Electrical Hazards
Community Fire Safety Operational Guide
Lesson
Focus
Notes
Lesson
Objectives
Thusands of fires are caused by electrical hazards each year.
It is important to know how to use electrical appliances safely.
• The focus of this lesson is to emphasize to the participant what
creates an electrical hazard and what to look for and avoid.
Objective 1.
Teach the participant what represents an
electrical hazard.
Objective 2.
Teach the participant how to prevent electrical
hazards.
Objective 3.
Teach the participant what to do in the event of an
electrical hazard fire.
Notes
Suggested
Teaching Props
Electrical Hazards
Instructor Guidleline
• Handouts for all participants
• Bring an extension cord and multi-plug adapters overloaded with
cords to emphasize the focus of the lesson
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Electrical Hazards
Community Fire Safety Operational Guide
Instructional
Points
Notes
Notes
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Instructor Guidleline
According to the US Fire Administration, electrical fires
claim almost 500 American lives each year and injure five
times that number. Some electrical hazards include:
• Frayed electrical cords
• Improperly sized outlets and circuits
• Home appliances in need of repair. They most often involve electric
stoves, ovens, dryers, central heating units, TV’s and radios.
• Overloaded electrical cords or outlets
• Dryers needing cleaning and repair
• Seasonal decorations
After recognizing what represents an electrical hazard the next
step is to know how to correct the hazard. Most
avoidable electrical fires are due to overloaded circuits, poor
maintenance and running cords under rugs in high traffic
areas. Explain to the participant how to:
• Routinely check electrical appliances and wiring for frayed cords and
damages. Replace damaged equipment.
• Check for overloaded circuits. Eliminate excess extension cords and
consider having additional outlets installed by an electrician.
• Make sure all electrical appliances are away from water and wet
areas. Hair dryers, curling irons, toasters by sinks…etc.
• Explain Ground Fault Interrupter (GFI) circuits and how they work.
A GFI monitors the amount of current flowing from hot to neutral.
If there is any imbalance, it trips the circuit. It is able to sense a
mismatch as small as 4 or 5 milliamps, and it can react as quickly
as one-thirtieth of a second.
• Keep children away from all electrical appliances. Emphasize the
importance of teaching children to stay away from appliances such as
space heaters, toasters, coffee makers and stoves.
• Emphasize the fire danger of curtains, dish towels, loose clothing
and other combustibles placed too close to heating appliances.
• Use three prong plugs in three prong outlets. Do not force a three
prong plug in a two prong slot.
• Check all power tools regularly as you would other
household appliances.
• Never run extention cords through doorways
• Never use extention cords to replace permenent wiring.
• Remove cords that are under rugs.
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Electrical Hazards
Electrical Hazards
Community
Community Fire
Fire Safety
Safety Operational
Operational Guide
Guide
Instructional
Points
Notes
Instructor
Instructor
Guidleline
Guidleline
In the event of an electrical emergency, it is important to
know how to react. Emphasize to the participant:
• If the appliance is arcing, burning or smoking, turn off the circuit
breaker and call 9-1-1.
• Know where to turn off the main circuit breaker at the
electrical panel.
• If an appliance is giving off a funny odor or is not operating properly,
unplug the appliance.
• Use fire extinguishers rated for class “C” fires if you are going
to try to extinguish the fire.
• Evacuate yourself and others from the dwelling.
• Mark all circuit breakers to identify what area/receptacle they control.
Participant Review
1. Describe three electrical
hazards.
Overloaded circuits,
improperly sized circuits,
appliances too close to
combustibles.
2. What fire extinguisher type
is rated for electrical fires? “C”
3. What is a GFI?
Ground Fault Interrupter
4. It is always safe to run cords
under rugs and carpet.
True or False
5. Describe three things to do
in the event of an
electrical fire.
Call 9-1-1, turn off the main
circuit breaker, evacuate
Electrical Hazards
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