For many, Halloween is a time for candy, costumes, and in some cases, outdoor lighting or inflatable decorations. While preparing for parties and trick-or-treaters, follow these outdoor lighting safety precautions when decorating:
- Inspect each electrical decoration. Check cords for cracking, fraying, or bare wires, as they may cause a severe shock or start a fire. Also, inspect for damaged plugs.
- Replace any damaged decorations.
- Make sure any lights, animated displays, or other electrical outdoor products are safety tested by a reputable laboratory such as UL (Underwriters Laboratory) and approved for outdoor use.
- Don’t overload extension cords or allow them to run through water on the ground.
- Plug outdoor electric lights and decorations into ground fault circuit interrupter-protected outlets.
When decorating outside, always look up, and check that you and any equipment, such as ladders, are at least 10 feet away from overhead power lines. Always carry a ladder or other long object or tool in a horizontal position.
For more electrical safety tips, visit SafeElectricity.org.
Remember safety
Just as it is important for our employees to work safely around electricity, it is equally important for cooperative members to live and play safely around electricity. It is so easy to forget safe practices at home because so often electricity works quietly behind the scenes.
