May is National Electrical Safety Month and the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) is spearheading its annual effort to raise awareness of potential home electrical hazards and the importance of electrical safety. This year’s campaign features the launch of the third edition of its National Electrical Safety Month publication, Electrical Safety Illustrated. The issue is titled “At Home and at Work: Make Electrical Safety Everyone’s Responsibility” and informs readers about the common electrical hazards present at home and in the workplace.

“Extension cord misuse and overburdened electrical systems are two of the main causes of home electrical fires,” said ESFI President Brett Brenner. “It is important to be aware of these common and preventable hazards as well as other safety measures you can take to ensure that your home is electrically safe.”

The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) estimates 47,700 home structure fires reported to U.S. fire departments each year involve some type of electrical failure or malfunction as a factor contributing to ignition. These fires result in 418 civilian deaths, 1,570 civilian injuries, and $1.4 billion in property damage.  Awareness and education are critical to reduce the incidence of electrical fires, and ESFI sponsors National Electrical Safety Month each May to educate the public in order to reduce the number of electrically related fires, fatalities, injuries and property loss. 

Featured content in Electrical Safety Illustrated includes an infographic titled, “Don’t Overload Your Home,” which illustrates the warning signs that indicate that your home electrical system could be overloaded; “Reaching to Safety,” an infographic about avoiding hazards associated with the misuse of extension cords; and an infographic on arc-fault circuit interrupters, which is advanced residential technology that can help prevent home electrical fires before they can start. Additional resources highlight common workplace electrical hazards and the importance of following safety procedures such as Lockout/Tag Out and "Test Before You Touch."

ESFI encourages the sharing of its campaign resources, and developed The National Electrical Safety Month 2016 Electrical Safety Advocate Guide to provide the resources necessary to raise awareness of electrically safe practices.  Whether you want to educate a loved one or raise awareness in your community, school, or workplace, this guide provides step-by-step instructions on how to be an Electrical Safety Advocate and help champion ESFI’s cause of minimizing electrically-related deaths and injuries. 

Electrical safety awareness and education among consumers, families, employees, and communities will prevent electrical fires, injuries, and fatalities. For ESFI’s complete collection of National Electrical Safety Month resources, and for more information on spring safety, visit www.esfi.org.

About ESFI:

The Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) sponsors National Electrical Safety Month each May to increase public awareness of the electrical hazards around us at home, work, school, and play. ESFI is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated exclusively to promoting electrical safety. For more information about ESFI and electrical safety, visit www.esfi.org.