Be 'power safe' this winter!

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 14, Issue 643, 2 July 1996, Page 8

Be 'power safe' this winter!

A major campaign to reduce house fires caused by misuse of electric or gas heating has been mounted by the Ministry of Commerce. Using the message "If it can heat you, it can hurt you", the campaign aims to help reduce the significant levels of property loss and personal injury and death that result from fires caused by electric or gas heating appliances.

It targets the misuse and inadequate maintenance of electric and gas heating appliances, mainly heaters, particularly radiant heaters, and electric blankets. Chief electrical engineer Peter Morfee said it is not commonly understood that house fires caused by electric heating appliances are responsible for at least as many deaths in New Zea-

land as electrocution. But unlike electrocution, house fires stemming from home heating appliances carry a huge additional personal cost of maiming as well as property destruction. For every personkilled in a house fire, a far larger number are burned or injured in some way. The victims include a disproportionate number of older people and children

under 14 years. The dangers for both groups are increased by the fact that they are less able to escape once a fire has taken hold. In a special study, carried out by the Injury Prevention Research Unit at Otago Medical School, based on house fires between 1 978 and 1987, electrical appliances were the source of around a quarter of the house fires where chil-

dren under 14 died. Mr Morfee Said the campaign did not set out to frighten people about electric and gas heating equipment, the safety of which has improved markedly in recent years. "Instead, we are setting out to encourage common sense and greater respect for heating appliances and the damage they can cause if improperly used." Mr Morfee said the standards for the design and manufacture of electric and gas heating appliances are internationally recognised. Electric heaters sold in New Zealand are also approved by his office. "It is not the appliances themselves, but the people who use — or misuse — them that are the target of this campaign." Fire Service figures show that in the last 10 years faulty electric blankets have caused an average 125 house fires annually. Electric heaters have been identified as having caused an average of 143 house fires during the past three years (116 non-wall mounted). Figures for electric heaters go back only three years, due to a change in the way the statistics are collected. New Zealand Fire Service national adviser on fire hazard management, Stu Rooney, said the Fire Service was in full sup-

port of the campaign. "The Fire Service is placing an increasing emphasis on prevention which is exactly what this campaign is about," Mr Rooney said. "Our most fundamental role must be to ensure people are aware of the hazards and can act responsibly so as to prevent fire in the first place." A key part of the campaign is the "If it can heat

you, it can hurt you" booklet, which can be obtained by calling 0800-888-196. The office of the chief electrical engineer is funded by a levy on all electricity sold in the country. Its role is to administer the Electricity Act and electricity regulations, which set safety requirements for electricity from generation through transmission and distribution, to its final use in appliances.