According to the latest Ontario Electrical Safety Report, in 2024, 94% of product incident reports initiated by the Electrical Safety Authority were concerned with unapproved products. As well, between 2015 and 2024, there has been a 35% increase in product reports. With more electrical gadgets, gifts, lights and decorations around the holidays, this is especially important to consider this time of year.
The holiday season often brings joy with plenty of gifts, lights and festive décor. What should be a time of celebration can quickly turn dangerous if electrical safety is overlooked. This year, we are sharing a few ways your audience can keep their celebrations full of cheer by making smart choices with electrical gifts and decorations.
Here are some holiday electrical safety tips from the Electrical Safety Authority, including tips on how to make sure products are approved for use in Canada:
Look for an approved Canadian certification mark when shopping for holiday gifts or electrical décor. A Canadian certification mark verifies that the product was tested to safety standards. For a full list of Canadian electrical certification marks visit ESAsafe.com/ApprovalMarks.Only purchase electrical products and decorations from reputable retailers. When shopping online, the products you order could be imported from another country and may not be safe to use here. Some retailers have filters that make it easy to check if a product has a recognized Canadian certification mark.Remember the rule of three: That endless string of lights could be a hazard. Do not connect more than three strings of holiday lights together. Make sure outdoor lights and other outdoor décor are rated for outdoor use and plugged into outlets with reset buttons (GFCI) for safety.
“Taking a few simple precautions can keep your home – and loved ones – safe and bright this season. Keep children and pets away from electrical decorations and cords, and turn holiday lights off before leaving the house or going to bed to prevent electrical hazards,” states Emily Larose, Vice President of Regulatory and General Counsel with the Electrical Safety Authority. “Stay aware of your surroundings and look up when decorating outdoors. Always check for overhead powerlines around your home when decorating and keep at least three metres away to avoid the risk of electrical shock.”
More Holiday Safety Tips:
Don’t overload your outlets. When decorating indoors, avoid overloading circuits with too many devices or lights plugged into one outlet. This can lead to overheating and result in a fire.Don’t use frayed or damaged extension cords. Replace them. If you’re using extension cords, avoid running them under carpets, tree skirts or at ground level where they could be kicked or stepped on.Choose the right electrical décor for the location. Read the packaging and instructions to check whether décor is rated for indoor or outdoor use and never exceed the manufacturer’s recommended wattage.Give your decorations room to breathe. Make sure bulbs aren’t touching supply cords, wires, cloth, paper or other materials.Keep kids and pets away from electrical decorations and cords. Don’t let children play with electrical décor and keep away any pets who might chew on power cords.Check for overhead powerlines. Decorating outdoors? Check for overhead powerlines before setting up a ladder. Stay at least 3 metres away and do not rest your ladder or hang decorations on a powerline.Always secure holiday lights and decorations with clips. Nails or staples can damage electrical cords and cause an electrical hazard.Turn off the lights and decorations before you leave the house or go to bed. Turning off your décor and holiday lights before you turn in for the night reduces the risk of electrical hazard.Safely store your decorations. At the end of the season, take down and properly store your electrical décor to avoid damaging the cords. Holiday decorations aren’t designed for year-round use and can deteriorate over time.
You can find more electrical safety tips at ESAsafe.com/HolidaySafety.
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