STATEWIDEINSURANCE AGENCY DIGEST NO. 118

USING AN EMERGENCY GENERATOR SAFELY

Portable generators are useful when electric power to your home is interrupted, often by severe weather. In the case of hurricanes, electric power can be interrupted for days at a time. 

If generators are not used correctly, they can be deadly!  The Consumer Product Safety Administration recommends the following steps for the safe use of gasoline-powered generators.

·Consult and follow the operator’s manual provided by the manufacturer.

·Use the generator only in well-ventilated areas.  Never use inside homes garages, crawlspaces, sheds or similar areas, even with opened doors or windows. 

·Protect the generator from moisture or puddles to help avoid shock or electrocution.

·Do not power the house wiring by plugging the generator’s output into a wall outlet. Connect the equipment you need powered (such as a refrigerator or lamp) directly to the outlets on the generator. Connecting a cord from the generator to a permanent wiring system back-feeds electricity into your home and is unsafe for you and possibly neighbors and utility workers.

________________________________________

Source: Consumer Product Safety Administration