Electricity for the 4-H Scientist Part 11

Make a complete tour of your home and other buildings and see how many hazards you can locate. When you find a hazard, put a tag near it to mark it.

SAFETY TIPS

Put hazard tags _near_ the hazard but _not_ directly on broken or frayed wires, insulators, fittings, or other wiring equipment. Do not touch them either. Badly-frayed wires should be disconnected immediately from the power supply. In this way, you will not expose yourself to shock by accidentally touching an exposed live wire that may be carrying current.

4-H Electric Hazard Hunt Guide

_Wiring and Protective Devices_

1. Cable or conduit splices not in boxes----

2. Cable or conduit not securely clamped in boxes----

3. Conduit or armored cable not properly grounded----

4. Cracked or broken insulators (Figure 2)----

5. Wire not completely covered with insulation----

6. Worn insulation on wire----

[Ill.u.s.tration: Figure 2]

7. Old unused wiring not yet removed----

8. Outlets, junction and switch boxes not securely fastened and covers not in place----

9. Switches not working properly (sparks fly as switch is flipped) (Figure 3)----

10. Fuses not of proper ampere rating for circuit----

11. Extension cord used in place of permanent wiring----

12. Pull chain socket without an insulating link in the chain----

13. Pull chain socket near plumbing fixtures or where hands may be wet or one may stand in water----

[Ill.u.s.tration: Figure 3]

14. No moisture-proof cords for outside weather conditions or heavy rubber cords for motors and motor driven appliances

_Lighting_

1. Fixtures in farm buildings installed so that they might be easily damaged

2. Lights in haymows and other dusty locations not protected by dustproof globes

3. Outside sockets not waterproof

4. Heat lamps not properly supported by non-current carrying wire, chains, or brackets (Figure 4)

5. Light bulbs not frosted, shaded, or placed so that light is diffused to prevent glare

[Ill.u.s.tration: Figure 4]

_Auxiliary Wiring_

1. Outlets overloaded--in other words, "octopus wiring"

2. Extension cords placed under rugs

3. Extension cords run through doorways (Figure 5)

[Ill.u.s.tration: Figure 5]

4. Extension cords or lamp cords should use underwriters' knot (Figure 6)

[Ill.u.s.tration: Figure 6]

5. Plug connections fuzzy (Figure 7)

[Ill.u.s.tration: Figure 7]

6. Extension cords run over heaters or radiators

7. Extension cords, or appliance or lamp cords, worn or frayed

8. Heating appliances without regular asbestos covered wire

9. Open sockets or outlets where a baby or small child might stick a finger or metal toy

10. Broken plugs (Figure 8)----

11. Loose p.r.o.ngs on appliance or lamps plugs----

[Ill.u.s.tration: Figure 8]

How Many Hazards Did You Find?

Make a chart listing the hazards, their locations and what you did about them. Make your own chart and list what you find.

Demonstrations You Can Give

Show and tell others how to have a Hazard Hunt.