This National Gardening Week, NICEIC is highlighting the importance of using an NICEIC-registered electrician to carry out any domestic electrical work, including in the garden.
Debbie Shields | Communications Manager
Whether you’re a beginner or regularly spend time tending to your garden, you may be interested in taking part in this year’s National Gardening Week (28 April – 4 May). The Royal Horticultural Society (RHS) initiative aims to raise awareness of the benefits of gardening and horticulture and encourage more people to take part in what can be a healthy and productive outdoor activity.
With the arrival of warmer weather, many householders will choose to take advantage of the spring and summer months to transform their garden, whether that’s creating a unique green space or the ultimate social hub. Others will use the warmer, drier months to get on top of outdoor jobs that went untouched over the winter.
Although many DIY projects can be tackled safely, electrical work, including work in the garden, requires technical expertise because when done incorrectly it can present a major safety hazard.
Safety first
NICEIC is highlighting the importance of using an NICEIC-registered electrician to carry out any domestic electrical works. DIY electrics can have potentially serious consequences, highlighted by NICEIC’s Don’t Do DIY Electrics campaign.
Research, carried out by YouGov and commissioned by NICEIC, discovered that DIY electrical works are still being carried out in homes across the country despite 89% of UK adults either agreeing or strongly agreeing that undertaking domestic electrical work could be dangerous or life threatening.
This suggests that people are well aware of the risks, but some still choose to attempt DIY electrics. Whilst it may be tempting for householders to look at DIY electrical work to keep costs down, ultimately, it’s a risk that isn’t worth taking, and a false economy which could cost far more to put right.
Simple safety checks
Here are some simple safety checks that householders can carry out in the garden:
Householders can find an NICEIC-registered electrician via the ‘find a trusted tradesperson tool’ on NICEIC’s website.
With the arrival of warmer weather, many householders will choose to take advantage of the spring and summer months to transform their garden, whether that’s creating a unique green space or the ultimate social hub. Others will use the warmer, drier months to get on top of outdoor jobs that went untouched over the winter.
Although many DIY projects can be tackled safely, electrical work, including work in the garden, requires technical expertise because when done incorrectly it can present a major safety hazard.
Safety first
NICEIC is highlighting the importance of using an NICEIC-registered electrician to carry out any domestic electrical works. DIY electrics can have potentially serious consequences, highlighted by NICEIC’s Don’t Do DIY Electrics campaign.
Research, carried out by YouGov and commissioned by NICEIC, discovered that DIY electrical works are still being carried out in homes across the country despite 89% of UK adults either agreeing or strongly agreeing that undertaking domestic electrical work could be dangerous or life threatening.
This suggests that people are well aware of the risks, but some still choose to attempt DIY electrics. Whilst it may be tempting for householders to look at DIY electrical work to keep costs down, ultimately, it’s a risk that isn’t worth taking, and a false economy which could cost far more to put right.
Simple safety checks
Here are some simple safety checks that householders can carry out in the garden:
- Check cables on electrical garden equipment such as lawnmowers, hedge trimmers and leaf blowers for any damage before operating and don’t use if damaged and get them repaired by a professional.
- Ensure electrical equipment that is outdoors, such as outdoor socket-outlets are waterproof and RCD (residual current device) protected. If they aren’t then they shouldn’t be used.
- Keep water-related products such as hoses, sprinklers and paddling pools away from electrical equipment.
- Check manufacturers’ instructions to ensure that all electrical equipment and cabling is suitable for outside use.
Householders can find an NICEIC-registered electrician via the ‘find a trusted tradesperson tool’ on NICEIC’s website.
