General

Household Electrical Safety Handbook

Part 2 Safety Guidelines for Household Electrical Appliances

2.3 Additional Safety Tips for Individual Electrical Appliances > 2.3.1 to 2.3.7

8. Electric Fans, Exhaust Fans and Cooker Hoods
   • Install or place an electric fan at a location where there is sufficient space for free movement and heat dissipation.
     
   • Prevent any loose object (e.g. paper and cloth) from being sucked into an operating electric fan, exhaust fan or cooker hood. Otherwise, it may cause overheating and catch fire.
     
   • To prevent injury, avoid touching an operating ceiling fan whilst working at high levels. To prevent a ceiling fan from falling down, its installation must comply with the requirements given in the user manual.
     
   • Check if it is easy for children to insert their fingers into a fan guard. Also check if a fan guard may easily become loosened or be dismantled by children.
     
   • Check if the flexible power cord between the moving and static parts of a fan has been damaged by prolonged use. A damaged cord may cause danger arising from short-circuiting or exposure of live wire cores.
     
   • Adhere to the instructions given in the user manual to clean electric fans, exhaust fans and cooker hoods periodically. Excessive dust on a fan motor may prevent it from normal heat dissipation.
     
9. Hair Dryers and Electric Heaters
   • To prevent fire, do not place an operating electric heater near any combustible object (e.g. blanket, cloth, curtain, rug and sofa).
     
   • Do not obstruct the air intake grille and outlet nozzle of an operating hair dryer or blowing type electric heater. Otherwise, it may overheat the heating elements and cause fire.
     
   • Avoid using any portable electric heater inside a bathroom. Accidental water seepage into an electric heater may cause electric shock.
   • Place an electric heater on a flat and firm surface to prevent it from collapsing and hence resulting in fire or burns.
10. Electric Irons
    • When not ironing, place the heated iron on a flat and firm surface. Unplug the iron before filling it up with water. After use, place the iron on a flat and firm surface, which is out of reach of children, for cooling down.
      
11. Electric Blankets
    • Do not fold an electric blanket improperly or place any heavy object on it. Otherwise, it may cause overheating and fire. Adhere to the instructions given in the user manual.
      
12. Electric Rice Cookers and Kettles/Pots, etc.
    • When filling up an electric rice cooker, kettle/pot, multi-function cooker or coffee maker, etc., do not expose the connector at one end of the flexible power cord and the socket on the appliance to water. Ensure that the connector and socket are not deformed by prolonged use to avoid poor electrical contacts and overheating. Do not fill water above the specified maximum level.
      
    • Ensure that the bottom of the rice pan is dry before it is put into a rice cooker, and that the condensate collector is not clogged.
      
    • Ensure that there is no water seepage into an appliance when food is being processed.
      
    • Do not immerse an appliance or rinse it with water when cleaning.
      
13. Electric Cooking Ovens
    • To prevent fire, do not place any combustible object near an electric cooking oven (e.g. microwave oven, electric oven, toaster and toaster oven).
      
    • When using a microwave, electric or toaster oven, do not let water splash on the hot viewing glass. Otherwise, it may cause glass cracking and danger.
    • Do not use any utensil with metal ingredients in a microwave oven. Otherwise, it may cause explosion and catch fire. As many plastic utensils comprise of invisible metal ingredients, choose only suitable utensils for use in microwave ovens.
      
    • Do not heat any uncooked egg (with or without shell) or nut in a microwave oven as this may result in explosion. Read the instructions given in the user manual carefully.
      
    • Beware of overcooking and fire hazard. Do not leave any operating electric cooking oven unattended.
      
14. Blenders and other Electric Food Processing Appliances
    • Ensure that there is sufficient food in a blender, juice extractor or other food processor before switching on. Such an appliance should not be used for a prolonged period of time. Adhere to the instructions given in the user manual.
    • To prevent injury, any rotating part (especially the high-speed rotating cutter) of a food processor must be fixed securely. Ensure that the container lid is closed and secured before switching on.
      
    • Unplug the power supply if not being used or if a rotating part is being replaced.
      
15. Refrigerators
    • If a refrigerator is not to be used for a prolonged period of time, clear the food in it and unplug it.
      
16. Washers/Dryers
    • Avoid leaving any operating washer/dryer unattended.
    • Do not exceed the loading capacity and adhere to the appropriate temperature setting and drying time as instructed in the user manual.
      
    • Do not dry clothes containing downs, latex, rubber or wax, etc in a dryer. Otherwise, it may cause overheating and fire.
    • Adhere to the instructions given in the user manual to remove foreign items in its drainage system periodically. This prevents the drainage pump from overheating.
      
    • Avoid obstructing the exhaust vent of a dryer. Otherwise, it may cause internal overheating. Clean up the vent filter periodically.
      
17. Electrical Aquarium Appliances
    • Ensure that there is no water seepage into any electrical aquarium appliance (e.g. aquarium luminaire, filter and air pump) when filling up an aquarium tank. Otherwise, it may cause electric leakage.
      
    • Ensure that electrical appliances are well clear of the water level. Beware of possible splashing on the appliances due to fish movements.
    • Better buy and use waterproof electrical aquarium appliances.
    • The heating tube of an immersion-type heater should be entirely immersed into water before switching on. Otherwise, it may cause glass cracking and danger.
      
18. Vacuum Cleaners
    • Do not use a vacuum cleaner to pick up water. Otherwise, it may cause electric current leakage.
      
    • To prevent a vacuum cleaner from overheating, adhere to the instructions given in the user manual to clean up the dust bag periodically.
19. Electrical Appliances Fitted to Furniture
    • Electrical appliances fitted to furniture (e.g. luminaires and switches) must comply with the statutory safety requirements.
      
    • Any such appliance must be fitted with a 3-pin plug which complies with the safety requirements, and its parts (including the flexible cable connecting the plug, switches, electrical wiring and connectors, etc.) must be securely fixed.
    • Metallic casing must be earthed. Sufficient isolation or insulation for live parts must be allowed for.
    • Electrical wires must be adequately sized to prevent overheating and fire.
20. Travel Adaptors
    • Travel adaptors which are designed for use outside Hong Kong are not regulated by the Electrical Products (Safety) Regulation. Extra care should be taken when buying any such adaptor or using it outside Hong Kong.
      
    • When using any such adaptor in a place outside Hong Kong, ensure that the rated voltage and current of the adaptor and the electrical appliance to be connected to agree with those of the power supply system in that place.
    • Avoid using any such adaptor for a prolonged period of time or leaving it unattended.
    • Do not use any such adaptor if its pins may not be inserted securely into a socket outlet.
    • When using such an adaptor, keep it away from any combustible object. Ensure that there is sufficient ventilation space around the adaptor for heat dissipation.
    • Do not use any 2-pin adaptor for 3-pin electrical appliances unless the appliances are of double or reinforced insulation design.