shock hazard -

May is National Electrical Safety Month, and agencies across the country are doling out tips which aim to keep citizens safe from common hazards associated with electrical lines.  The Michigan-based Consumers Energy wants to make sure that adults and kids out playing this summer are protected from harm, while the Energy Education Council’s Safe Electricity program wants people working near power lines to stay safe.  We’d like to relate how you can ensure safety in each regard.

If your children go outside to play, make sure that they know climbing a utility pole is never permissible.  Not only does drawing near to power lines pose a shock hazard, but the child could fall and sustain a serious injury that way.  Similarly, kids should be warned not to climb a tree that’s even in the vicinity of power lines.

To cut down on that latter threat, it’s up to you to make sure you don’t plant trees near power lines.  Those trees will grow quickly after just a couple years, and the situation could prove dangerous if the branches begin to entangle the power lines.  Should you move into a home with such a tree, or a tree that you planted still shoots up around electrical lines despite your best efforts, don’t conduct branch cutting work yourself.  Call a local agency that’s qualified to handle such a job.

A typical summer activity that could prove hazardous when power lines are around is flying a kite.  Make sure your children never participate in this activity anywhere that power lines are in the vicinity, and if somehow a kite does get stuck on the line, the child should move away at once.  You shouldn’t attempt to retrieve the kite without a professional, as the shock which could take place can prove fatal.

If you do have to conduct some type of work around your home and power lines are nearby, it’s imperative that you take certain precautions.  Things like ladders and longer pruning shears need to be kept a safe distance away from the lines; the extended reach of the tools could makes it far easier to contact power lines, especially when the wind is blowing at high speeds.

The proper precautions become particularly important if you have to do any work on your roof.  Think twice about using a blower or water extension around power lines if you’re cleaning the gutters, as this could create a potential shock hazard.

Keep in mind that you don’t always have to even touch a power line to suffer a shock.  Thanks to the arcing phenomenon, it’s possible to be electrocuted within ten feet of the lines.  Thus, you might just consider hiring a professional to do roof work if power lines are that close to your home.

2,200 metal and crystal chandeliers have been recalled by the Chico, California-based Currey & Company.  100 were distributed in Canada, with the rest available across the United States between January 2010 and February of this year.  Various models are affected, but each has one thing in common:  wiring that could be defective and thus transmit electricity to the metal of the chandelier.  If the metal is electrified and a person makes contact with it, he or she could be injured.  Thankfully, no such incidents have been reported at this time.  Owners are being asked to cut power from the chandeliers and get in touch with the company to obtain a replacement product.

For more about the recall, click here.

A company based in Northern California has issued a recall on a series of items that could pose a dual hazard to consumers in the vicinity.  Multiple instances of a defect making itself known have already been reported, and thus owners of the products should take the announcement particularly seriously.

The West Elm branch of the San Francisco-based Williams-Sonoma announced the recall, which affects Industrial Overarching floor lamps.  These 78 inch tall iron and bronze products will have a manufacture date from August of last year through February of this year.  That frame of time encompasses around 900 lamps, each of which was available from West Elm between December and February.

These lamps have joint locking mechanisms that are in danger of experiencing a failure while in use.  The lamp could then fall downward and strike a person positioned beneath.  In addition, the cord can spark when this occurs, leading to a user potentially experiencing a shock.  24 failures have already been reported, ten of which led to a collapse and three of which prompted a spark.

Thankfully, none of those occurrences led a consumer to experience an injury.  Still, consumers are being advised to unplug the lamp as soon as possible.  Once that’s accomplished, the lamp can be sent or brought back to West Elm by those looking to get their money back.

Yet another product is being recalled because of an overheating threat.  It’s important that parents in particular pay attention to this next safety directive, though, as it concerns an item designed for children who probably aren’t as up to date with the latest recall news as their parents might be.

The New Albany, Ohio-based Tween Brands announced the recall, which pertains to Style my Room by Justice Disco Lights.  The recall affects those versions of the item with a style number of 901651 (star disco light) and 900528 (black disco light).  Around 19,100 of these seven inch tall lamps are encompassed within the scope of the recall, and each was available across the country at Justice retailers between May and November of last year.  They cost $24 at that time.

Users can actually gain access to the lamp base’s wiring.  This poses a shock threat, and the lamp can itself overheat.  One incident of the lamp overheating has been reported, as has one occurrence of an individual experiencing shock upon making contact with the wiring.

To make sure that none of these situations befall you, the lamp should be unplugged as soon as possible.  The items can then be brought back to the store, where a refund will be given.

We’re far removed from Christmas, and worrying about decor used in the lead-up to the holiday could thus be the furthest thing from your mind.  But when recalls get issued in regard to holiday items, it’s important that you take care of the issue the moment you hear about it.  If you wait, you might forget, and suddenly that defective item you swore you would bring back for repairs gets put up in your house.

Don’t let that happen to you.  If you’re one of the 700 potential owners of the following recalled item, take action at once.

Pre-lit artificial Christmas trees with clear or multi-colored lights have been recalled by the Redwood City-based Balsam Hill.  The trees come in various sizes and models, but each will have a date code of H1203.  They were available from the Balsam Hill website between last July and December for between $1,250 to $3,550.

The firm has been the recipient of ten reports detailing how the remote control receiver box on the tree overheated to the point where melting occurred.  Thankfully, no one was injured in those incidents.  To make sure other consumers are protected from the burn and shock threat, consumers should get in touch with Balsam Hill at once.  The company will issue replacement components to such persons.

Last month was Bathroom Safety Month across the country, but just because January has come to a close doesn’t mean that safety shouldn’t remain top priority.  A new report takes a look at those things that can be done to ensure safety in the bathroom.  The precautions are directed mainly toward the elderly, but it’s important to think about the tips no matter your age, especially when you consider that most slip and fall incidents occur in this relatively small room.

There are a number of things you can get installed in your bathroom that will make it safer for older adults.  The first might be a toilet that contains a seat that’s higher off the ground.  Still other seats can be found which offer armrests, reducing the chance that a person could fall to one side or the other.  The Americans with Disabilities Act offers approval standards that such equipment has to meet in order to be released to the market.  If the item hasn’t been approved, go with some other unit.

Other equipment can be found which should make your tub safer.  For one thing, think about getting a transfer bench installed.  That way, the person using the bathroom can sit down and then slide over and into the tub.  Getting this component installed can greatly reduce the risk of slipping that’s posed when one has to step over the bath’s lip.  Or if this doesn’t sound like the right course of action, maybe you’ll want to just opt for a step-in shower that doesn’t require the user to lift their feet high into the air.

Also make sure that the sliding doors on any shower are made of components that are not going to shatter.  Many people, when entering the shower, will use the doors to prop themselves up, but this is particularly dangerous when the doors can slide and thus give way beneath a person’s weight.  To prevent this type of incident, considering going with a shower that utilizes a curtain so that the temptation doesn’t exist to reach out and support one’s weight.

One other area that people tend to overlook is the spout that releases water.  If someone falls and hits this section of the tub, the ensuing injuries could be a lot more serious.  Purchase a product made of protective material to go around the spout so that any falls will be at least partially cushioned.

Finally, make sure all outlets in the bathroom are equipped with a ground fault circuit interrupter.  That way, the electricity gets shut off when an appliance makes contact with the water.  It’s just one more way to stay safe while in the bathroom.

A series of items that could lead a user to sustain a shock or incur a burn is being recalled.  Consumers who own these items should not underestimate the threat.

The recall pertains not to fireplaces, but to inserts that can be placed into fireplaces in order to create liquid propane or natural gas effects.  The Gorham, Maine-based Jotul North America announced the recall, which affects Scan and Jotul inserts, each of which will be steel or cast iron and come with ceramic fiber logs and an electrical cord.  1,200 inserts throughout the country are being recalled, as are 50 additional units residing in Canada.

The electrical wiring on these inserts could potentially touch the metal rating plate component.  If this were to occur and a consumer was to come into contact with the insert, he or she could be shocked. It’s also possible that they would be burned.  One person has reportedly sustained these types of injuries already.

These items, which were available from retailers across the United States, cost around $2,200 when they were on sale between June 2010 and September of this year.  To ensure that safety is assured, consumers are being advised to unplug the inserts until such time that they can get free repairs made.  Unplugging also allows consumers to check out the model and serial numbers (the link above lists affected units).

Keep your family safe from harm, and make sure to take care of this issue right away, especially now that the weather is getting cooler.

There has been a recall issued for Legrand Wiremold Power Strips. Over 14,000 units are said to pose an electrical shock hazard due to reversed electrical wires. One incident has been reported, but there has not been an injury brought to the firm’s attention thus far. Immediately unplug this device if you are using it and contact the company. You will receive a refund or a replacement.

Follow this link to learn more about the recall.

Heated mats for pets have been recalled by the Brooklyn, New York-based World Class Inc. There are reports that the mats may catch fire and thus damage property and injure bystanders. In one reported incident, the fire resulted in a dog dying due to asphyxiation. These mats were sold exclusivly through Amazon between July of last year and March of this year. Consumers should immediately take the mats away from their pets and get in touch with World Class to obtain a refund.

Click here to learn more about the recall.

The Bowling Green, Kentucky-based HeathCo LLC  has recalled almost 8,000 Heath/Zenith 270º motion security lights due to the fact that wiring inside of the lights may sustain damage. When the internal wiring is damaged, there is a possibility of shock to the user. Affected units have SL-5414-WH as their model number.  Consumers should unplug the light and get in touch with HeathCo to obtain a replacement fixture at no cost.

Click here to learn more about the recall.