Endeavour Energy is encouraging people to put safety first as they dust of their decorations in preparation for Christmas.
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“Light displays are a great part of Christmas but they come with risks of electrical injury and falls,” said Endeavour Energy’s General Manager Safety, Human Resources and Environment Andrew Pitman.
“With this in mind, we are encouraging all our customers to follow some simple tips to safely enjoy decorating their homes.
“The best way to start Christmas celebrations this year is to follow these precautions to keep your family and friends safe.”
As Christmas decorations can deteriorate during storage, Mr Pitman said all lights and cords needed to be carefully checked for signs of damage before use.
“The only place for Christmas lights with a frayed cord or cracked insulation is in the bin.
“When buying new lights and decorations, make sure they meet Australian safety standards.
“If you want to decorate outside your home or in the garden, use lights specifically designed for outdoor use and follow the manufacturers’ installation instructions.
“Never overload power points or power boards by “piggybacking” adaptors and have adequate ventilation around lights and transformers to prevent overheating and the risk of fire.”
Mr Pitman said care was especially required when using ladders to put up lights and decorations, as slips can often easily happen.