To ensure a safe experience when working on maintenance or lighting projects, it is crucial to adhere to safety tips. This way, you can avoid lighting-related injuries such as accidental burns. Read on to discover four key lighting safety tips.
1. Wait Until the Bulbs Cool Before Changing Them
Research shows that many Americans have experienced burns while changing light bulbs. It is essential to take sufficient time to prevent such incidents from happening. Fixtures such as incandescent bulbs produce a lot of heat when on. Therefore, you must let them cool before you try to replace them.
2. Avoid Changing Bulbs With Bare Hands
Handling a bulb with your bare hands is highly discouraged. It can not only lead to accidental burns, but applying too much pressure on the glass may also cause the bulb to shatter. Consider wearing work gloves to ensure you are safe throughout the process. If work gloves are not nearby, you can use a towel or cloth to protect yourself from physical injuries due to accidental burns and/or glass shards.
3. Do Not Exceed the Wattage Specification
Exceeding a wattage specification can lead to over-lamping a fixture, which, in turn, can come with several challenges. A good example is using a 200-watt solution in a fixture rated to use a maximum of 60 watts. Such actions can lead to the entire fixture failing to work or, even worse, bulbs shattering and potentially causing injuries to people and pets nearby. Exceeding the wattage specification can also lead to electrical damage and potentially cause fires.
4. Use the Right Bulb Types
Professional electricians advise that you only use the types of bulbs specified for a particular fixture. Some fixtures are designed with versatility in mind, allowing you to plug many different types of bulbs into their sockets. But before you do this, it is recommended that you check what types of bulbs they work with. Plugging in unsupported bulbs can cause electrical damage and even accidental fires.
5. Consider Installing Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCI)
GFCI offers added protection for both indoor lighting and outdoor lighting. It is one of the easiest yet crucial ways to protect your home against electrical shock accidents. Have a professional install GFCI outlets in your house for the best results.
To summarize, most homeowners do not consider the above safety tips when handling lighting fixtures. However, these safety tips are essential since they can help prevent injuries and even electrical damage. If you are a resident of Rochester, MN, call Paxton Electric today for professional lighting services.
