Safety switches provide protection against injuries caused by electricity. Many of the fatalities caused by electricity could be easily prevented by installing a safety switch. A safety switch is designed to save lives by monitoring power flow and making sure it is even. When a person comes into direct contact with electricity, electricity is directed through their body to earth. This causes a loss in the amount of electricity in the electrical circuit (the path for the flow of electricity). A safety switch detects very small losses of electricity and immediately switches the power off within in a circuit in as little as 0.3 seconds.
Safety switches should be tested every three months to ensure they are in good working order.
You can test a safety switch by pressing the ‘Test’ or ‘T’ button. The safety switch should immediately trip to the ‘Off’ position. You will then need to return the switch to the ‘On’ position.
If your safety switch does not trip to the ‘off’ position after you have pressed the ‘Test’ button, cut the power immediately and call a qualified electrical contractor.