Electrical Safety Matters

SP0009

Resource Description
Understanding fuses and their ratings helps pupils to appreciate their role as safety devices and subsequently how to use electricity
safely in the home. The Fire Service all too often sees the consequences of electrical accidents and so are well placed to teach this
element.

National Curriculum
Key Stage 2/Citizenship
Key Stage 2/PSHE
Key Stage 2/Science
Key Stage 3/PSHE
Key Stage 3/Science

QCA
Key Stage 2/Science/Unit 4F – Circuits and conductors
Key Stage 2/Science/Unit 6G – Changing circuits
Key Stage 3/Science/Unit 7J – Electrical circuits

Resources

Electrical Gloves
Worksheet - ‘Electrical Safety Matters – Common sense guidelines’
- ‘Electrical Safety Matters – Electrical dangers in the home’
Possibly examples of fuses, plugs

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Lesson Plan
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Introduction
2 mins
Introduce yourselves i.e. FFs …….. from …….. fire station.
Explain that you are on duty and may be called away (if applicable).
Establish the classroom ground rules i.e. hands up, no calling out.

Aims and Objectives

2 mins
To educate pupils about electrical circuits, fuses and electrical safety
To ensure pupils will understand how fuses work as safety devices and understand how to use electricity safely in the home

Starter Activity
6 mins
Which appliances in your home are powered by a) batteries? and b) mains electricity?
Why is this? This is because some appliances require a lot more electricity to operate and batteries cannot easily provide
this. Mention that mains electricity is very dangerous and can be fatal so we must be very careful when using it.
Recap / Introduce some basic electrical safety.
Never touch electrical sockets/switches (lights) with wet hands
Never use electrical equipment in the bathroom
Never stick anything into an electrical socket
Any of the above could result in electrocution

Main Activity
30 mins

It is possible for faults to develop in electrical circuits which may lead to the circuit conducting more electricity than it is designed to
do; this can cause overheating of the circuit or components which could lead to fire.
In order to prevent this from happening appliances and circuits are fitted with fuses (usually located in the plug).
Explain how fuses work. A fuse is a simple component in series that breaks the circuit if there is too much electricity flowing
through the circuit. A fuse is essentially a piece of wire that conducts electricity. If the electricity in the circuit increases then more
electricity is forced through the same wire, this causes the wire to heat up. If this continues then the fuse wire will get to a point
where it gets too hot, melts and breaks. With the fuse wire broken no current can flow through the circuit. This will prevent any
other parts of the circuit overheating and possibly causing a fire. The circuit will not be able to operate again until the fuse is
replaced. Fuses come in different sizes depending on what circuit they are in.

Table 1 shows what fuse ratings should be used with various appliances.

Explain what would happen if the wrong size fuse is put into the circuit.
Fuse too small = Fuse will break before enough current can be generated to operate parts in the circuit.
Fuse too large = Fuse will not break at a low enough current and other parts of the circuit may overheat first and catch fire
Which one is more dangerous? Fuse too large

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Fuses can come in all shapes and sizes. Mini Circuit Breakers (MCBs) and Residual Current Devices (RCDs) perform the same
function but have the advantage of being able to be reset using a switch and are more sensitive.
Explain that a common accident when using electricity occurs when electric lawnmowers run over the power lead. Ask the pupils if
they know what happens in this case?
Ensure that they understand if the power lead is cut it could cause a short circuit and because electricity will always find
the easiest route it can travel up the mower and through the operator, resulting in electrocution.
In order to stop this from happening an RCD can be put in the circuit (usually between the plug and the socket), this will break the
circuit if a short circuit occurs.
Show Electrical gloves and explain situations when we may need to use them. Ask why the pupils think that we are safe to touch
some things safely with these on.
They should recognise it is safer for us because of the material of which the gloves are made (insulator) and that they are
regularly tested. Explain however they are only safe to use up to a certain level and that it is still dangerous.

Apart from using the correct fuses we should be able to spot other electrical hazards in the home.
Danger signs include:
Hot plugs and sockets
Fuses blowing for no obvious reason
Flickering lights
Scorch marks on sockets or plugs
Keep liquids away from electrical appliances, plugs and sockets.
Keep the toaster clean and away from overhanging obstructions i.e. curtains
Do not overload sockets as this could lead to overheating
Do not use plugs with coloured wires sticking out of the bottom or power leads that have been taped together

Closing Activity
10 mins
Complete the ‘Electrical Safety Matters’ worksheet.
or log on to www.staywise.co.uk/activities and play the ‘Dangers in the Kitchen’ game.

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 Electrical Safety Matters

All appliances should come with a handbook containing details of the power rating in Watts. This
table shows the correct fuse size for various power ratings.
Table 1
This table could be drawn on the board getting the pupils to help fill it out. See if pupils know
how much power each appliance uses; see if they recognise that a larger fuse is needed for
more powerful appliances.

Power Rating Fuse Rating

Up to 720 Watts (Television, Radio) 3 Amps

From 720 – 1200 Watts (Vacuum cleaner) 5 Amps

From 1200 – 3000 Watts (Kettle) 13 Amps

1) Imagine a simple circuit with a vacuum cleaner that has a power rating of 1000 Watts, (the correct
fuse rating is 5 Amps) but some one has used a 3 Amp fuse in the plug. What will happen if someone
uses the vacuum cleaner?
‘3 Amp’ ‘1000 Watts’

The vacuum cleaner is designed to work at a higher power rating than the fuse will allow so the fuse
will blow and break the circuit. This will continue to happen if a fuse with too low a rating is put in.

2) What about a simple circuit with a computer that has a power rating of 400Watts, (the correct fuse
rating is 3 Amps) some one has put a 5 Amp fuse in the plug. What will happen if someone uses the
computer?
‘5 Amp’ ‘400 Watts’

The computer has a power rating of 400 Watts and so a 3 Amp fuse would prevent too much power
passing through the circuit and possibly overheating the computer. As the wrong fuse has been put in
it will allow too much power through the circuit without blowing the fuse and so could overheat the
computer and cause a fire.

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 Pupil Sheet

Electrical Safety Matters

Common sense guidelines when using Electricity

Never_____________electrical sockets or light switches with_____________ _____________.

Never use electrical equipment in the__________________.

Never stick_______________into an ________________ ________________.

Do not touch bare or freyed wires because you could receive an electric _________________.

If too many appliances are plugged into a single socket it may ________________ and cause a

________.

As a safety measure most appliances are fitted with a plug which contains a________________.

In your own words describe what these devices are and how they protect a circuit if a fault or short

circuit occurrs.

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

What advice could you give to someone who finds a person who might have had an electric shock?

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________________________

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 Answer Sheet

Electrical Safety Matters

Common sense guidelines when using Electricity

Never touch electrical sockets or light switches with wet hands.

Never use electrical equipment in the bathroom.

Never stick a knife into an electric toaster.

Do not touch bare or freyed wires because you could receive an electric shock.

If too many appliances are plugged into a single socket it may overheat and cause a fire.

As a safety measure most appliances are fitted with a plug which contains a fuse.

In your own words describe what these devices are and how they protect a circuit if a fault or short

circuit occurrs.

A fuse is a piece of wire which conducts electricity. As electricity in the circuit increases and

flows through the wire, the wire heats up. If this continues the fuse wire will get too hot, melt

and break the circuit, preventing overheating of any other part of the circuit and stopping any

fire.

What advice could you give to someone who finds a person who might have had an electric shock?

Firstly switch off the current. If not possible take a non-conductive item e.g. broom handle

and push away the source of the current. Then check to establish if the patient is breathing. If

not use Resuscitation techniques and call for emergency aid. Always advise a medical

checkup as there may be internal injuries even if external burns appear minor.

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 Pupil Sheet

Electrical Safety Matters

Electrical dangers in the home

In the picture you should find at least 10 dangers.

Circle them and say why you think they are
dangerous.

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 Answer Sheet

Electrical Safety Matters

Electrical dangers in the home

Pupil Question:
In the picture you should find at least 10 dangers.
Circle them and say why you think they are dangerous.

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