A new YouGov survey commissioned by NICEIC, the UKโs leading certification and training body for the electrical industry, has found that almost one in three (30%) UK adults have attempted DIY electrical work in the home putting themselves and their families at risk of unsafe electrics. This is despite 89% of all UK adults saying that they either tend to agree or strongly agree that undertaking some domestic electrical work could be dangerous or life threatening.
The survey, which was commissioned by NICEIC to investigate the attitudes and opinions of householders towards electrical DIY in the home, also found that 87% of UK adults either tend to agree or strongly agree that electrical work should be carried out by a qualified electrician. However, despite this, results suggest some householders are still attempting electrical work themselves, risking injury or even death, as well as costly implications to repair any incorrectly installed work.
Therefore, this month, NICEIC has launched the next phase of its Donโt Do DIY Electrics campaign aimed at educating householders of the dangers of using a non-certified business or attempting themselves to complete electrical works in a domestic setting.
The Donโt Do DIY Electrics campaign can be seen across social media channels including YouTube and Meta, and the wider Google network, through a series of new digital adverts that highlight the invisible dangers of unsafe electrical work.
NICEIC is committed to raising awareness of certification in the industry, providing ongoing continuing professional development (CPD) opportunities and connecting consumers with NICEIC-certified businesses through its โfind a trusted tradespersonโ tool.
Paul Collins, Technical Director at NICEIC, commented: โOur ongoing commitment to raising standards in the industry and providing certification to thousands of businesses across the country has never been so important. Whilst itโs encouraging to see that the public has a strong understanding of the dangers of undertaking electrical work, itโs concerning that almost one in three people are still attempting to complete works themselves.
โIn the electrical industry, we are all aware of the potential dangers of bad electrical work and the costly implications to put unsafe electrics right. These findings show that thereโs work to be done to ensure householders fully understand the ramifications. Our Donโt Do DIY Electrics campaign aims to do just that, highlighting the invisible dangers of unsafe electrical work and the importance of using an NICEIC-certified business to carry out any installations or works.โ
The campaign directs consumers to NICEICโs โfind a trusted tradesperson toolโ, a database of over 40,000 certified businesses across the country.
For more information, visit:
- niceic.com/dontdiy/ to find out more about the Donโt Do DIY Electrics campaign.
- niceic.com/for-the-trades/ to find out more about becoming a NICEIC certified business.
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