gardening
Summer Garden Safety Campaign Urges ‘Take Five’ To Save Lives..
A new survey commissioned by the Electrical Safety Council (ESC) shows that nearly half of women gardeners may be risking their lives this summer because they’ve never used or haven’t heard of an RCD (residual current device).
An RCD is a life-saving device which is designed to protect you from getting a fatal electric shock if you touch something live, such as a bare wire. RCD protection is particularly important whilst using mains-powered electrical equipment outdoors, where there is an increased risk of electric shock.
Almost half of women surveyed have either never used or have never heard of an RCD (23% and 26% respectively) and women are also less likely than men to consider the potential dangers of electrical gardening equipment (47% vs 56%). This is despite the fact a previous survey2 has shown that a quarter of women have experienced at least one electric shock during their lifetime while at home or in the garden.
So, as the days get longer, the ESC is urging all gardeners and, in particular women, to take five minutes to check they are protected by an RCD and that wires and plugs for equipment such as lawnmowers and hedge trimmers - which have been languishing in the shed all winter – are all intact.
Lorraine Carney, Head of Campaigns at the ESC says: “Contrary to popular belief our survey shows that when it comes to gardening, women aren’t always safety conscious. Just over a third say that before gardening they rarely take the time to check for signs of damage, such as looking at cables and plugs on electrical gardening equipment. Without RCD protection, this could be potentially fatal. Our summer message is very straightforward - do a simple safety check to ensure you have RCD protection, which could one day save your life.
Matthew Biggs, presenter of Channel 4’s ‘Garden club’ and a panellist on BBC Radio 4’s ‘Gardener’s Question Time’ says: “Having nearly done it myself a couple of times, I know how easy it is to cut the cable of an electrical hedge trimmer. Don’t push your luck when using electrical equipment in the garden - be sure to check your appliances for faulty cables and always use an RCD. Sensible gardeners stay safe.”
Figures derived from government data show about 70 people a year die from electrical accidents in and around UK homes.3 Many of these accidents could have been prevented by an RCD. The ESC recommends you check your consumer unit (or fusebox) to ensure you have RCD protection4 – particularly in those sockets you use for gardening. If you don’t have it, as a temporary measure, you can pick up a plug-in RCD for just £10 in a DIY or garden centre.