Families need to take care with electrical equipment in the garden

As the weather turns dark, wet and to autumn, families are being urged to take extra care when using electrical equipment to light up gardens.

Electricity being used in the home, but especially the garden, has been identified as a real area of risk.

One person in the UK dies every week from an electrical accident within a home environment.

The Electrical Safety Council (ESC) are urging families to take more care, finding that 66 per cent people are endangering their family and friends due to electrical school boy errors.

According to their findings, a staggering 69 per cent of people using electricity in the garden are not making sure their outdoor power sockets are not exposed to rain or water hazards.

Another 38 per cent dice with danger by not using RCD protection when mowing the lawn or using hedge trimmers.

And, a foolish 12 per cent use indoor lighting outside.

Spokesperson from the ESC, Angela Murphy said: “Using an RCD is a simple safety measure but it is vital, especially when doing anything outdoors, where there is increased risk of electric shock. RCDs offer a level of protection that ordinary fuses or circuit breakers cannot provide.”

For more information, visit: www.esc.org.uk