My first bad encounter with electricity in Thailand was literally a lucky wake up call. I had rolled over in the middle of the night to switch on my bedside lamp, and, as I reached for the switch, I was thrown back across the bed by a strong electrical current. I reported the incident to the hotel, but my efforts were in vain. When the manager tested the lamp there appeared to be nothing wrong. My second encounter was with a cooking hob that electrocuted me every time I came into contact with any saucepan placed upon it.

Since these incidents, I have been extremely careful around any electrical appliances in Thailand. Bizarrely it would appear that electrical safety is not really a priority when building properties or installing appliances in the Land of Smiles. Health and safety standards play second fiddle to cheap labour and rapid building progress. I will never forget the day I saw two electricians fixing overhead cables in the dark; they were bare handed with only a small torch for light.

The majority of electrical wiring in Thailand lacks one simple component - earth. I am no electrician, but as I understand it; In the UK, we have three prong plugs, one prong is for incoming electrons, one prong is for outgoing electrons and the larger prong is for excess electrons to be sent into the ground so that they do not hurt us or damage appliances. In many countries a two prong approach is adopted along with an earth wiring safety measure. A metal grounding is applied to the earth (outside) and connected to both the safety ground conductors and the neutral conductors in a house; this protects anyone from getting electrocuted by excess current. Negligently, the majority of infrastructure across Thailand lacks the basic earth safety feature required to protect the public from electrocution.

On Christmas day, 2009, Anurak Gottschalk, 17, the son of a German photographer died when he was electrocuted by a faulty water heating unit in the shower of his home on the island of Phuket. This is a tragic reminder of how dangerous electricity can be, and the importance of applying an earth wire to all electrical appliances. 

Another dangerous feature of Thailand’s electrical infrastructure is the presence of overhead electric cables in the street. The maintenance of these cables is often substandard, and cables are often poorly secured or left dangerously hanging for far too long. Recently, Israeli holiday maker Ariel Soriano, 22, fell victim to a poorly secured cable which fell into a swimming pool at a late night party. Had this cable fallen at a peak swimming hour, the death toll could have been far higher.

Fatal accidents happen worldwide and are certainly not exclusive to Thailand, but can the aforementioned incidents be considered accidents when they were so clearly preventable through common sense and a more caring approach to human life?  
 
Thailand has become a major tourist destination over the years, and during these times of global financial hardship has become a draw for luxury holiday seekers. It is high time the Thai authorities started enforcing safe and competent electrical installation practices, not just for holiday makers and resident expats, but for the safety of their own people.

Alfred James is a freelance writer currently residing in Bangkok.