Water and electricity together make a very dangerous and even deadly combination.
Bathroom electrical safety is necessary to prevent possible harm from the various electrical outlets and devices commonly found in the bathroom. Here are a few safety tips to bear in mind.
Ensure sockets are at a safe distance of at least 3 metres away from any source of water such as a bath, sink or shower and at least 300mm or 0.3 metres from the ground.
The best lights to use are enclosed ceiling lights. If these are not available ensure that the light fittings you use are are at a safe distance away from any potential danger. Using ceiling mounted pull cord switches is a great idea as this prevents damp or wet hands from touching light switches.
The safest way to keep your bathroom warm is with central heating. However, if an electric heater is necessary, ensure that is anchored in a set place with sufficient space between it and any water source.
If you have an electric shower, supply it with its own circuit that comes directly from the fuse box.
Try to avoid using plugged-in electrical appliances in the bathroom. Instead, switch to battery-operated or rechargeable devices. If this is not possible, use protected outlets for your plugged-in devices and unplug and remove them when not in use.
You can practice bathroom safety and prevent electric shock by following the tips below.
Always handle electrical devices like an electric shaver or hairdryer with dry hands.
When not in use, turn the power off on all electrical devices and unplug them as well to prevent electrocution and fire.
Never leave your electrical appliance in the shower, bathtub, or sink. For optimum bathroom safety, avoid bringing equipment and devices such as music players, hairdryers or heaters into bathrooms.
All light fixtures and exposed bathroom electrical wiring should be covered to prevent exposure to steam and water. Also replace any switch or outlet showing signs of overuse.
Always have a qualified and licensed electrician conduct any installation in your bathroom. An electrician will help to ensure electrical safety by having sockets and wiring installed according to the necessary regulations.Water is an excellent conductor of electricity. If you were to come into contact with electricity while standing in water or with wet skin the water would create an easy pathway for electricity to pass into your body. This would then lead an electrical shock which can cause burns, damage to your nervous system, heart rate and even death. With improper wiring and a ground fault circuit a fire could even be started. For your optimum protection, it is important to take bathroom electrical safety seriously.