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**Any repairs should be made by a licensed electrician.**

Cords (Including Extension Cords):
• All cords should be in good condition – not frayed or cracked.
Splicing is unsafe and not allowed under the National Electrical Code.

• Cords should be placed out of traffic so people and animals won’t walk on or trip over them.

• Cords should not be nailed or stapled to the wall, baseboard, etc.
This can damage the cord and cause a fire.

• Cords should not be covered by carpets or rugs. Nor should they be run through holes in
walls, floors, ceilings, doorways, or windows (the cord may overheat or become damaged and
cause a fire).

• Do not rest any equipment or furniture on cords – this can damage the cord and cause a fire.

• Keep cords, fans and electrical equipment out of the reach of children and animals.

• All extension cords should have a 3-prong plug and receptacle to protect against harmful
shock.

• Extension cords should not be overloaded (compare the wattage rating on the cord label with
the labels on any plugged in equipment).

• Extension cords used outdoors should be specifically marked for outdoor use to protect
against harmful or fatal shocks.

• Extension cords should not be used as permanent wiring. Install additional permanent
outlets if necessary.

• Where young children are present, extension cords should have safety closures to protect
against shock and mouth burn injuries.

• Cords should not hang over countertops where children can pull electrical appliances down
on themselves.

Receptacles (Outlets) and Switches:
• All receptacles and switches should be unbroken and in good condition to prevent harmful or
fatal shocks.

• Plugs should fit tightly in outlets. Worn receptacles with loose-fitting plugs can overheat and
cause a fire.

• All receptacles and switches should have undamaged wall plates to prevent exposure to live
wiring.

• All receptacles should be 3-prong grounding outlets to protect against harmful and fatal
shocks.

• There should be safety covers on all unused receptacles that are accessible to children.

• Receptacles and switches should not be unusually warm or hot to the touch-this may
indicate an unsafe wiring condition and should be checked by a qualified person as soon as
possible.

Plugs:
• The ground pin (third prong) should never be removed - this could lead to electrical shock.

• Plugs that don’t fit should not be forced into a receptacle. Polarized plugs (with one blade
wider than the other) should not be trimmed to fit a non-polarized receptacle. Polarized plugs
ensure that the hot wire travels through the switch before entering the tool or equipment. This
helps ensure that there are no live wires in the equipment unless the switch is turned on.

Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs):
• GFCIs should be used in any area where people are “grounded” or where moisture and
electricity may come into contact (receptacles located outdoors, in bathrooms, kitchens,
garages, crawl spaces, buildings with dirt or concrete floors, around watering tanks, fences,
pens, gates, etc.). When a GFCI senses any current leakage (which may be flowing through a
person), it interrupts power fast enough to limit the severity of electrical shock.

Circuit Breakers / Fuses / Panels:
• Each circuit breaker, fuse and disconnect switch should be labeled to identify the equipment
or circuit it controls. This saves time when electricity must be shut off during an emergency in
order to save a life or put out a fire.

• Do not store materials around or against electrical panels. Keep a sufficient area clear to
provide emergency access and allow electricians to work safely.

• Doors to electrical panels should be kept closed, and there should be no unused openings
in panels, junction boxes, etc.

• If a circuit breaker trips frequently or a fuse blows repeatedly, have the problem checked by a
qualified person. Circuit breakers and fuses should be the correct size current rating for their
circuit. Do not simply install a larger fuse or circuit breaker to prevent it from tripping-this may
cause a fire.

Water and Electricity Don’t Mix:
• Never use electrical tools or appliances in rain or wet conditions. Don’t place electrical
appliances and cords where they come into contact with water.

• If a plugged-in appliance or tools has gotten wet - don’t touch it, even if it is turned off. Unplug
it first, label it “Dangerous, Do Not Use”, and have it replaced or checked by a qualified repair
person.

Power Tools / Appliances (including Fans and Radios):
• All portable equipment, appliances and power tools should have a 3-prong plug or a
manufacturer’s label stating that it is double insulated.

• If an appliance or tool repeatedly blows a fuse, trips a circuit breaker, or if it has given you a
shock, unplug it, label it “Dangerous, Do Not Use”, and have it replaced or checked by a
qualified repair person.

• Never carry a power tool or appliance by the cord. When unplugging, always pull the plug -
not the cord. Pulling on the cord may damage the wires and insulation, possibly leading to
electrical shock.

• Unplug tools and appliances before cleaning them.

Working Safely Around Electricity:
• Keep ladders, scaffolds, flagpoles, tents, and equipment at least 10 feet away from power
lines. Use fiberglass ladders instead of metal ladders whenever you change light bulbs or do
any other work around electricity.

• Verify the location of all buried or embedded electrical circuit before digging or cutting.

• If someone is shocked by electricity, disconnect the power source by shutting off the circuit
breaker. Never try to grab the person or move a power line with any object until the power is
turned off, or you may be electrocuted.

Electrical Safety Tips:

Conte Electric Company

LICENSED ELECTRICAL CONTRACTORS

34 Brook Street
Croton-on-Hudson, NY 10520-2503
T: 914-271-6636 / F: 914-271-3387
info@conte-electric.com

"Where Quality Counts!"
Residential - Commercial - Sales & Service