Our Top Electrical Safety Tips for Students

Published October 31, 2019 Tags:

At some point in life, everyone gets to seek freedom and independence. In most cases, this can only be achieved when you finally decide to live separately from your parents. That’s why everyone gets excited when it’s time to walk into the university and subscribe as a student. It’s time to rent a house, plan for your meals, invite friends over for a sleepover, and juggle between studies and relationships. Doing all these away from home is exciting as no one is there to keep an eye on you.

While university life might be full of freedom and independence, it turns out to be tricky for most students. Sometimes staying alone or with a fellow student can be a lot riskier than you thought. It’s going to be your first to own a house that’s under your full control. That means you need to be more careful than ever. Sadly, that can never be the case with students. They love taking risks which might end up being costly.

Electrical safety is one area that most students overlook. If you walk into a student’s room, you may meet things like overloaded sockets, or carelessly placed electrical equipment. As such, it’s important to equip students with electrical safety tips to protect them from electrical hazards. From the electrical appliance they use to the wiring system in the house, students should be sensitized on the dangers of electricity and the possible ways to stay safe.

Electrical safety tips for students aren’t complicated. They can easily be implemented by any student. Some of them are quite common, but it’s still important to keep the students in the know owing to their forgetfulness and carelessness.

Here are some electrical safety tips for students that will keep you away from electrical hazards.

Keep An Eye On Any Overloaded Electrical Outlet

An excess plug into an electrical outlet is one of the most common electrical hazards among students. Most of the time you’ll find them overloading an electrical socket with too many plugs to keep have everything running at the same time. This can be extremely dangerous as it can lead to overheating. Therefore, ensure no electrical outlet is overloaded.

Here are some simple but necessary safety tips for an electric outlet:

• Avoid using multiple extension cords for electrical appliances
• Don’t plug in more than one high-current appliance into an outlet.
• Ensure hot outlets are checked by a professional. Don’t do it yourself. It can be extremely dangerous.
• Use smart plugs to track power loads of an outlet. They help to turn off the electrical equipment in case an electrical outlet begins to overheat.
• If you don’t have enough outlets to meet your power needs, you can request the landlord to install some more electrical outlets.

Replace Worn Out Electrical Cords

Worn out electrical cords are extremely dangerous. They can cause electrical fires or even electrical shock. Make sure you check your extension cords frequently for any signs of cracking and get them repaired as required. However, don’t do the repairs yourself. It’s the landlord’s responsibility to hire a professional who’s well conversant with the electrical safety rules to do the job. Again, avoid putting power and extension cords under rugs. It can lead to overheating.

Unplug Unused Appliances

It’s so easy to leave appliances unplugged even when you’re done using them. There’s no formula to remember the unplug-after-use concept, but you can make it a habit to unplug an electrical appliance as soon as you’re done using it. Of course, it will take time to stick, but in the long run, it will become a habit. Moreover, to make your work easier, you can choose to use smart plugs which allow you to set power schedules for each outlet. Unplugging unused appliances saves you power by reducing the phantom drain. It also protects the appliances from overheating and power surges.

Keep Electrical Outlets and Devices From Water

Water and electricity don’t mix very well. So, don’t put your electrical safety at stake by leaving electric devices or outlets soaked in water. This can damage the appliances and cause electrical shock. Always keep your electrical equipment dry and away from water or any wet place. Again, when operating electrical appliances, it’s important to keep your hands dry. In case water splashes into an electric outlet by mistake, let a qualified electrician check on it and follow electrical safety guidelines to fix any damage.

Space Out Your Appliances

Due to the heating effect of current flow, electrical appliances need proper cooling from time to time. Without proper air circulation, electric equipment can easily become overheated and cause an electrical fire. When operating your electric appliances, make sure they have proper air circulation. Avoid using electrical equipment in squeezed places or enclosed cabinets. Again, keep your electrical appliances from anything flammable such as gas or an electric hairdryer. You can find out more electrical safety guidelines on how to operate electrical equipment from the safety manual.

Use The Correct Wattage

Using the right appliances and bulbs can prevent electrical hazards. Therefore, check all lamps, light fixtures, and appliances to ensure you’re using the right wattage. Most of bulbs and appliances have their wattages listed, but in case a light fixture or lamp has no wattage listed, check the UK electrical safety standards to see the minimum wattage for a fixture or given electric equipment.

Follow Appliance Instructions

Most users don’t take time to go through the manufacturer’s manual to read through the given appliance instructions. While you might have been exposed to the electric equipment before, you may not know how to safely operate the electrical appliance. Therefore, to be on the safe side, read the instructions carefully before plugging in the electrical appliance. This improves the appliance performance and protects you from electrocution. However, if while operating the electric equipment you get an electrical shock, stop using the device and call a qualified electrician to fix it.

Electrical safety is very important in every home. With these electrical safety tips for students, any student can operate their electric appliance without putting their safety at stake.

This article was produced by Peninsula Electrical, a leading firm of Wirral based Electricians. Contact us if you need any safety advice regarding the electrical appliances in your student accommodation.