ELECTRICAL LEAKAGE

In December 2020, a tragedy happened in Singapore. An old couple accidentally touched the shower head of a water heater, and both were electrocuted to death, suspected of electrical leakage. Their son who visited them at that time tried to rescue his parents, unfortunately was electrocuted as well, and passed away in hospital.

What Should You Do To Prevent Electrical Leakage? 

Energy Market Authority recommends people check the Residual Current Circuit Breaker(RCCB) once a month. Besides, when using electrical appliances, please stay away from wet places, and do not touch appliances with wet hands. Also, try not to overload electrical outlets by plugging in multiple sockets. If electrical sockets or wires are found to be broken or damaged, immediately hire a licensed electronic maintenance worker to repair and replace them. RCCB will automatically trip the power supply if leakage current is detected, so as to avoid the potential damage caused by the leaked current.

It is good to do regular check on Residual Current Circuit Breaker (RCCB). First and foremost, find the test button on the circuit breaker. This test button will only test the RCCB if an electricity supply is connected. Then, by pressing on the test button will simulate an earth leakage fault and indicates whether the breaker is operating correctly. This test button actually shorts the neutral wire feeding the circuit to the neutral bus in the electrical panel creating a ground fault that should trip the breaker.

After pressing and releasing the button rapidly, immediately check if there is any tripped circuit breaker or powered off household appliances. If none of these happens, it simply means that the RCCB has failed and you will need to contact a licensed electronic maintenance worker soonest possible for repair. 

Socket for Heater        

On top of doing regular check up, another precaution step it to install the socket right in the first place. For electrical appliances with large current consumption such as water heater, it has to be installed to an independent circuit, such as a wall outlet. Avoid plugging in the water heater plug to an ordinary socket or shared socket. Do not use an extension cord or power strip, which could overheat and result in a fire. Do not plug any other electrical devices into the same outlet as the heater. If in doubt, please contact a licensed electrician to seek clarification. 

Besides, when buying household appliances, choose products with Electrical Safety Mark (Electrical Safety Mark). These safety-certified appliances have strict designs to protect the safety of users. 

What To Do When Electrocution Happens? 

Rescue victim with an insulated object! Do not go to the injured person immediately, be sure to turn off the power first. You can also shout out loudly and ask others to turn off the main circuit breaker immediately. Remember to use an insulated object such as wooden stick, plastic object etc to move the injured person away from the power supply, then call 995 to summon an ambulance. Do not ever touch the victim with bare hands.   

According to Singapore Red Cross First Aid Manual, electric current entering the human body from the contact point can cause electrical burns. Although the wound may look small, most of the injuries occur inside the body. Electricity usually flows from where the body is in contact with the surface or ground. 

Take Care of Home Safety

Do not underestimate electricity hazard. There could be a malfunction in an appliance, or power could be flowing to ground through a bad connection. Your home also may have numerous phantom loads, power usage from electronics and other devices that continuously draw power even when they appear to be off.   

Again, public is urged to regularly test the RCCB in their house to ensure its functionality. A house wiring system is also recommended to be inspected by qualified electrical contractors every 10-15 years, for any signs of deteriorations. Stay safe at home!