Load-shedding: Know the risks of candles, generators

Leighton Bennett, chairperson of the Safety First Association, discusses the risks involved with using candles and generators during load-shedding.

Candle risks:

• Ensure the candle is placed in a suitable holder if it is a thin candle to prevent it from falling over or dropping hot wax.

• Thick-diameter candles can self-stand but place them on a plate or similar non-flammable object.

• Candles should never be left unattended as they can burn out and cause a fire, especially if left on a combustible surface. Ensure the candle is extinguished before leaving it unattended.

• Remember that thin candles burn out much quicker than thicker-diameter ones.

• Some form of an ignition source (a lighter or match) needs to be used, hopefully by a responsible person, who stores the ignition source away from the reach of children after use.

• Ensure the match is properly extinguished before placing it down, as it still could be hot enough to cause a skin burn or could light combustible items.

• Candle wax burns at a temperature above that of a burning cigarette. With a core temperature of about 650°C in an ashtray, its temperature rises to over 1 000°C when a ‘drag’ is sucked. Such temperatures do cause burn injuries.

ALSO READ: Fire safety precaution tips

Generator risks:

• Generators have flammable fuels and generate noise and carbon monoxide.

• Ensure generators are only operated in well-ventilated areas to avoid carbon monoxide/dioxide vapours causing a toxic inhalation risk. This can result in unconsciousness and death from the inhalation of exhaust fumes.

• Pull-start generators can cause physical strain and injuries during attempting to start.

• Generators do not have earth leakage protection like that installed on the electrical distribution panel/board in buildings. Note that generating electricity is unlikely to trip should one get an electric shock. Suffering a severe electric shock can result in an electrocution fatality. This fatality risk is increased if the generation power extension lead is plugged into a wall socket without an earth leakage device in that circuit. If the generator power supply is connected through an electrical distribution board, the earth leakage device is usually safely fitted within the power supply circuit.

• This shock risk is increased if the generator is not earthed, which means it has to be connected to an earth spike driven into the ground

• Some generators are being plugged into the house/office wall plug using an extension lead with a double male electrical plug fitted, which is hazardous as the plug pins could be live if the extension is plugged into a running generator. Such a practice is illegal in terms of the electrical wiring codes and will be considered gross negligence should a fatality occur.

• For safety have an earth leakage protection device fitted extension box made for your generator (an example on the right the earth leakage switch is green and has a white circuit breaker) and connect all extension leads from this earth leakage box, not directly from the generator. This box will trip the electricity if there is any electrical shock or short to earth.

• All generators have a maximum output capacity. If it is plugged into a house system where this power demand could be exceeded it is likely to blow the generator’s electronics.

• To calculate your maximum demand, add the Watts marked on all electrical appliances, and lights, that you would require to run off generator power. Your generator will need to have an output of Watts greater than your demand total, where a Watt = Volts X Amps.

NOTE: Watts (W) = Amps X Volts. Where a kettle uses 2 000W of power to heat water, it will require 2000W/220v = 9.1 amps of power to operate.

Using this formula and adding up the Watts of each appliance/item you would want to use together gives you the required capacity or size of the generator you would need to acquire as your emergency power source.

You would not be able to use high-power demand items, like geysers, stoves, ovens and appliances like kettles, toasters, grillers, hairdryers and irons, which each require thousands of watts to operate.

Look on the appliance’s manufacturer’s plate for the appliance’s operational usage Watt value.

ALSO READ: Generator causes house fire in Plantation