| You're strolling through the local home | | | | Good wire strippers will prevent you from nicking |
| improvement store with your lovely bride locked | | | | or skinning the wires. Good screwdrivers will |
| at your elbow, and as you pass through the | | | | prevent slipping out of screw heads or rounding |
| electrical fixture section she says to you, "This | | | | them out. You get my point; good tools not only |
| ceiling fan is gorgeous! Honey, you would make | | | | improve the quality of your workmanship, but |
| me so happy if you would install that ceiling fan in | | | | improve your confidence as well. So don't skimp |
| our living room." The clerk jumps in at that point | | | | on tools. You can stock your tool pouch with |
| and explains the features, and discusses how slick | | | | good quality tools for $100 or less. Other safety |
| it would be to install the fan speed control, and | | | | and workmanship considerations -- |
| the dimmer for the light kit. He looks at you at | | | | Regarding Extension Cords and Power Tools; |
| the same time your wife does and he says, "You | | | | When you are using extension cords, be sure to |
| can handle this one, can't you sir?" You cringe like | | | | use GFCI protection. Whether that means plugging |
| a frightened canine, and tell her you would love to | | | | into a GFCI outlet, or providing a GFCI whip to |
| perform this project for her if you hadn't already | | | | plug your extension cord in to. Also use GFCI |
| made plans to...um...clean off your workbench...all | | | | protection for your power tools, particularly if |
| weekend. | | | | you're using cords or power tools outdoors. A |
| Okaaaaay... | | | | GFCI whip is nothing more than a very short |
| Many Do-it-Yourselfers perform carpentry, | | | | extension cord, if you will, sometimes with |
| gardening, painting, and even plumbing. But when it | | | | multi-tap capability, meaning, that you can plug in |
| comes to home wiring, fear keeps us from | | | | more than one cord, and it has a GFCI device |
| completing projects that increase the value of our | | | | that's integral to the whip itself. If there's ever a |
| home, and give us strong personal satisfaction | | | | ground fault, it should prevent you from being |
| from the beautiful upgrades we could be | | | | shocked. |
| performing. | | | | Regarding Opening Sheetrock and other Finished |
| Electrical safety is without question, the most | | | | Surfaces; |
| important aspect of any electrical work. And just | | | | Remember, when you cut, saw or drill into walls, |
| like anything we do in life, fear comes from 'not | | | | ceilings, and floors, pay very close attention to |
| knowing'. Imagine what you could accomplish if | | | | the depth of your work. Be conscientious |
| you could perform home wiring safely and | | | | because, even though you've got the power off |
| confidently. Imagine saving thousands of dollars | | | | to the circuit you're working on, there are most |
| over the years, if you could do-it-yourself! It really | | | | likely wires behind your wall, and you don't want |
| just takes a common sense approach, but just as | | | | to get into a live circuit behind your wall. |
| important; it demands your undivided attention. It's | | | | Regarding Protection Equipment; |
| very important that you do not get in a hurry. | | | | Safety equipment such as masks for dust, safety |
| Make sure that you have planned your project | | | | glasses for eye protection and gloves to preserve |
| adequately, and that you've allowed plenty of | | | | your hands are highly recommended; and in my |
| time to complete your project, or at least if you | | | | business, they're mandatory. I require my |
| have to pull off of it and come back to it later, | | | | technicians to wear safety glasses when they're |
| that you find a suitable stopping point, and that | | | | working inside of a panel in case of an arc, or a |
| you can live without the circuit that you're | | | | short circuit that might flash, or throw sparks. |
| working on. | | | | You only get one set of eyes. Also...develop the |
| All it takes is one mistake; some think that 120 | | | | habit of turning your face away from the panel at |
| volts is not dangerous. It's not only dangerous...It | | | | the very moment you turn on or off a breaker, |
| is lethal. | | | | on the off chance a breaker explodes. Odds are |
| * Shut the power off to any circuit that you are | | | | against it, but it has happened. |
| working on. | | | | Regarding Grounding; |
| * Confirm the power is off with a simple pocket | | | | Never cut the grounding pin off the plug end of |
| tester, a multi-meter, or lamp, blow dryer or | | | | an extension cord, or any power tool cord. Tools |
| another similar appliance. | | | | that have plastic cases may not have a grounding |
| * Keep a flashlight near your electrical panel at all | | | | pin, and that's because they're double insulated so |
| times, just in case of a power loss. | | | | a short will not reach the casing of the tool itself. |
| * Use fiberglass ladders for any electrical work | | | | But let's say you have a cord and plug assembly |
| that you do. Fiberglass ladders are non-conductive. | | | | that you're trying to plug in somewhere; for |
| Don't use an aluminum ladder. | | | | example, to a two-slot receptacle, and you have |
| * Never work on electrical systems in the rain, or | | | | a grounding pin on your tool or your extension |
| in damp or wet locations, or where power is not | | | | cord, do not cut that pin off. That pin is there to |
| completely shut off. | | | | carry a fault away from the tool and protect you, |
| * Wear rubber-soled shoes when performing | | | | and the wiring. Use an adapter if you have to, and |
| electrical work, and when possible stand on a | | | | ground fault protection, like I mentioned before |
| rubber mat, or dry wooden floors or sub- floors. | | | | (an adapter that has the tab secured to the |
| * Never work barefoot or in socks or slippers, | | | | screw in the cover plate does not ground the |
| and don't assume that it's safe to work without | | | | cord or appliance, unless the yoke of the |
| rubber-soled shoes on concrete floors. Concrete is | | | | receptacle is truly grounded...but then the |
| conductive, particularly when it's damp (a good | | | | receptacle should be a 3-slot device). |
| reason to never load or unload your washing | | | | Electricians' gloves are available. They are rubber |
| machine while you're barefoot standing on a | | | | gloves with leather gloves that go over the |
| concrete floor). | | | | rubber to protect the rubber from being |
| Anything can conduct electricity if the conditions | | | | compromised in any way. It protects the rubber |
| are right. Even if by definition it's called an insulator. | | | | from being nicked or slit or cut. And those gloves |
| (A conductor allows the flow of electrons, and an | | | | are rated for different voltages. But...if the rubber |
| insulator resists the flow of electrons). When you | | | | has been damaged, even slightly, then that rating |
| turn off the power to a breaker, tape that | | | | has been compromised, and it's out the window |
| breaker off. OSHA requires us as contractors to | | | | because electricity can jump through that gap and |
| lock it off, and tag it out with a procedure called | | | | into your skin. These gloves are bulky and difficult |
| lock out/tag out. It involves red tags and devices | | | | to work with. We use them when we work on |
| that will lock the breaker off to prevent it from | | | | electrical services, when we do service upgrades, |
| being turned on. (If you have your panel cover | | | | or if we absolutely have to work on something |
| off, remember that even when you turn | | | | live. |
| breakers off, there are still energized components | | | | My technicians will wear gloves of their choice |
| in the panel itself!). | | | | that are not insulated, but they'll be tight fitting |
| In your home, at minimum put tape over the | | | | and protect their hands from injury, although they |
| breaker, then close your service panel cover, and | | | | will not insulate them from electric shock. Alot of |
| put a piece of masking tape across the cover, or | | | | times when you look in "how to" manuals, you will |
| a sign that says, "Do Not Open," or "Danger", or | | | | see pictures where the hands that are performing |
| something similar, so anybody who approaches | | | | the work are actually bare hands, and many of |
| that panel will immediately know what's going on. | | | | you DIY'ers will be doing electrical work with your |
| Furthermore, inform your family members that | | | | bare hands. |
| you are doing electrical work so that others are | | | | In summary; |
| completely aware that you are working on the | | | | When we talk about safety we're talking about |
| electrical system. | | | | good, old-fashioned common sense, and taking |
| If you are working with fuse panels instead of | | | | personal responsibility for your own safety. Here |
| breaker panels; when you remove a fuse, use | | | | are the 7 Steps To Mastering Electrical Safety |
| only one hand to remove it. Put your other hand | | | | For The Home Wiring Do-it-Yourselfer. |
| either in your pocket or behind your back; it's a | | | | To perform electrical work safely and confidently; |
| good practice to develop anyway. What that | | | | #(1) Educate yourself on the project at hand, and |
| does is keeps you from grabbing a circuit with | | | | the nature of electrical work itself, |
| two hands and providing a path for the electricity | | | | #(2) Make sure the power is off before you |
| to flow through your heart. Now, electricity can | | | | start, |
| still flow through one hand and one foot and pass | | | | #(3) Plan your projects thoroughly, |
| through your heart, but if you've taken the other | | | | #(4) Use common sense, |
| precautions I mentioned above, you will minimize | | | | #(5) Don't get in a hurry and stay conscientious, |
| your exposure to that hazard. | | | | #(6) Wear protective clothing and use quality |
| Another important aspect of safety that | | | | tools, |
| frequently goes unmentioned is tool use. It is well | | | | #(7) Continue to learn and strengthen your skillset. |
| worth spending a little extra money to purchase | | | | Follow these 7 steps and you will be able to |
| quality hand tools like your lineman pliers, | | | | successfully complete many home wiring projects |
| screwdrivers, wire strippers, and other hand tools | | | | without incident. |
| that you will use for electrical work. For instance, | | | | |