By Marika Sboros
I wonder if Eskom management bothers to expend as much time and energy thinking about the serious consequences that can result from “load shedding”, as they do trying to justify it? Particularly when it comes to vulnerable groups such as the elderly?
My elderly mother lives in an up-market retirement village in Sandton. Like the rest of us, she lives at the mercy of the power utility’s rolling blackouts – which it euphemistically refers to as “load shedding” (and for which, bizarrely, Eskom even thinks all of us should pay to help implement it).
The management company looking after the village my mother lives in, sent residents a warning letter this week about a unit in another complex under their administration which, it says, burnt down as a result of load shedding:
A resident placed a hairdryer on the bed after the power went off, forgot to switch it off and went out for the evening. When the power came back on, so did the hairdryer, and the bed eventually caught alight. Despite the best efforts of neighbours, the fire destroyed the unit.
The management company’s letter to residents includes information from building insurance specialists, CIA, recently saying:
“We urge owners to be extremely careful when power outages occur. We have seen an increased number of fire claims in the last few months, most of which can be attributed directly to load shedding. Some of these claims have also sadly resulted in the loss of life.
“It is vitally important to be aware of the dangers associated with these power outages.”
CIA goes on to give examples from some recent claims “to give insight of what to avoid and what to take care of”:
• A hairdryer left on the bed when load shedding was implemented, set the bed alight when the power was turned back on.
• Candle fell over setting curtains or bedding alight. Never leave candles unattended or burning when going to sleep!
• An iron left on during load shedding, set the ironing board alight and caused subsequent further fire damage to the unit.
• Heaters placed too close to flammable material such as blankets and curtains is also a major fire risk.
It ends with advice to: “be sure to unplug ALL appliances that were being used before the power outage to prevent them turning on unattended when the power is restored. In doing this you will also protect these items from electricity spikes or surges.”
BizNews has even more tips on how to protect yourself from Eskom’s excesses, should there be a grid meltdown, as many believe is likely.
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