Every renovation or construction project involves some risk, but none are as hazardous and dangerous as electricity. In fact, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration, electrocution is responsible for a huge proportion of construction-related deaths every year—and that doesn't include injuries and fatalities sustained in home improvement projects. But Montgomery’s Building Supplies, Warsaw, NY's leading provider of electrical supplies, knows that there's no such thing as a small electrical job.

Any time you're working with electricity, they urge you to:

• Turn Off The Power: Shut off the breaker for the circuit you're working on, and make sure that everyone in the house knows what you're doing. If a well-meaning family member flips the breaker while you're replacing a ceiling fan, the results can be fatal.
• Use The Correct Equipment: When working with electricity, make sure you're always using tools and equipment designed for construction purposes. For example, only use grounded plugs, and don't try to substitute household extension cords and similar items for durable, safe, high-quality electrical supplies designed for the project you have in mind.
• Be Aware Of Conductive Materials: Always be aware of all metal, including your ladder and tools, and remove all jewelry before you start working. Allowing a stray wire to brush against a conductive surface can give you a nasty shock or worse. This is especially true in older houses, where determining which circuit a particular wire is on can be tricky.