HISTORY
The Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI—formerly the National Electrical Safety Foundation) was founded as a nonprofit 501(c)(3) in 1994 in a joint effort by the National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA), Underwriters Laboratories (UL) and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). The Foundation was established to promote electrical safety in the home, school and workplace through public education about electrical hazards and the preventative measures we can take to avoid property damage, litigation, personal injury and death due to electrical accidents. The foundation's main annual activity is sponsorship and promotion of May as National Electrical Safety Month.
In addition to its annual National Electrical Safety Month kit, published for, and distributed to, organizations wishing to conduct Safety Month campaigns in their own communities, Our library of resources now includes eleven publications including a workplace power line awareness brochure, coloring and activities for kids in the Mr. Plug Fun Book, available in both pre-kindergarten and K-3 rd grade versions, and Spanish language versions of our popular Indoor and Outdoor Electrical Safety Check booklets, bookmarks, and home electrical safety quiz and ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) posters.
The Foundation serves as a resource for the general public and the media on electrical safety issues. The Foundation answers hundreds of e-mail and phone inquiries from consumers, safety workers, and the media, and issues timely and topical news releases on various topics related to electrical safety.
The Foundation also engages in proactive, broad based public education and awareness campaigns on such topics as the need for monthly testing of home ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCIs), safety awareness related to overhead and buried power lines and residential electrical equipment, and the importance of having homes electrically inspected.
Funding for the Foundation is provided by annual contributions from electrical manufacturers, utilities, independent testing laboratories, trade associations and electrical unions and other organizations interested in electrical safety. In 1999, ESFI engaged in its "Light a Beacon for Safety" endowment campaign, raising approximately $3.6 million, interest from which also supports Foundation programs.
The Board of Directors has grown to include senior management and executive leadership from 20 of North America's largest businesses and associations with an interest in electrical safety, including UL, NEMA, Eaton/Cutler-Hammer, Leviton Manufacturing, CSA Group, Connector Manufacturing, the National Electrical Contractors Association, the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, E.I. DuPont, Siemens, Ball State University, the National Fire Protection Association, Cooper Power Systems, ETL Semko, General Cable, National Consumer League, IAEI, Pass & Seymour/Legrand, and the USDA Extension Services.
The Foundation changed its name to the Electrical Safety Foundation International in 2001 to better reflect its international board representation and program reach. The name also facilitates consumers and others in reaching the Foundation in searches on electrical safety resources and information, and bolsters its image in fundraising efforts. Many of its publications are distributed through global networks of organizations like UL, DuPont and GE, who distribute them to their employees and field offices.