An appliance which repeatedly blows a fuse or trips a circuit breaker could indicate a defect that may cause a fire or electrical shock. Unplug the appliance immediately and have it repaired or replace.
- Make certain all small appliances and tools are approved by an independent testing laboratory, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL), ETL-SEMKO (ETL) or Canadian Standards Association (CSA).
- Use small appliances and power tools according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Unplug all small electrical appliances, such as hair dryers, shavers, curling irons, clothes irons, and toasters, when not in use.
- Be sure you have ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) protection anywhere electricity and water are within six feet of each other, such as in your kitchen, bathroom and outdoors, to protect against electric shock.
- Take any damaged electrical appliance or tool to an authorized repair center, or cut the cord, safely dispose of the item, and purchase a new one.
- Never reach into water to get an appliance that has fallen in without being sure the appliance is unplugged or the circuit is shut off.
- To make sure appliances are in good condition, look for breaks in power cords, plugs or connectors.
- Remember, electricity and water don’t mix. Keep all electrical cords and products such as radios, TVs, hairdryers and curling irons away from water in a sink or tub.
- Keep appliance cords as short as possible to avoid accidents such as tripping or knocking the appliance over.
