Got a shock from an appliance or tap? What to do in the next 60 minutes

A tingle from the tap, a jolt from the fridge handle, a shock from the kettle when you pick it up. These are not quirks. They are not "just static." They are active electrical faults leaking current to a metal surface that you then touched. Every one of them is a reason to stop using that item immediately and make a call.

Here is what to do in the next 60 minutes if you or someone in your house has received a shock from an appliance or a metal surface.

Right now: the first 60 seconds

If the person is still in contact with the current source: Do not touch them. You will become part of the circuit. Turn off the power at the main switch first. If you cannot reach the main switch, use a non-conductive object, a wooden chair, a rubber-soled shoe, to break the contact. Then turn off the main switch.

If the person is no longer in contact: Turn off the power to the circuit or the main switch if you can do it safely. Do not leave the area live with a faulty appliance connected.

Ring 000 if the person: lost consciousness at any point, has burns at the contact point, is experiencing chest pain, unusual heartbeat, difficulty breathing, or confusion. Electric shock can cause cardiac arrhythmia that is not immediately apparent. If in doubt, ring 000. This is not an overreaction.

For a minor shock (tingle or brief jolt, no loss of consciousness, no burns): The person should sit down and rest. Electrical shock affects the nervous system and mild symptoms, tingling, slight disorientation, can persist for a few minutes. Monitor them.

First aid for electric shock

Once the power is off and the immediate contact is broken:

1. Check for consciousness and breathing. If unconscious and not breathing, begin CPR and ring 000.
2. Do not move the person unless there is an ongoing hazard (fire, further electrical risk). Shock can cause spinal injury in severe cases.
3. Treat any burns with cool running water for 20 minutes. Do not use ice or creams.
4. Keep them warm and calm. Shock can cause shivering.
5. Do not leave them alone until a medical professional has assessed them.

Even for what seems like a minor shock, a medical assessment is worthwhile within a few hours. Cardiac effects from electrical shock can be delayed.

After the immediate danger: what to test

Once the person is safe and the immediate situation is under control, do not reconnect the appliance. Unplug it and label it as faulty. Do not use it until an electrician or appliance repair technician has tested it.

Then go to your switchboard:

• Did the safety switch (RCD) trip? Check whether any device with a "T" button is in the OFF position.
• If the RCD did not trip, note this. It tells us something important (see next section).
• If the RCD did trip, it did its job. The appliance was leaking current and the RCD caught it. Leave the circuit off until a sparky has checked the appliance and the circuit.

More detail on what to do after a safety switch trips here.

What the shock is telling you about your wiring

A shock from an appliance happens when current finds a path through you to earth. For this to happen, the appliance's insulation has failed internally and its metal chassis or case has become live.

The safety switch (RCD) is supposed to catch this. It trips when it detects 30 milliamps going somewhere it should not. If you received a shock and the RCD did not trip, one of three things is true:

1. There is no RCD on that circuit. Older Brisbane homes sometimes have lighting circuits or certain power circuits with no RCD protection. This is a known risk in pre-2002 homes.
2. The RCD has failed. RCDs can drift out of calibration, particularly older units. If it is not tripping on a legitimate fault, it needs replacement.
3. The fault current was not enough to trigger the RCD but was enough to give you a tingle. This is possible at lower voltages or through certain fault paths.

All three scenarios need a sparky. The fact that the RCD did not trip does not mean everything is fine. It means the protection may not be working correctly.

Why this is a same-day callout

I will be direct: a shock from an appliance or a metal surface is not a "get to it next week" situation.

The fault that caused the shock is still there. It is still live. If someone else touches the same appliance, or the same tap that now has stray current on it due to a plumbing earthing issue, they will receive the same shock or worse. If the fault is in fixed wiring rather than just the appliance, the risk extends beyond the one item.

Voltech does same-day fault calls across Camp Hill, Carina, Mt Gravatt and the surrounding suburbs. Ring 0411 054 811 and I will tell you whether I can be there today. For a fault like this, I prioritise it.

There is no weekend premium for this type of callout within our standard service area. Electrical shock faults go to the top of the queue.

Is it a notifiable incident?

Under Queensland law, serious electrical incidents are notifiable to the Electrical Safety Office (ESO) under the Electrical Safety Act 2002 and the Work Health and Safety Act 2011.

For a domestic situation, the threshold for a notifiable incident is an electric shock that required medical treatment, caused loss of consciousness, or involved circumstances that could have caused death.

If the shock was serious enough that 000 was called, or medical treatment was sought, I will advise you on the notification requirements when I attend. This is not something that gets you in trouble. It is a legal obligation that exists so the ESO can track serious electrical hazards. I handle the relevant paperwork as part of my make-safe documentation.

For any shock involving an appliance or fixed wiring, ring me on 0411 054 811 and read the full electrical emergency guidance here.

, John