Menu
VoltSafe Blog Team – May 16, 2023
If you have been following us on social media you probably know by now that we place electrical safety right at the top of our list of priorities. Our outlets and connectors utilize a unique electrical fingerprint technology to prevent electrocution, shocks, arcs and fires – common issues with traditional plugs and their sockets. Along with the breakaway cord that prevents tripping hazards and reduces damage to prongs, outlets and the devices they’re connected to, we put a lot of thought into making electrical connections safe for our customers. May is Electrical Safety Month, and we wanted to tell you a little about why this campaign exists and the purpose behind it.
Electrical Safety Month is an annual event in May, aimed at promoting awareness and education around electrical safety. This observance is to raise awareness of electricity dangers and to encourage individuals, families, and businesses to take the necessary precautions to prevent electrical accidents.
The history of Electrical Safety Month can be traced back to Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI), a non-profit organization established in 1994 to promote electrical safety awareness. In 1991, the ESFI launched National Electrical Safety Month, which has since been renamed Electrical Safety Month.
During Electrical Safety Month, the ESFI and other organizations work to educate the public about electricity hazards and provide resources for promoting electrical safety. These efforts include public service announcements, social media campaigns, educational resources for schools and workplaces, and community events.
According to the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), in the United States alone, there were 1,621 fatalities caused by electrical injuries from 2008 to 2017. In addition, there were approximately 24,000 non-fatal workplace electrical injuries that required days away from work during the same period.
According to the National Safety Council in the United States, 400 people die from electrocutions at home each year in the US. In addition, approximately 4,000 non-fatal electrical injuries occur in homes annually.
In Canada, according to the Association of Workers’ Compensation Boards of Canada (AWCBC), there were 260 accepted claims for electrical injuries in the workplace in Canada in 2019. Among these claims, there were 6 fatalities and 254 non-fatal injuries. It’s imperative to note that these statistics only include accepted claims reported to workers’ compensation boards. They may not capture all electrical injuries and fatalities.
The exact number of electrical injuries and deaths in Canadian homes are not readily available. However, according to a report by the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA), from 2007 to 2016, there were 1,472 electrical incidents in homes in Ontario, Canada alone. These incidents resulted in 27 fatalities and 420 injuries.
It’s imperative to note that this data only includes incidents in Ontario and does not account for the rest of Canada. The actual number of electrical injuries and deaths in Canadian homes would be even higher. This can be impacted by various factors such as electrical safety practices, electrical standards, and building codes.
ESFI announced that the theme for National Electrical Safety Month’s 2023 campaign is “Electrification: E-Mobility.” The campaign shows how rapid advancements to emerging technology, including electric vehicles, require further electrification along with safe, efficient devices that can support this increased energy demand.
VoltSafe’s revolutionary app and technology will help homeowners manage their electricity at the outlet level placing less strain on the grid. It will tell you how much electricity your oven, fridge or dryer uses at the granular level. This will enable you to manage your energy usage so that the grid is less stressed. It will allow utility companies to incentivise homeowners to use energy when it is least expensive to produce.
Our multipurpose connector which can be scaled up to accommodate various high voltage power and will help keep workers safe when connecting to electricity. Since it is multipurpose, the connector can also be used in recreational settings preventing injuries and deaths from contact with live electricity.
Electrical Safety Month grew out of the need to prevent electrical accidents and injuries. These accidents and injuries can be caused by a variety of factors, such as faulty wiring, improper use of electricity equipment, and lack of awareness around electricity hazards. By promoting awareness and education around electricity safety, Electrical Safety Month aims to reduce electrical accidents and injuries each year.
At VoltSafe, our aim is to help our customers establish a safe connection to existing and new electrical infrastructure. Our patented technology uses an electrical fingerprint rather than prongs. This ensures that electricity only flows through the outlet when the matching adapter is connected to it. This will help keep home owners and workers safe. If you would like to learn more about the products we are developing to keep homeowners safe, follow us on social or visit our NEWS page to learn more.
About VoltSafe Inc.
VoltSafe Inc. is changing the way people connect to power. Headquartered in Vancouver, BC, the Canadian tech startup has reinvented the electrical plug by eliminating prongs, adding magnets and an “electrical fingerprint”. Using patented technology, VoltSafe has created the world’s safest, simplest, and smartest plug design since electricity came into homes more than 140 years ago. The company’s product pipeline includes magnetic plug replacement solutions for household, commercial, industrial, marine, electric and autonomous vehicles, emergency services, data centres and more.