Are you buzzing? Do you have your senses switched on to electrical dangers?
25 January 2012
Not many years ago, She Who Must Be Obeyed was doing her usual frantic vacuum cleaning, dashing round from room to room, the electric lead at full stretch, not enough time to keep changing the socket the cleaner was plugged into.
I was calmly walking by when I noticed the cleaner's plug was glowing with a small flame that was just starting to melt the interior of the plug body. Having weighed up the pros and cons of interfering with the cleaning activities, or seeing a small fire and possibly worse, I decided to switch off the socket and pull the over-hot plug out very gingerly. Clearly there was a problem.
Solution AÂ - kindly buy her a dust pan and brush to replace the vacuum cleaner.
Solution BÂ - change the plug, check the appliance and explain why using lead at leads at tension can break down the connections within the plug or appliance and that can lead to fire or electrocution.
Solution CÂ - change the plug, check the appliance and do the vacuuming yourself, with the full knowledge of the risks and how to avoid them.
You choose...
I'm revealing this personal experience to highlight the fact it is the first national Electrical Fire Safety Week  (23-29 Jan 2012). Electrics on boats, whether they are the most complex 230V systems, or if it is a simple 12v circuit and/or item of equipment, carries a risk of fire.
This means that, every crew member needs to keep all of his or her senses alive to any hint of a problem with any electrical equipment and appliances.
- If trouble is suspected, don't let a situation drift; react to any danger signs
- plugs that feel hot to the touch
- burn marks at sockets, plugs, fuses or circuit breakers
- heat damage to cables
- burning smells, sounds of arcing (buzzing or crackling)
- appliances that run at a temperature higher than seems right
- fuses blowing or circuit breakers tripping repeatedly
- an RCD breaker that trips and wont reset
- a reversed polarity warming light on your consumer unit
And if you think there's a problem, don't use the electrical equipment again, instead, isolate the power and don't use it before having any fault sorted out by somebody competent. Alternatively, if it is better to replace the kit, dispose of the dangerous item responsibly at a waste recycling centre.
I'm off now, the kids have just brought in a load of muck off their shoes, the dog's hair is everywhere, SWMBO has just handed me the dustpan & brush and she has poured herself a nice glass of red. Where are those knee pads...
Have you ever had an electrical fire or close shave on your boat? Let the Rob know about your experience by emailing Robert.McLean@britishwaterways.co.uk
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2 responses to this post
Rob (BSS) said...
Reply to Graham P: She said Solution D was not permissible (as that would be off-topic)
Graham Phillips said...
You missed solution D Change wife.