Did you know that, according to the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI), emergency rooms treat seven children for outlet-related electrical injuries and burns every day? There is a lot of misinformation, and often even a general lack of knowledge, about electrical safety. Staying safe at home, around the office, or even in a manufacturing setting, can depend on simple, everyday tools. What are these tools?

Conduit and Offset Hinges

Wires, cables, and cords can easily become frayed or damaged, and frayed or damaged wiring dramatically increases the likelihood of electrical accidents and fire. Homeowners can protect and shield indoor and outdoor cords using conduit. Flexible and rigid conduit wraps around attic, basement, garage, and outdoor wiring to shield it from weathering, abrasion, corrosion, chemicals, and more. Electric metal tubing (EMT), or metal conduit, protects electrical wiring from harmful magnetism. EMT may require some form of conduit bushing, or insulation to safeguard cords from jagged metal pieces, edges, and corners.

Offset hinges, on the other hand, promote electrical fire safety by offering accessibility. Homeowners can use offset hinges to widen and open up doorways, making them easily accessible for any handicapped family members. Leaving blocked or too narrow walkways and doorways is a significant problem, especially in the event of a household fire.

Nylon Fasteners and Cap Nuts

Nylon fasteners, including nylon nuts, bolts, screws, and more, give homeowners and workers a means of safely and quickly taking apart and reassembling electronics and electrical components and parts. Nylon fasteners may also be more reliable than their metal counterparts because they also resist torque, chemical wearing, and potentially harmful vibrations. Nylon is also fairly light-weight. Manufacturers produce nylon cap nuts (also called acorn nuts or dome nuts) to fit over bolts and nuts and protect external threads.

Electrical safety starts with knowledge. Familiarize yourself with simple tools, like conduit, offset hinges, and nylon fasteners, to stay safe at home and at work. Helpful sites.