Stay Electrically Safe at Home – Simple Electrical Safety Checks
Updated: Oct 20
Electrical Safety at Home – What Should You Look For?
Whether you're working from home, setting up a home office or spending time in your garage or workshop, electrical safety is something we should all be mindful of.
Damaged leads, overloaded power boards and unsuitable travel adaptors can create electrical hazards that are often easy to overlook.
The good news is that a few simple visual checks can help identify potential problems before they become serious.
A Look Back at Our 2020 Electrical Safety Video
This video was originally recorded in April 2020, during New Zealand's COVID-19 lockdown, when many people were suddenly working from home.
It features our previous MegaTest branding, before the establishment of NZ Test Group Ltd.
While our branding has changed, the electrical safety advice remains relevant today.
Here are some of the key points covered in the video.
1. Check Electrical Leads for Damage
One of the most common problems we encounter during electrical equipment inspections is damaged power leads.
Look for:
Cuts, splits or cracks in the outer insulation
Exposed internal wires
Damage where the lead enters a plug or appliance
Leads that have been crushed, pinched or excessively bent
If you discover a damaged electrical lead, stop using it immediately.
Wrapping damaged insulation with ordinary electrical tape is not an acceptable substitute for a proper repair.
Have the lead assessed and repaired by a suitably qualified person, or replace it.
2. Inspect Plugs and Plug Pins
Electrical plugs can also become damaged through everyday use.
In the video, we demonstrate a plug with damaged insulation on one of its pins.
This insulation is an important safety feature designed to reduce the risk of accidental contact with live metal parts when inserting or removing a plug.
Check for damaged pins, cracks, signs of overheating or discolouration.
If something doesn't look right, stop using the appliance until it has been checked.
3. Avoid Overloading Power Boards
Power boards are convenient, particularly in home offices where computers, monitors, printers and chargers may all be connected.
However, they have limits.
Connecting too many appliances, especially high-powered equipment such as heaters, kettles or cooking appliances, can overload a power board or electrical circuit.
A few simple precautions include:
Check the power board's maximum rated load.
Avoid connecting one power board to another.
Keep high-powered appliances off overloaded multi-plug arrangements.
Stop using power boards that show signs of overheating or damage.
Investigate repeated circuit breaker trips rather than simply resetting the breaker.
Remember, having several outlets available doesn't mean you can safely use them all at maximum load simultaneously.
4. Be Careful With Travel Adaptors and Imported Appliances
With more electrical products being purchased online from overseas, it's important to check
whether they are suitable for use in New Zealand.
In the video, we discuss travel adaptors and modified power boards designed to accept overseas plugs.
Travel adaptors are generally intended for temporary use and should not be treated as a permanent substitute for an appropriate New Zealand electrical connection.
Before using imported equipment, check its voltage rating, plug arrangement and suitability for New Zealand's electrical supply.
Avoid modified or questionable power boards and adaptors, particularly where there is uncertainty about their electrical safety or compliance.
Using unsuitable electrical equipment can increase the risk of electric shock, overheating and fire.
5. If in Doubt, Stop Using It
Perhaps the most important message from our original video is also the simplest:
If an electrical appliance, plug, lead or power board looks unsafe, stop using it and seek advice.
Visual inspections are a useful first step, but they cannot identify every electrical fault.
Professional electrical inspection and testing can identify certain problems that may not be apparent during a visual check.
Electrical Safety at Home and in the Workplace
At MegaTest, the appliance electrical testing division of NZ Test Group Ltd, we help businesses manage electrical equipment safety through practical inspection and testing programmes under AS/NZS 3760.
Although the original video was created for people working from home during lockdown, the same principles apply to offices, workshops, commercial premises and other workplaces.
Regular visual checks, appropriate maintenance and sensible electrical safety practices all contribute to safer environments.
Further Reading – Do We Need to Test and Tag Electrical Equipment?
Not all electrical equipment requires the same level of inspection and testing. Learn more about New Zealand workplace electrical safety requirements, AS/NZS 3760 and when professional test and tag may be appropriate.
Read our blog: Do We Need to Test and Tag Electrical Equipment?
Questions About Electrical Safety or Test & Tag?
MegaTest provides electrical equipment inspection and testing solutions for businesses throughout Christchurch and Canterbury.
For more information about workplace electrical safety and testing requirements, visit our MegaTest page or the NZ Test Group Knowledge Library.
Call us: 027 22 33 446
Email: info@nztestgroup.co.nz
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