LIGHTS ON! CSA GIVES GREEN LIGHT TO TREE LIGHTING CEREMONY AT NATHAN PHILLIPS
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TORONTO, Nov. 26 /CNW/ - As the City of Toronto prepares to light the official Christmas Tree at Nathan Phillips Square this Saturday, CSA wants to remind Torontonians about important holiday lighting tips.

Earlier this week, CSA's Michael Martin, executive vice president, Finance & IT, and Daniel Langlois, senior manager, Global Mark Integrity, Legal & Risk Management Department, spent the morning with Kevin O'Reilly from the City of Toronto inspecting lights on the city's official Christmas Tree against the CSA safety checklist.

As the City of Toronto kicks-off the start of the holiday season, CSA offers the following safety tips for Canadians to remember as they decorate and light their own trees and homes:

Twinkle and sparkle the safer way

• Check and check again: Carefully inspect holiday light strings each and every year.
• Out with the old: Discard any light strings with frayed cords, cracked lamp holders or loose connections.
• Size 'em up: Unplug light strings before replacing bulbs and check to ensure replacement bulbs match the voltage and wattage of the original. Make certain that bulb reflectors are the correct size for the light string.
• Spot the mark: When purchasing light strings, extension cords and electrical decorations, look for a certification mark such as one from CSA International that provides assurance that the products are tested and certified to the applicable standards for safety and performance. Also, ensure that outdoor light strings, cords, spotlights and floodlights are certified by CSA International and marked for outdoor use.
• Don't be tacky: Never hang decorations from fire sprinklers, or allow them to obstruct exit corridors or exit signs, fire extinguishers and hose cabinets. Never tack or staple lighting strings or extension cords to a wall or cubicle. When hanging lights outdoors, keep electrical connectors above ground, out of puddles and snow and away from metal eavestroughs. Use insulated fasteners rather than metal nails or tacks to hold light strings in place.
• Take 'em Down: Remove outdoor lights promptly after the holiday season to avoid damage caused by extended exposure to harsh weather conditions.
• Safe storage: After the holidays, wrap and store lights and decorations in their original packaging, as they likely contain manufacturer's instructions on replacement bulbs and details for proper product use.
• Watch the flicker of candles: Do not use open flames or candles on or near flammable materials such as wreaths, trees or paper decorations.
• Designate those decorations: When decorating the tree, place breakable ornaments on the higher limbs to protect children and pets. Remember to always use flame-resistant decorations.
• Don't get juiced: Before working with outdoor wiring, turn off the electricity to the supply outlet and unplug the connection.
• Fresh or fake, be safe: If you buy a real tree, make sure it's fresh. Fresh trees will be less likely to dry out and become a fire hazard. Artificial trees with electrical lights should have a certification mark on them and should be made of fire-resistant material.
• Pardon the interruption: Whenever possible, connect all outdoor lighting into receptacles protected by weatherproof ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI). These can provide protection from electric shock by sensing ground leakage and cutting electrical power.

About CSA International
CSA International is a provider of product testing and certification services for electrical, mechanical, plumbing, gas and a variety of other products. Recognized in the U.S., Canada and around the world, CSA International certification marks appear on billions of products worldwide. CSA International is a division of CSA Group, which also includes CSA, a leading solutions based standards organization, providing standards development, application products, training and advisory services; and OnSpeX, a provider of consumer product evaluation, inspection and advisory services for retailers and manufacturers. For more information, visit www.csa-international.org

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