mower or hedge trimmer, it makes sense for Dads to plug them into a plug-in RCD - a safety device that can save their lives by instantly switching off the power if they cut through or damage the power cable." She advises that rather than having a plug-in RCD, it's much better to have one built into your fuse box to protect all your sockets.
The Electrical Safety Council also uses the campaign to promote awareness of electrical safety in general, the importance of Part P and the need for homeowners to use approved installers for all electrical work.
The research findings:
The research found that one in 10 men who do DIY admits to having drilled or nailed through an electric cable. Despite this, the independent research for the Electrical Safety Council found that half of men still dabble with DIY electrics rather then using a registered electrician. This is despite 78% of consumers believing that electrical work is the most dangerous type of DIY.
More than half (53%) of men admitted to wiring sockets, almost one in three (26%) said they installed or wired electric showers, and around one in five (18%) said they had rewired the whole house, despite knowing just how dangerous this can be.
The research found that age certainly does not make a dangerous DIYers any wiser: Men over 30 are more likely to wire in new sockets and one in six (16%) over-60 year olds would rewire their whole house.
More about the Electrical Safety Council:
The Electrical Safety Council is a consumer safety body supported by all sectors of the electrical industry as well as local and central government. It deals with all electrical safety matters associated with electrical installations and products on behalf of consumers. It is an independent, no-profit making organisation, registered as a charity.
The pictures show a competent looking DIYer, and he's using a plug-in RCD unit for his power tool.
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