When you've got little ones crawling and toddling around, electrical safety takes on a whole new urgency. Children are naturally curious, and power points at floor level are magnets for tiny fingers. The good news is that a few targeted upgrades can dramatically reduce the risk of electrical injury in your home.
This guide covers practical steps — from quick wins you can action today to professional upgrades that provide lasting protection.
The Real Risks
Let's be direct about what we're protecting against:
- Electrocution: A child inserting a metal object into a power point can receive a shock from 240V mains electricity. This can cause burns, cardiac arrest, and death
- Electrical burns: Even non-fatal shocks can cause serious internal and external burns
- Cord-related injuries: Children pulling on appliance cords can bring heavy items (kettles, irons, toasters) down onto themselves, causing burns and impact injuries
- Fire: Children playing with electrical items can cause short circuits and fires
In Australia, around 15 children are hospitalised each year from electrical injuries in the home. Most are preventable.
Priority 1: Safety Switches (RCDs)
If you do only one thing from this guide, make it this: ensure every circuit in your home is protected by a safety switch (RCD).
A safety switch detects when current is flowing somewhere it shouldn't — like through a child's body — and cuts the power in approximately 30 milliseconds. That's fast enough to prevent fatal electrocution in most scenarios.
- Check your switchboard — look for devices labelled "RCD" or "Safety Switch" with a test button
- If you have RCDs on some circuits but not all, get the remaining circuits protected
- If you have no RCDs at all (common in older homes with ceramic fuse boards), a switchboard upgrade is the most important safety investment you can make
- Test your RCDs quarterly using the test button — they should trip immediately when pressed
Cost to add RCD protection: $200–$350 per RCD, or $1,500–$2,500 for a full switchboard upgrade if your board is outdated.
Priority 2: Power Point Safety
Check for Shuttered Outlets
Modern Australian power points (manufactured to AS/NZS 3112 since 2005) have integrated safety shutters. These are spring-loaded covers behind each pin hole that only open when both pins of a plug are inserted simultaneously. This means a child poking a single object (a key, a fork, a hairpin) into one hole won't make contact with live parts.
Check your power points: pull out the plug and look into the pin holes. If you can see the contact behind the hole with nothing blocking it, you have un-shuttered outlets that should be upgraded.
Outlet Covers
Plastic plug-in outlet covers are an inexpensive stopgap — typically $5–$10 for a pack of 12. They work by filling the pin holes so children can't insert objects. However:
- They're not foolproof — persistent toddlers figure them out
- They can become choking hazards if removed
- Adults leave them out when using the outlet, then forget to replace them
- They're a band-aid, not a solution. Modern shuttered outlets are far better
Upgrade Old Power Points
If your home has older, un-shuttered power points, replacing them with modern safety outlets is one of the best investments for a family home. The cost is modest — around $30–$60 per point including labour — and provides permanent protection without relying on removable covers.
While upgrading, consider replacing heavily used points with models from quality brands like Clipsal Iconic, which have more robust shutters and better build quality than budget fittings.
Priority 3: Cord Management
Cords are a serious and often overlooked hazard for young children:
Appliance Cords
- Kettles, toasters, and irons: Keep cords pushed back from bench edges. A child pulling a kettle of boiling water onto themselves causes devastating burns
- Use short cords or cord winders to eliminate dangling loops
- Unplug appliances when not in use — removes both the shock and the pull-down risk
- Position bench-top appliances away from the edge with cords running along the back splash
Extension Leads and Power Boards
- Avoid running extension leads across floors where children play
- If you need extra outlets permanently, have additional power points installed instead of relying on extension leads
- Power boards should be wall-mounted or placed behind furniture, not on the floor at child height
- Use power boards with integrated on/off switches and surge protection
Lamp and Device Cords
- Secure lamp cords to walls or furniture legs with cable clips
- Use cord covers or conduit for any cables that run across a child-accessible area
- Ensure floor lamps are stable and won't topple if pulled
Priority 4: Room-by-Room Checks
Bathroom
- Never use portable electrical appliances (hair dryers, heaters, radios) near baths or basins with children present
- Ensure bathroom power points are on RCD-protected circuits
- Keep hair dryers, straighteners, and shavers stored in closed cabinets out of children's reach
Kitchen
- Use back burners and turn pot handles inward (not electrical, but related to burn prevention)
- Keep all small appliances unplugged and stored when not in use
- Ensure oven and dishwasher have child locks engaged
- Never leave hot appliances (iron, hair tools) accessible during or after use
Living Areas and Bedrooms
- Cover all unused power points with safety covers or replace with shuttered outlets
- Secure all TV and entertainment cables behind furniture or in cord channels
- Use wireless chargers where possible to reduce accessible cords
- Nightlights should be LED (cool to touch) and properly plugged in
Outdoors
- Outdoor power points should have weatherproof covers that lock closed
- Ensure pool equipment (pumps, lights, chlorinators) is in a locked enclosure
- Garden lighting wiring should be buried or concealed, not accessible at ground level
Teaching Electrical Safety
From about age 3, children can start learning basic electrical safety rules:
- Electricity is dangerous — never put things in power points
- Never touch electrical things with wet hands
- Don't pull on cords — ask an adult to unplug things
- Stay away from the switchboard
- If you see a broken cord or sparks, tell an adult immediately
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Australian power points have built-in child safety?
Modern Australian power points (manufactured after 2005 to AS/NZS 3112) have built-in shutters that prevent objects being inserted into individual pin holes. Both active and neutral shutters must be pushed simultaneously (as a plug does) to open. Older power points without shutters should be replaced or fitted with outlet covers.
Are power point covers effective for child safety?
Plug-in outlet covers provide a basic deterrent but are not foolproof — determined toddlers can remove them, and they can become choking hazards. The better solution is modern power points with integrated shutters, or child-safe power points with key-activated covers. Safety switches (RCDs) provide the most important layer of protection.
What is the most important electrical safety device for families?
Safety switches (RCDs) are the single most important electrical safety device for families. They detect earth leakage current — such as electricity flowing through a child's body — and cut power in approximately 30 milliseconds. Every circuit in a family home should be RCD protected.
Should I move power points higher if I have young children?
Relocating power points higher is generally unnecessary if your points have integrated shutters and your switchboard has RCD protection. However, if you're renovating, positioning some outlets at bench height (1,050mm) rather than standard height (300mm) keeps them out of toddler reach. This is common in kitchens and laundries.
Get a Family Safety Check
Randwick Electrical offers electrical safety audits for family homes across Sydney's Eastern Suburbs. We'll check your switchboard, test your safety switches, assess your power points, and give you a clear report on what needs attention. Call 0413 707 758 to book.