Electricity runs all throughout our homes and is an essential element in our lives. It is, however, also a dangerous element and if not installed and looked after correctly can become a hazard. As something we use every day it can be forgotten that basic electrical safety is still required to ensure that there are no major issues within your home.

Appliances

Appliances can be one of the more dangerous electrical tools as they are regularly used and in many cases are not build in to the home set up. Many of these are regularly unplugged or have exposed power points that need to be looked after.

Turning off all your electrical appliances before leaving the home is a great way to reduce the risks of injury. Avoiding them when you have wet hands and not sticking anything inside them whilst they are switched on is also important to ensure that you do not injure yourself or others nearby.

Power boards

Power boards can be a big risk when they are overloaded with too many appliances. It is easy to forget that power boards can only hold so much depending on their rating and expecting them to handle more can lead to fires.

Kitchens and bathrooms

Electricity and water is not a match made in heaven, they are in fact the opposite. This means that extra care is required in areas that have electrical appliances and water regularly in close proximity. Turning off electrical appliances when they are not being used and keeping them away from sinks and taps ensures the safety of those using them.

Cords

Cords for appliances like TVs, toasters and irons can all get in the way and present a danger. This is why it is important to not leave cords extended through walk ways or across benches as it lends them to being tripped over or pulled and potentially causing electrical shocks or risky situations for those using the appliance.

Any cords that are exposed should be tucked up against walls and avoid walkways so that the risk of any electrical dangers is minimised.

Ultimately, electrical safety comes down to being aware of the appliances and power points that are around you and being careful not to expose them to water or other substances that could cause fires of shocks. Turning off appliances and power points when they are not in use is a great way to reduce the risk of any unforeseen dangers.

Finding the right electrician should require a little bit of work and research as opposed to simply finding the easiest contractor that can come over and complete the job. You want to find someone that you know will get the job done well and there won’t be any recurring problems as a result.

There are a lot of things to consider but one of the most important is the type of work that needs to be carried out. This is going to play a notable role in determining who you employ based on price, experience and recommendations.

Firstly, understand what you need an electrician for. Australia has some pretty tight rules when it comes to electricity and any electrical installation or adjustments. This means that beyond changing lightbulbs and making changes to your electrical appliances, you are going to need to hire a professional.

Once you get a good overview of the work that needs to be done, it is about finding the best electrician for the job. Below, is a list of the things to consider.

Qualifications

All states and territories in Australia require electricians to have a licence to be able to carry out their work. The majority also require them to be registered contractors prior to being able to run a business or carry out their work for a profit.

It is important to ask for this prior to accepting the electrician to work for you to ensure that they will complete all the work to a high and legal standard.

Recommendations

Asking friends and family is a good idea when looking for an electrician. Additionally, if you’ve ever had a builder or other contractor that you were pleased with, ask them for advice on whom to hire.

Get multiple quotes

Done just settle on the first electrician you talk to, get multiple quotes from around the area so that you can get the best price. This will also give a good indication as to the quality and what you will be charged for.

After the job

Following the completion of the job, they should provide you with a certificate of electrical compliance. This outlines that the work they have done ensures that your home or office is safe and will function as it should. It also means that the work that has been completed is in line with the state and territory rules outlined by the governments.