Making holidays safer - do the right thing with Christmas lights

People taking down Christmas lights in the new year have been urged to store them correctly to ensure they remain safe for further use.

Employment and Industrial Relations Minister John Mickel said the Electrical Safety Office suggests people check that the plug, cord and lamps are not damaged, and if the cord or plug are damaged, dispose of them.

“The ESO advises that anyone replacing lamps should ensure they are the correct type (voltage and wattage),” he said.

“The fact is that even approved Christmas lights should not be tampered with in any way at home.

“In the past, approved Christmas lights have caught fire when they have been modified with unapproved parts.”

Mr Mickel said ESO inspectors had conducted an audit of decorative Christmas lights offered for sale in Queensland, auditing 36 items.

Two electrical safety protection notices were issued during the audit for the sale of non-approved decorative lights and power adaptors, requiring the items to be withdrawn from sale.

An electrical safety improvement notice has been issued for the failure of a retail outlet to provide safety information with a decorative rope light offered for sale.

“The audit is part of the ESO’s statewide audit compliance campaign designed to make the holidays safer for all Queenslanders,” Mr Mickel said.

Mr Mickel also reminded people buying Christmas lights at holiday sales to look for approval markings (such as Q041234), and ensure the plug is the Australian type with insulated pins.

Transformers and figurines should be inspected, as well as the bulbs themselves on Christmas lighting decorations.

The Electrical Safety Office is part of the Department of Employment and Industrial Relations. Further electrical safety information is available at www.deir.qld.gov.au

Media contact: Shannon Mackay 3237 1125

December 25, 2007