The Electrical Safety Council (ESC), in partnership with a range of leading electrical wholesalers, is launching a ‘toolkit’ for electricians. Designed to help contractors communicate the benefits of RCD protection to customers, the pack is part of the ESC’s flagship Plug into Safety campaign. From the 3rd September thousands of packs containing key information about the importance of RCD protection will be available from leading wholesalers throughout the UK and two million leaflets will be distributed via retail and trade outlets.
The Plug into Safety campaign aims to reduce the number of electrical accidents in the home by encouraging the installation and habitual use of RCDs. Every year in the UK about 70 people die and 1.2 million are injured in electrical accidents at home. The Plug into Safety campaign is working with all elements of the electrical industry – including industry bodies, RCD manufacturers, electricians, and wholesalers – to encourage householders to check their electrics and install RCD protection.
Phil Buckle, Director General at the Electrical Safety Council, said: “Currently, more than half of UK homes – that’s 13 million - don’t have adequate RCD protection in their consumer unit, or fusebox as it is more commonly known3. We want to support the industry in leading the way in encouraging householders to install RCDs and take basic safety measures to ensure their homes and families are protected from the potential dangers of electricity. To encourage and support this, we’ve produced these easy-to-use packs to help electricians communicate how crucial RCD protection is to their customers.
We’re delighted with the high level of interest and support we’ve had from all sections of the industry so far, which has been essential to further increasing the momentum of the Plug into Safety campaign.”
Each electrician’s pack contains 50 Electrical Safety Council leaflets which, in addition to basic safety messages, will explain the importance of RCDs and help customers understand the benefits of ensuring their consumer unit contains RCD protection. Detachable blank business cards, which urge homeowners to install RCD protection, will also be included for electricians to leave with customers after a house-call.
Gary Fisher, an electrician based in London, said: “I always advise my customers to get RCD protection but sometimes it can be difficult to convince people just how crucial it really is. These leaflets clearly explain the issues and will help ensure that customers feel well-informed. As the information is from a respected charity and not a commercial enterprise, it also helps demonstrate that I have my customers’ best interests at heart, rather than me wanting to rake in the cash! And, as I can leave information behind for the customer to read at their leisure, I don’t have to do a ‘hard sell’ there and then”.
Neil Thomas, commercial manager at Denman’s Electrical - one of the campaign’s partners - said: "Denmans are delighted to support the Plug into Safety campaign. Raising awareness in this area is bound to reduce the number of electrical accidents and will also help to promote installation of RCDs in UK homes”.
Packs will be distributed through large wholesalers from 3rd September, or electricians and electrical contractors can download the Plug into Safety leaflet here "www.escweb.org.uk/pdfs/news-and-events/press-releases/industry/PlugintoSafety.pdf" to attach to emailed quotations or invoices.
