ST. LOUIS, MO. — In the wake of finding numerous electrical hazards in low income homes in St. Louis, the Electrical Connection is offering tips on avoiding faulty electrical installations that may be hidden dangers in homes. The Electrical Connection recently mobilized union electricians and union electrical contractors to volunteer to repair electrical systems in 47 low-income homes across St. Louis in the annual Rebuilding Together St. Louis campaign. What they found prompted the organization to post a series of home electrical safety tips on the Electrical Connection website www.electricalconnection.org. The Electrical Connection is a partnership of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local One and the St. Louis Chapter, National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA).

Approximately 130 IBEW Local One electricians and NECA electrical contractors donated $80,000 in manpower and material to make the homes safer for disadvantaged families. Repairs were made to homes primarily clustered in the 21st Ward in the city of St. Louis and continued through the month of May, which is National Electrical Safety Month.

“We fixed a number of dangerous electrical conditions in the homes, including exposed service panels and wire splices, outlets endangered by a water source and not protected by a ground fault interrupter, and a number of nonfunctional fixtures,” said Steve Licari, IBEW Local One business manager. “After making the repairs, we realized these were not just safety issues for low income residents, but hidden dangers for any homeowner that we are frequently called upon to repair. So we decided to post safety tips to our web site.”

It is the eighth year in a row that the Electrical Connection has supported Rebuilding Together. During that time, it has donated $560,000 in labor and material to improve nearly 350 homes for low-income and elderly St. Louisans.

“IBEW Local One electricians and NECA contractors are essential to our mission of making these homes safe to live in,” said Dave Ervin, Rebuilding Together executive director.

May is National Electrical Safety Month

The Electrical Connection’s initiative coincides with May being National Electrical Safety Month. According to the Electrical Safety Foundation International, home electrical problems cause more than 51,000 fires, 490 deaths and $1.3 billion in property damage on average each year. (http://www.esfi.org/index.cfm/page/ESFI-Celebrates-National-Electrical-Safety-Month/cdid/11694/pid/10262) And the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that adults above age 65 and impoverished households are among the most at-risk groups for a fire-related injury or death. (http://www.cdc.gov/HomeandRecreationalSafety/Fire-Prevention/fires-factsheet.html)

A 2008 study by the Fire Protection Research Foundation said aged homes are most susceptible to fires spawned by outdated and/or improperly installed electrical infrastructure and that the dangers can often remain hidden. It found that most hazards were caused by improper installation and maintenance and a failure to meet the safety provisions of the National Electrical Code (NEC).

“Outdated and faulty electrical wiring is not just a property issue — it’s a life safety issue,” explained Douglas R. Martin, executive vice president of the St. Louis Chapter, NECA. “The Electrical Connection is a strong proponent of the National Electrical Code because we believe every home, and every homeowner, needs the security of a safe and secure electrical system.” The Electrical Connection offers a complete list of qualified, licensed NECA/IBEW electrical contractors at www.electricalconnection.org.

Participating in the Rebuilding Together were: Aschinger Electric Co.; Bell Electrical Contractors; Branson Electric Co.; Guarantee Electrical Co.; Kaemmerlen Electric; Kaiser; Kay-Bee Electric Co.; Lynn’s Electric; Machine Vision Electric; M.R. Bathe Electric; PayneCrest Electric; Sachs Electric Co.; Sanderson; Schaeffer Electric Co., Inc.; Trinity Quality Electric, Inc.; Wentzel Electric; and electricians from the St. Louis Electricians Joint Apprenticeship & Training Committee.

In addition to Rebuilding Together, The Electrical Connection donates time and materials for other community initiatives. Since 2004, the group has donated more than $760,000 in manpower and materials and mobilized more than 500 electricians to wire 154 homes for Habitat for Humanity St. Louis. And, for 12 years Electrical Connection has donated more than $600,000 in skills and material to support St. Louis City’s “National Night Out” anti-crime program.