ESO looks to boost electrical safety awareness

A series of electrical safety awareness sessions have been scheduled around regional Queensland, ahead of Electrical Safety Week (7–11 September).

The Electrical Safety Office (ESO) is also offering community groups and local businesses the chance to book free electrical safety demonstrations, featuring a portable electrical switchboard and highlighting the importance of safety switches.

ESO Head Donna Heelan is urging everyone to think long and hard about installing safety switches on all circuits.

“Tragically, eight Queenslanders have lost their lives over recent years after receiving electrical shocks while doing everyday things,” Heelan said.

“Sadly, electricity is an invisible and silent killer — it rarely gives second chances.

“These people were just doing simple things in and around their homes — digging a hole in the garden, touching something in the garage, returning to the house after picking fruit, walking around under a highset house and checking submersible pumps.

“However, seven of these eight Queenslanders (87%) could have been saved if they had a working safety switch on all of their electrical circuits.”

Looking to spread the word about electrical safety, especially in regional Queensland, the ESO is heading to workplaces and community events such as local home shows with a working electrical switchboard to discuss safety switches.

This includes how to:

• find them on switchboards,
• test them,
• reset them,
• and work out how many are recommended.
   

The awareness sessions also include other important electrical safety information for home owners and tenants.

ESO sessions will feature at the Fraser Coast Home Show and Caravan, Camping and Boating Expo (14–16 August), the Cairns Home Show and Caravan, Camping and Boating Expo (9–11 October) and the Mackay Home Show and Caravan, Camping and Boating Expo (16–18 October).

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