Karachi has always been prone to issues related to administrative governance, incidents are often triggered due to poor planning and negligence of infrastructural development. Faulty/ill-maintained electrical equipment, frequent repair and maintenance of roads, and illegal connections with loose wiring, all contribute to inconvenience for the citizens. These incidents are totally avoidable given there is widespread awareness about taking precautions in the wake of such accidents as it would help people manage potential unforeseen situations in their households and workplaces.
According to the statistics, almost 60 per cent of Karachi lives in slums or ill-planned colonies (1). This means that more than half of the city is prone to electrical hazards. The high rate of uneducated and underprivileged electricity users also contributes to the rising concerns about electrical safety. The award-winning Roshni Baji Programme initiated by K-Electric addresses the challenge of electrical safety incidents inside premises in densely populated areas of Karachi. Living conditions in most of these colonies and societies in Karachi are not very favourable, and many areas are also difficult to access.
Hence, electrical safety becomes a major concern of every household, may it be a family member using an electrical appliance without a plug and instead inserting bare wires directly into the electrical socket. Be it a child getting tangled in wiring on the floor, or a pedestrian on waterlogged streets – all of this can give way to a disaster. It is important, therefore, to educate children as well as their parents to have properly informed households on personal safety.
Using rubber slippers and hand gloves while dealing with electrical equipment provides you with a safe working environment.
Public and private organizations play an important role in creating awareness regarding social issues. The Roshni Baji Programme began as a neighbourhood safety ambassador initiative to cater to the issue of safety incidents at homes where women and children are most vulnerable. Similar initiatives will not only create awareness regarding basic safety but also help create job opportunities for aspiring women who want to create a positive impact in society. Every year a significant number of Roshni Bajis are being trained by certified trainers to reach households and spread the word as KE ambassadors. The company also offers full-time employment to selected candidates, hence contributing to their professional development.
To ensure a safer and happier community, some basic household safety tips will benefit the readers:
Make sure the cord-and-plug connected equipment is not damaged in case it is repaired or better yet, replaced immediately. This way you will avoid minor/major incidents inside your house and workplace and keep your families and employees safe and secure.
Use ladders made of non-conductive side rails when working around electricity. Using rubber slippers and hand gloves while dealing with electrical equipment provides you with a safe working environment.
Do not use appliances with exposed wiring as it can cause short circuits, which may lead to a fire and people engaged may get burnt.
Circuit breakers and fuse boxes should be labelled clearly and kept out of children’s reach; this not only helps in reducing the number of incidents but will also help identify any electrical fault more efficiently.
In case of an accident, do not touch the electrical appliance or the person, disconnect the power source first. While doing so, you need to ensure personal safety; do not expose yourself if your hands are wet or if you are not wearing proper footwear.
Halogen lights can cause fire hazards, so ensure that these are kept away from clothes and/or curtains. You need to make sure all electrical appliances (extra) are switched off while stepping out of the house.
We wish to see more organizations coming forward and taking the lead in building safer and happier communities. Simple everyday initiatives can make a huge difference, although electrical safety is one of the major concerns, road safety, internet safety, and other areas where consumers are exposed to danger should also be looked into by all concerned stakeholders.
The writer is a content developer.