Electrical Safety Advice for the Garden

Staying safe in the garden

Electric tools make gardening much easier but outdoor conditions can increase the risk of injury or death from electric shock, so it is important to take care.

Electricity and water don’t mix so, even if there is just dew on the ground, don’t use electrical equipment outdoors until it is dry.

Use a residual current device (RCD) with all outdoor electrical equipment. If you don't have one built into your fusebox, use a plug-in RCD.

Without it, if you cut through an electrical lead, a simple job such as mowing the lawn could kill you.

Switch off and unplug electrical items before cleaning, adjusting, or checking them.

Store electric tools in a dry, safe place such as a shed or garage and check they haven’t been damaged or affected by water before using them.

A garden is a family space

Keep children and pets well away from electric garden tools when they are being used.
Take care digging in the garden in case electric cables, gas pipes, or water services are buried.

Using electricals in the garden

Be aware of where the electrical power cable is at all times when using electric garden tools. Keep the cables, connections, and plugs free from damage.
For many larger tools, it is recommended to give yourself extra protection by wearing gloves, goggles, and shoes which protect your feet (not sandals).
Only use extension leads, cable reels, and connectors which are suitable for outdoor use. They should be weather-resistant with moulded connections to prevent moisture seeping in and rated correctly to suit the equipment you want to connect to them. Cable reels should be fully unwound and fitted with a thermal cut-out.
Before using them, check they are clean and free from damage, and fully uncoil them to prevent overheating. Position appropriately to prevent damage and keep dry.

Water features and ponds

Water is a popular addition to a garden but brings a higher risk of electric shock, so it is important to make sure electric pumps are working properly.
A mains-supplied electric water pump in the garden should be bought from a reputable retailer, protected by an RCD that is tested at least every three months, and installed in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions.
The cables and connectors should be protected against accidental damage and kept in good working order. If there’s a problem, switch off the water pump electrical supply immediately and have the pump repaired by a registered electrician.

ALWAYS

Use a residual current device (RCD) with all outdoor electrical equipment.
Switch off and unplug electrical tools before cleaning, adjusting, or checking them.
Store electric tools in a dry, safe place.
Wear gloves, goggles, and shoes which protect your feet.
Use only extension leads, cables, and connectors suitable for outdoor use.

AVOID

Using electrical equipment outdoors until it is dry.
Using electrical tools close to children and pets.
Digging in the garden close to electric cables, gas pipes, or water services.
Using a water pump electrical supply if there’s a problem with it.

In our product safety section

Garden Tools

Outdoor Lighting

Stay safe with electrical products

Check plugs and sockets

Don't ignore burn marks, ‘arcing’ (buzzing or crackling) sounds, fuses blowing, circuit-breakers tripping, or if it feels hot to touch.

Unplug and contact the retailer, manufacturer, or a qualified repair technician.

Protect with an RCD

An RCD (residual current device) in your consumer unit (fusebox) protects you from electric shocks if a product is faulty.

If you don’t have RCD protection, use an RCD plug on the socket where the product is plugged in.

Fit smoke and heat alarms

Ensure there is at least one smoke or heat alarm per floor in your property. Fit enough alarms to cover all areas where a fire could start.

Test alarms at least once a month. Replace them every ten years or when the replace by date is reached.

Selected FAQs

Answers to commonly-asked questions we receive about electrical safety.

View all our FAQs

How far away from sources of water should electric outlets be?

There is no specific requirement for a distance between electrical outlets and sources of water like kitchen sinks, but we advise that you allow at least 30 cm from water or heat sources, where possible.

Can I change single socket outlets to double socket outlets?

It is likely that you can but this does depend on your electrical installation - a registered electrician will be able to advise you whether it can be done - they will assess the load, circuit type and cable rating. You can find one local to you here.

Can you plug an extension lead into an extension lead?

Only use one socket extension lead per socket and never plug an extension lead into another extension lead.

It is bad practice to do this and should never be done as this presents a serious risk that the wall socket could be overloaded. Move the electrical item closer to the wall socket or first extension lead. Use our overload calculator to check if you’re exceed.

How do you reset a surge protector 10 gang extension?

Surge protectors (MOVs) in extension leads are generally self-resetting devices.

If the extension lead does not work after a surge event it may be that the protection (fuse) for the MOV has become open circuit.

If the device has a replaceable fuse you can try to change that or change the fuse in the plug. If that does not work we recommend that you replace the extension lead.

Has your electrical product been recalled?

Electrical products are recalled more regularly than you might think, but the response rate to a recall is often worryingly low. This means there are potentially millions of recalled electrical items still in UK homes.

Check your appliances

Garden