The following article was extracted and adapted from the St. Lucia Bureau of Standards Web site. In light of the current festive season, safety on a whole should be heightened. The following article addresses some precautions and certification which should be taken into consideration when dealing with electrical decorations. The article reads as follow:

"There is the increased risk of electrocution and fire hazards if the quality and use of Christmas lights and other similar products is not given careful consideration by consumers.

The holiday season is that special time of year when homes and business are brightened with colourful and twinkling lights. In St. Lucia flashing bulbs, illuminated icicles, and animated figurines on lawns, rooftops and businesses are now a very common sight and create a very cheerful atmosphere. But while there’s no denying their beauty, there is the increased risk of electrocution and fire hazards if the quality, display and use of these products are not given careful consideration by consumers.

To be retailed, all Christmas tree and other decorative lights must come with safety markings, warnings, instructions and voltage information. One of the most recognised safety certification marks is the UL mark. The UL Mark on a product means that UL engineers have tested representative samples of the product for foreseeable safety hazards such as fire and electric shock. The UL Mark consists of the letters "UL" within a circle. The UL Marks may be only used on or in connection with products certified by UL and under the terms of written agreement with UL. The Bureau can be contacted for a listing of some other safety markings that are also acceptable. In addition to the above specific requirements, consumers should be guided by the following tips and precautions on proper usage of Christmas and decorative lights. They are designed to help prevent electrical fires, overloaded circuits and other holiday fire hazards both outside and inside the home or business:

• Look for a label stating that the lights were tested by a recognised testing laboratory.

• Check light plugs for fuses that guard against overload which could cause a fire.

• Check each string of lights, old and new, for broken or cracked sockets, frayed or bare wires, loose connections, or loose or missing bulbs. If a set is damaged, do not buy or use it.

• Before using lights outdoors, check the labels to be sure they have been certified for outdoor use.

• Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions concerning installation and maintenance of the electrical decorations you’ll be using.

• Don’t mount or support light strings in any way that might damage the cord’s wire insulation.

• Don’t overload extension cords – it could cause the cord to overheat and start a fire.

• Don’t allow children or pets to play with light strings, or other electrical decorations. These decorations are not toys and could produce a deadly electric shock if they are misused."