May is National Electric Safety Month

The Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) has declared May as National Electric Safety Month across the country. ESFI is a non-profit group that held its first National Safety Month almost 40 years ago in effort to bring electrical safety awareness to residential homeowners, school officials, and business operators. Through educational resources, safety campaigns, and public service announcements, the organization hopes to reduce the number of electrical fires and accidents that occur each year in the United States.

ESFI officials estimate there are more than 140,000 electrical fires that result in over 500 deaths and 4,000 injuries each year in the U.S. More than 300 people die in electrical accidents at work and another 1,000 people are injured in work-related electrical shock and burn accidents annually. Electrocution is the sixth leading cause of workplace death in the U.S.

Electrical Safety

Our country and the world rely heavily on electricity and electrical components to operate and carry out our daily activities. Our activities at home, school, and work require an extensive amount of electricity to fuel our computers, phones, work tools, heaters, air conditioners, generators, and in some cases, even our cars.

The ESFI organization teaches the public to recognize and avoid situations that can lead to electrical fires, injuries, and electrocution, including:

• While surge protectors are vital for electric safety, having too many in one area can be dangerous. Consider having more electrical outlets installed to reduce the reliance on multiple surge protectors in one area.
• Extension cords can be dangerous and should not be used as a long-term solution for any appliance. Connecting extension cords to surge protectors and other extension cords is a fire hazard.
• Electric household appliances become fire hazards when they are not routinely inspected, maintained, or cleaned. Frayed wires can emit sparks that can ignite a deadly fire. Clogged dryer vents, grease spills on the oven floor, and stovetop burners with burnt food remnants are flammable and cause many house fires each year.
• Electronic copiers, overhead projectors, smart boards, laptops, desktops, and multiple phones are common in schools and offices, but can pose a significant risk of electrical fire when not properly maintained. Frequent inspections of all wires, outlets, and power sources need to be done on a routine basis with proper maintenance and repair to avoid catastrophic loss from a fire in these heavily populated facilities.

Educate and Motivate

While May is an important month in promoting electrical safety, it is essential to educate and motivate homeowners, businesses, and schools to continue their efforts throughout the year. Electrical fires and electrocutions are preventable when individuals know how to recognize and eliminate electrical risks and dangers. Ongoing education, proper training, and routine inspections and maintenance of electrical components can reduce the number of injuries and fatalities that occur each year.

Philadelphia Electrical Injury Lawyers at Galfand Berger LLP Represent Workers Injured in Electrical Accidents

If you have been injured in an electrical accident, call a Philadelphia electrical injury lawyer at Galfand Berger LLP at 800-222-USWA (8792) or contact us online to arrange a free consultation today. We represent injured workers throughout Pennsylvania and New Jersey, including those in Philadelphia, Reading, Bethlehem, Allentown, and Harrisburg.