Electrical safety
Electricity can kill or injure people and cause damage to property.
There are steps you can take to reduce the risk of electrical accidents in your home.
For cables and plugs:
- do not overload sockets with too many appliances
- keep an eye out for fraying power leads
- switch off and unplug appliances when not in use, unless designed to stay on
- never charge or place electrical equipment under pillows or blankets
To avoid house fires due to electrical appliances:
- register your appliances
- make sure your electrical appliances are not near water
- service them once a year
- do not leave washing machines, tumble dryers or dishwashers on when you are out or asleep
- beware of fake products as they may not meet safety requirements
For more electrical home safety advice, visit the Electrical Safety First website.
Have a go at the Hazard Detective Game from StayWise.
Battery safety
Lithium-ion batteries are rechargeable batteries that can be found in household electrical items like mobile phones, laptops, e-cigarettes, e-bikes and e-scooters.
These batteries are designed to be safe, but if they overheat, are damaged or accidentally overcharged they could ignite, burn and in some cases explode.
To avoid fires from lithium-ion batteries:
- always read the manufacturer’s safety instructions
- use the charger that came with your device, and only buy genuine replacement batteries and chargers from trusted retailers
- don’t leave a lithium-ion battery on charge overnight or when away from the device
- only charge on a flat, solid and stable surface, away from your escape routes
- unplug your charger once the device is fully charged
- never cover chargers or charging devices
- avoid storing, using or charging batteries at very high or low temperatures
Damaged or faulty lithium-ion batteries are a fire risk.
Look out for these warning signs:
- feels unusually hot when charging or in use
- swelling, bulging, or leaking liquid
- burning or acrid smell
- hissing sound
- the device won’t hold a charge properly
- damage to the casing, such as a dent, that could have affected the battery on the inside
If a battery shows any of these signs, stop using it immediately, and safely dispose of it.
Lithium-ion batteries are a main cause of waste fires and can be extremely dangerous when thrown away with general rubbish, or mixed with recyclable materials like card, metal and plastic.
Remember to:
- follow recycling instructions from your local council and always keep electrical items separate from other household waste
- never put batteries in your general rubbish bin or with other recyclable materials like card, metals and plastics
- take unwanted or damaged electrical items and lithium-ion batteries to your local household waste recycling centre
- non-removable batteries should be recycled with the device
- removable batteries should be recycled separately from the device and can be disposed of at a battery recycling point or household waste recycling centre