FAO DIYers

[Andy78]

Press Releases News : Electrical Safety Council


An article from the Electrical safety council about the dangers of overconfidence and lack of knowledge when it comes to electrical work in the home.

Electricians say they are spending an increasing amount of time repairing such blunders and are concerned that ‘Dive-in DIYers’ are endangering themselves and their families. This is a serious concern – someone dies as a result of an electrical accident in their home every week in the UK, and electricity is the cause of 350,000 serious injuries each year, as well as half of all house fires.


And FAO forum members

The overconfidence partly comes from relying on the advice of unqualified friends or family (half of those surveyed said they do this) or seeking help online where the advice might not be appropriate – two fifths of people say they use Google to get tips and the same number use online video tutorials, such as on YouTube.

 

[telectrix]

That is one of my pet hates t&e connected to plug tops

i agree. much easier to just wedge the T/E L&N into the socket holes using a plug to keep 'em in. :21:

 

[gnuuser]

youll never stop the diyers

some diy try to do things on the cheap to save some money because lets face it fellas times are hard for a lot of people, not just us sparks.
but its the ones who have a go at it without at least learning properly that are playing with fire.
appliances are the major factor in electrical fires and most of it stems from neglect and abuse.
incorrect wiring issues crop up when they are not trained to thoroughly check out how a device is wired or have knowledge to wiring standards.
while i will advise them to please have the work done by a qualified spark I cannot stop them.
and yes i fully agree that you tube should not allow posting of electrical wiring procedures, or locksmithing procedures

 

[Lucien Nunes]

I agree with Des here - you have to be careful with the figures to distinguish between the accidents caused by faulty work such as bodged installations, and ordinary ignorance or criminality on the part of the user. For example, I bet the total figure includes accidents from people trying to bypass meters, connect supplies where the DNO has cut them off, change light bulbs standing barefoot on the kitchen sink with the circuit live, use hairdryers in the bath... all things that have little to do with how well installation work is done or how the trade is regulated. It would be interesting to compare the figures with these 'natural selection' factors removed.

It's like fairground safety - fairground rides are actually pretty safe, even allowing for the stupidity factor. The widely published figures for accidents include all the numbskulls trying to defeat the safety interlocks and climb out of their seats, and generally pratting about on rides and doing things the ride operator tells them not to. Remove these and rides turn out to be very safe indeed.

 

[amo]

There's too much ££ to be made out of the Electrical Trainee schemes that's why the government has relaxed the part poop law. Now even more diyers can botch up the work and have more accidents and fires.

 

[Marvo]

I agree with Des here - you have to be careful with the figures to distinguish between the accidents caused by faulty work such as bodged installations, and ordinary ignorance or criminality on the part of the user. For example, I bet the total figure includes accidents from people trying to bypass meters, connect supplies where the DNO has cut them off, change light bulbs standing barefoot on the kitchen sink with the circuit live, use hairdryers in the bath... all things that have little to do with how well installation work is done or how the trade is regulated.

Cable theft is a big killer in my country as well

 

[Guest111]

As I said in an email to Dan the other day,this diy thing has got silly if we tell a diy er to get a spark it's either " why it's not that hard" or a load of abuse.The thing is if it wasn't that hard why are they on here asking?The problem with giving advice is people don't always follow it completely,look back a while i'm sure we've all seen a shower in 6mm that should be 10 mm,because "have you seen the price of 10mm?"a lot of diy people will do this and one day it will come back to bite the person who gave the advice,a lot of shops won't give advice because of this and lets be honest if the case warranted it it wouldn't be that hard to find someone on the net.

 

[Marvo]

There's too much ££ to be made out of the Electrical Trainee schemes that's why the government has relaxed the part poop law. Now even more diyers can botch up the work and have more accidents and fires.

I think from a forum point of view part p and Electrical Trainee training schemes are part of the UK electrical landscape. I'm not saying we've got to like it but there are a high number of fast-track domestic installers that have a legal right to earn their living as an electrician. From a forum point of view I don't think it's fair to discriminate against them, as long as they're operating within the law and especially if they're recognised by the scheme providers who are we to exclude them?

 

[Gasmeter65]

I had my car valeted yesterday and the guy plugged his vac into a tatty old extension lead that was actually T&E terminated into a plugtop. This was plugged into a standard socket outlet which was mounted basically outdoor, and fed by 1mm T&E. God know where the feed came from but looked like it was fed from a sign light.

I bet it hadn't even been PAT tested either !!

 

[decolad69]

I have been on one or two DIY electrical forums, and asked a few basic questions, the most alarming thing is the focus is how to get round the notification of electrical works. One of the main contributors doling out advice would advise " install a FCU and add as many sockets as you require .......... in kitchen ...... no requirement to earth a conduit ........ these posts go on for days.

Decolad69

 

[sean_ork]

how many of you lot have done work on your own motor vehicle ?

 

[Guest111]

how many of you lot have done work on your own motor vehicle ?[/QUOTE I have but I have a qualification in vehicle engineering.

 

[davethsparky]

how many of you lot have done work on your own motor vehicle ?

I have, but have learned what I need from my grandad who is a time-served diesel fitter.

What's your point?

 

[Phil]

how many of you lot have done work on your own motor vehicle ?

I have but only electrical. I have fitted sat navs and alarms, stereos and phone kits.
tbh one thing I have never and would never touch is the brakes. be it pads or handbrakes or whatever. I would rather pay someone to do it for me or as i normally do my cousin does my car bits i need doing and i do his electrics

 

[decolad69]

Your grandad knew what he was talking about. Unlike these arses on DIY sites .

 

[micknew]

youll never stop the diyers

Agree, especially when they know that SOME members of this forum will rush in an effort to be the first to answer there questions even when its obvious they are DIYers.