Beware of unsafe decorative Diwali lights

It’s not just firecrackers that are responsible for injuries during Diwali. Even those tiny electric decorative lights have contributed to accidents and deaths in recent years and one needs to take serious note of this in order to have a safe Deepawali.

In fact in several countries around the world, these lights have been brought under mandatory quality certification to ensure their safety. In Australia, for example, outlets that sell decorative Christmas lighting that do not meet the Australian Safety Standards, face the risk of ‘stop sales’ notice being slapped on them, besides hefty fines.

Similarly in Singapore, under the Consumer Protection (Safety Requirements) Registration Scheme, 1997, these decorative lights cannot be sold without the mandatory safety certificate.

In the United States, where the Consumer product Safety Commission (CPSC) keeps track of accidents caused by unsafe products and orders their recall, it is estimated that these holiday lights have been responsible for hundreds of fire and shock related deaths and injuries over the years.

The CPSC says that between 1980 and 2014, 132 fatal accidents caused by these lights have led to 258 deaths and 1,405 non-fatal incidents.

Keeping in mind the hazards of unsafe decorative lights, the CPSC published in May this year, a new set of rules that allow the commission to remove hazardous lights more effectively from the market.

As per these rules, if these products lack any of the three readily observable characteristics described in the voluntary standard drawn up by the Underwriters Laboratories — UL 58801— such as minimum wire size, sufficient strain relief or overcurrent protection, CPSC will deem such product to be hazardous to consumers, said the Commission in a press release in June this year.

Since such efforts towards protecting consumers are lacking here in India, consumers need to be extra cautious while buying these decorative outdoor lights and even more so, while using them.

In fact in the absence of a national data, we do not even know how many such accidents are caused here in India. Some years ago, a friend had recounted a tragic accident, wherein a woman in a residential colony in South Delhi had got electrocuted while putting some washed, wet clothes to dry on the metallic grills on her balcony, where the decorative lights had been strung.

Again last year, there was a similar accident in a household where such decorative lights had been put up for a marriage.

So demand mandatory third party certification for these lights and till that happens, exercise caution while buying them.

For example, ensure that the wires are not too thin to carry the load and that they do not come out of the holders easily, as such exposed wires can cause electrocution.

If you are reusing the lights bought the previous year, check them to ensure there are no cracked or frayed wires or loose connections that could start a fire or cause an electric shock.

Never put them up on metallic grills or any metal part — they can get charged with electricity from faulty lights and a person touching the grill can get electrocuted.

Do not use metallic nails to hold them in place. Also, make sure that you do not overload the sockets or the extension cord as it can start a fire.

If you are replacing nonworking lights, use the same type of bulbs with a similar wattage to avoid overheating of the lighting set, as that could cause a fire.

Never touch the chord or the lights without unplugging them from the main socket. You need to be particularly careful if it rains during this period. Always switch off the lights and unplug them before you go to sleep.