The outcome from this has been an agreed position by all State and Territory Regulators on the importance of increasing people's awareness of electrical safety for older homes and buildings. This includes encouraging older home and building owners to have their electrical installation checked (particularly if they have recently brought an old home or building) and the recommendation that safety switches are installed as the most cost effective means to prevent electric shock and electrocution.

The following is the agreed position reached by all State and Territory Regulators:

• Just as people recognise the need to maintain their motor vehicle to ensure that it is safe, the electrical installation in your home should be checked to verify that it is safe. Generally, white and grey coloured plastic insulated electrical wiring should not cause any problems with ageing but earlier cabling systems have a more limited lifespan and can become unsafe over time or with physical disturbance or structural change.
  
  
• Older installations are a safety concern for State and Territory electrical Regulators. Electrical installations of the 1950s and 1960s consisted mainly of lead and rubber sheathed, rubber insulated cables, or cotton covered rubber insulated wiring in split metal conduit. There is recent evidence from the electrical industry of installations found with degraded rubber insulation, lead covered wiring deterioration and loose and unearthed split conduit assemblies. There is a risk of shock to tradespeople and occupants and risk of fire damage to buildings from aged wiring and switchboards.
  
  
• A recommended method to improve the safety of all installation wiring is to install safety switches to minimise electrical shock hazard. In addition, the inclusion of safety switches in aged wiring installations can provide an additional monitoring measure against wiring failure in most circumstances. It is recommended that all light and power and other circuits, have safety switches installed to provide increased protection against electric shock and fire.
  
  
• Whilst a safety switch will not completely remove risk associated with an installation in relation to fire risk, it is the best available cost effective means for significantly increasing the safety in your home. However, having a safety switch fitted should not be a substitute for treating electricity with the respect it deserves. Have your electrical contractor check your electrical installation if you have a pre - 1960s home, experience problems with frequent tripping of circuit breakers or fuses blowing, or you think your switchboard, electrical wiring or equipment are suspect. State and Territory Regulator's strongly recommend that home owners take every opportunity to have their electrical installation assessed for safety.