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Extension Cord Safety

Safety Toolbox Talk Webmaster
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The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) estimates that each year, about 4,000 injuries associated with electric extension cords are treated in hospital emergency rooms. About half of the injuries involve fractures, lacerations, contusions or sprains from people tripping over extension cords. CPSC also estimates that about 3,300 residential fires originate in extension cords each year, killing 50 people and injuring about 270 others. The most frequent causes of such fires are short circuits, overloading, damage and/or misuse of extension cords.

Today we'll look at some tips for use of extension cords


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Lance's Avatar
Lance replied the topic: #344
A common error is to use an extension cord coiled up, or partly coiled, it causes excessive heat buildup in the cord softening the insulating plastics resulting in a short.
The cord should be wound up by rolling in circular fashion or unrolled, not twisted around ones arm, cords last longer like this because the wires inside the cable are twisted together and tighten or loosen. Then the cord becomes kinked.