LET’S ALL STAY SAFE. – Safety Switches save lives.
Regardless of whether you own or rent, you should consider having safety switches installed on all circuits.
Safety switches protect you, your family and anyone visiting the property from electric shock.
The risk is real. One safety switch may not be enough.
TESTING YOUR SAFETY SWITCH
Electricity is invisible, so you can’t see the danger… but it can kill.
Safety switches save lives – but only if they work.
Safety switches continuously monitor the flow of electricity. They turn off the power instantly when they detect an unsafe situation, saving you in a split second.
But to do that, they need be working properly – so safety switches should be tested every three months. Before you start, tell everyone in the house you’re about to run a safety switch test and the power will go off. This way they know what’s happening and can reschedule what they’re doing. Let’s start with one of your powerpoint circuits.
Go to the switchboard and press the ‘TEST’ or ‘T’ button on the safety switch. This test simulates an unsafe situation – like a person receiving an electric shock from faulty equipment.
The switch should flick to the off position, cutting the power to the powerpoints connected to that circuit. If the switch does not flick to the off position – then the safety switch is faulty and you need to get a licensed electrician to check it out.
Repeat this test for each safety switch in your switchboard.
Now check to see if any of the electrical equipment, powerpoints or lights still have power. If they’re still on, that means they are not protected by the safety switches and your family is not protected from electric shock.
Make sure you test your safety switches every three months.
Electricity is invisible, so you can’t see the danger… but it can kill.
Find out more at electricalsafety.qld.gov.au