Ten Top Tips for a Safe Christmas

This festive season, the Electrical Safety Roundtable (ESR) has launched Ten Top Tips for a Safe Christmas. The ESR Social Housing Sub-Group have put together this guide, which advises consumers on keeping safe when decorating this holiday season.

1. Ensure you purchase your lights from a reputable manufacturer or retailer.
2. Follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
3. If you need to use access equipment, ensure you have the right equipment. Check that all equipment to be used is in good working condition, with no visible damage.
4. Consider using LED lights as they are safer and cheaper to run.
5. Before installing lights, especially for existing decorative lighting, check the condition of the lights, check for damage and check that they work correctly.
6. Create a plan on how you are going to install the lights, check possible routes for the lights, potential obstructions, fixing methods and use RCD-protected socket-outlets for any lighting or features installed outside.
7. Avoid overloading socket-outlets or extension leads with too many decorative lights or electrical devices. This may lead to overloads, which could cause a fire.
8. If installing lights outside, use LED weather-resistant lights as they are safer, designed to be installed outside and cheaper to run.
9. If installing lights outside, use weatherproof sockets that are designed for outdoor use; these sockets protect against moisture and ensure safe power connections for your outdoor decorative light.
10. Turn off all decorative lights before leaving home or going to sleep.

Martin Simmonds, ESR Social Housing Chair, said: “As we enter the festive season, it is key that we educate homeowners and tenants around electrical safety.

When installing decorative lights, you need to think about whether the existing lights are damaged, the condition of the equipment, overloaded sockets and the weather conditions if installing lights outdoors.“

View Ten Top Tips for a Safe Christmas