ELECTRIC SAFETY CHECKLIST

What can you do to stay safer each day?

Staying Safe at Home or the Office

To use electricity as safely as possible in your home or office, start with this indoor electrical safety checklist. These tips can help you and your family stays safe in the event of a power outage.

  • Put plastic safety caps in all unused wall outlets. This will prevent children from pushing objects into outlet openings.
  • Never remove the third prong from a three-pronged plug. The third prong grounds electricity. Most power tools and major appliances have three prongs for safety. If you don't have three-hole outlets, adapters are available at your local hardware store or home supply center.
  • Repair or replace damaged or brittle electrical cords. They can cause shorts, shocks, or electrical fires (link to SF017). Check appliances to make sure all cords are in good condition.
  • Use ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs) to protect yourself from shock. These special outlets prevent electric shock by detecting electrical faults and shutting off electricity to the outlet when necessary. They are especially important in kitchens, bathrooms, and other places where water is present.
  • Use electrical cords properly. To avoid damaging cords, remove them from outlets by pulling the plug, not the cord itself. Never attach a cord to another surface with nails or staples, which can break the insulation. Avoid kinking, twisting, binding, or walking on cords.
  • Safely reset your circuit breakers and replace blown fuses.
  • Always keep a flashlight and extra batteries handy. Never use candles in a power outage or other emergency.
  • Turn off or disconnect any appliances or electronics you were using when the power went out.
  • Leave one light turned on so you'll know when your power returns.
  • Don't light a fire indoors. If you're cold, put on layers of warm clothing instead. Never burn charcoal for heating or cooking indoors.
  • Leave the doors of your refrigerator and freezer closed to keep your food as fresh as possible. If you must eat food that was refrigerated or frozen, check it carefully for signs of spoilage.
  • Using your flashlight, check throughout your home to see if any of your lights or appliances are working. If some things turn on normally, you may have blown a fuse or tripped a circuit breaker. Look above to find easy to use instructions for resetting circuit breakers or changing fuses.
  • If none of your lights work, check to see if your neighbor's power is out, too. This will help you determine if the electricity is out in your whole neighborhood, or just your home.
  • If you see a power line or utility pole that has fallen, do not approach or touch the power line or anything in contact with the line. Visit Power Line Safety for more helpful tips.