Electrical safety
Every year on average 10 people die and about 750 are seriously injured in accidents involving unsafe electrical installations in the home.
You may be able to resolve a partial electrical failure (eg. your lights won't come on, but your TV is working) by checking your fuse box. However, if you have any doubt, you should contact customer services on 0845 601 5042.
If the mains supply in your home fails completely, contact your electricity supply company. There will be a contact number on your electricity bill. The electricity company will be able to advise you when power will be restored.
Be safe: some safety tips on electricity around the home
- Always use good quality, undamaged plugs with shielded pins. Wire these correctly and only use one appliance per plug.
- Never overload sockets with adapters.
- Never plug an appliance into a light fitting.
- Never run flexes under carpets or lino or where they can touch something hot. Make sure they are not damaged.
- Never use any electrical appliance other than a shaver in a bathroom and only use it if it is plugged into a proper shaver socket.
- Never put clothes near a heater - even a convector or storage heater.
- Never adapt or extend supplies to storage heaters, and do not fit time switches or delays to radiant fires.
- Never cover or block extractor fans or fan heaters.
- Never touch anything electrical with wet hands.
- Never connect appliances to the landlord's supply - it is dangerous and against the law.