More individuals are working from home due to COVID-19.
May is National Electrical Safety Month. It provides a good reminder regarding electrical safety, particularly around the home.
“Wherever you work, it’s always important to be safe,” said Yakima Fire Chief Aaron Markham. “That’s especially true now with more and more people working at home.”
The Yakima Fire Department (YFD) and the non-profit Electrical Safety Foundation International offer the following home office safety tips:
- Avoid overloading outlets
- Regularly inspect electrical cords and extension cords for damage
- Extension cords should only be used on a temporary basis
- Never run cords under rugs/carpets, doors, or windows
- Plug in smartly. Make sure cords do not become tripping hazards
- Keep papers and other potential combustible materials at least three feet away from space heaters and other heat sources
- Make sure you use proper wattage for lamps/lighting
- Make sure your home has smoke alarms. Test them monthly,
Visit https://yakimafire.com/ for more about YFD.