Victoria’s energy safety regulator Energy Safe Victoria (ESV) is encouraging Victorians to ensure their electrical plugs are properly plugged in to powerpoints in order to prevent house fires from occurring.
ESV is also urging the community to regularly check plugs and power cords are kept clear of furniture or left wedged in tight spaces that might lead to them being pulled out, frayed, bent or dislodged.
If there is no adequate space around the power point, people should move the equipment to a location that allows for more room or have the plug replaced with one where the cord and plug enters from the side.
ESV chairperson Marnie Williams said dislodged plugs can cause significant damage.
“Victorians need to be vigilant, regularly inspecting the condition of their cords and plugs and the power points they are connected to,” Ms Williams said.
“Cords and plugs can become damaged over time due to repetitive movement especially when trapped or dislodged behind large equipment like fridges, freezers and ovens.
ESV also recommends Victorian householders regularly test their safety switches.
“Safety switches save lives. If your home is not protected, consider engaging a licensed electrician to have them installed,” Ms Williams said.
Safety switches are mandatory on both power and lighting circuits in new homes and older properties where extensive renovations have been carried out.
If homeowners do not have safety switches installed, they should consider engaging a licensed electrician to have them fitted.
A safety switch monitors the flow of electricity through a circuit, if a problem is detected that causes a leakage to ground, it can turn off the power within 0.03 of a second.
For more information go to esv.vic.gov.au
