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Every year, electrical fires result in thousands of injuries, hundreds of millions of dollars in property damage and, in some cases, even death. While some fires are caused by faulty products, many more are caused by the misuse and poor maintenance of electrical equipment, incorrectly installed wiring, overloaded circuits and misapplied extension cords. Smoke alarms, fire extinguishers and escape ladders are all examples of emergency equipment used in homes to take action when a fire occurs. A device called an Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter, or AFCI, is a residential circuit breaker designed to detect arcing faults and thus prevent fires from occurring in the first place. Arcing can occur when you're hanging a picture and inadvertently pierce a wire in the wall, when old wires fray or when you string extension cords together to run fans or space heaters. Approximately 2,300 injuries, 67,800 fires and 485 deaths occur each year that can be associated with home wiring, totaling $868 million in property losses. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimates that "AFCI devices may address 50 percent or more of these fires."

1. Immediately report any suspected electrical problems, such as devices that seem to be overly warm, cracked cords, loose plugs, and broken wiring devices. Contact your Division Safety Coordinator, Facilities Electricians, or EHS Electrical Safety Engineer at ext. 4694.2. Electrical problems are not always revealed at the time of the installation. It can take months or years before an improper connection begins to fail. 3. Beware of overloading receptacles, plug strips, and circuits by plugging in too much equipment. A circuit breaker will not trip immediately when overloaded. Wire can overheat well before a breaker trips.

As our reliance on electricity grows, the potential for misuse of home appliances, computers and entertainment equipment means the need for electrical safety awareness for the family is far more important. The Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) urges consumers to become more knowledgeable about electrical safety by offering free tips on what you can do to protect your family from electrical dangers.

Another domain where different cultures have a very different approach is electrical safety. Each time I travel to the US, in particular with my kids, I feel somewhat unsafe when I look at the electrical equipment there compared to what is routinely found in Europe.