Bristol Gardeners Are Being Urged to 'Think Safety'

Bristol gardeners are being urged to ‘think safety’ before unleashing power tools on overgrowth in their gardens. As the first glimpse of summer arrives following months of heavy rain, the Electrical Safety Council (ESC) warns that gardeners rushing out with power tools to tame unruly gardens are putting themselves in significant danger of fatal electrical shock. Sodden ground, damage to electrical equipment caused by damp and the likelihood of sudden showers all present heightened risk of electrical accidents which, without adequate RCD (Residual Current Device) protection to cut out the power in an event of an unusual surge, could be fatal. Power tools operated outside should always be used with an RCD and following wet weather this is particularly important, but only 48 per cent of people in Bristol take this vital precaution. With unsettled weather patterns causing British gardens to flourish and rain preventing the usual upkeep, the ESC is urging frustrated gardeners to ‘think safety’ before hurrying out to mow lawns and trim hedges with electrical equipment at the first sight of sun. Gardeners are being urged to use RCDs on any power tool used outside at this crucial time. To check if you have fixed RCD protection, go to your fusebox and see if there is a button marked ‘T’ or ‘Test’, which means you are protected. If you do not have this, plug-in RCDs should be used - these can be bought for around £10 from any electrical outlet or hardware store. Source: this is Bristol