While useful in an emergency, generators can pose extreme hazards if used improperly. The Consumer Product Safety Commission offers advice for safe use of the machines.
-- Never use a generator inside a home, garage, crawlspace, shed or similar area. Fans or open doors and windows are not sufficient to ventilate the carbon monoxide fumes emitted by the machines.
--Place the unit completely outdoors and far away from doors, windows and vents that could allow carbon monoxide to come indoors.
-- If you start to feel sick, dizzy or weak while using a generator, get to fresh air immediately. Death from carbon monoxide poisoning can occur in minutes.
-- Install battery-operated carbon monoxide detectors in your home. Test batteries monthly.
-- If using a generator when it is wet outside, protect the generator from moisture to help avoid shock hazards, but do not operate the generator indoors or under a shelter to keep it dry.
-- Connect appliances to the generator using heavy-duty extension cords that are specifically designed for outdoor use. Make sure the wattage rating for each cord exceeds the total wattage of all appliances connected to it.
-- Never try to power the house wiring by plugging the generator into a wall outlet, a practice known as “backfeeding.” This presents an electrocution risk to utility workers and neighbors served by the same utility transformer. It also bypasses some of the built-in household circuit protection devices.
-- Before refueling the generator, turn it off and let it cool down. Gasoline spilled on hot engine parts can ignite.
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