May is Electrical Safety Month, a good time to make sure your home is safe from hazards related to electricity.

According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, faulty home electrical wiring causes 40,000 fires a year and results in the loss of 350 lives and more than $2 billion in personal property damage.

Spring is an excellent time to conduct a 10-step home electrical safety inspection:

1. Electrical Outlets: Check for loose-fitting plugs which can be a shock or fire hazard. Replace missing or broken wall plates.

2. Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters: Make sure GFCIs are installed in your kitchen, bathrooms, workshop, basement, garage and outdoor areas where water and electricity are likely to come in contact. Test them monthly.

3. Plugs: Never force them into outlets. Don’t remove the ground pin to make a three prong plug fit a two-conductor outlet. Avoid overloading outlets.

4. Cords: Make sure they are not frayed or cracked, placed under carpets or rugs, resting on furniture or located in high-traffic areas. Do not nail or staple them to walls, floors or other objects.

5. Extension Cords: Use on a temporary basis only. Make sure they have safety closures to protect young children.

6. Light Bulbs: Check the wattage to make sure light bulbs match the fixture requirements. Make sure they are screwed in securely so they don’t overheat.

7. Circuit Breakers/Fuses: Fuses should be properly rated for the circuit they are protecting. Always replace a fuse with the same size you are removing. Check to make sure circuit breakers are working properly.

8. Appliances/Electronics: If an appliance repeatedly blows a fuse, trips a circuit breaker or has given you an electrical shock, immediately unplug it and have it repaired or replaced. Use surge protectors to protect expensive electronics equipment.

9. Outdoor Connections: Electric-powered lawn equipment and power tools should not be used in wet conditions. Inspect for frayed cords, broken plugs and cracked or broken housings. Always use an extension cord rated for outdoor use.