What safety device should be installed in areas where water and electricity may interact?

The Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) is the appropriate safety device for areas where water and electricity may interact due to its specific design to protect against electric shock. GFCIs are engineered to monitor the flow of electricity and can quickly shut off power when they detect an imbalance, indicating that electricity is escaping to the ground—often due to contact with water. This rapid disconnection of power significantly reduces the risk of electrical shock in wet environments such as kitchens, bathrooms, and outdoor spaces.

Unlike other devices, such as fuse boxes or circuit breakers, which primarily provide overcurrent protection and may not respond quickly enough to ground faults, GFCIs focus specifically on preventing hazardous situations that can occur when electrical appliances come into contact with water. Surge protectors, while essential for protecting electronic devices from voltage spikes, do not mitigate the risk of shock and are not designed to function in the same protective capacity as GFCIs in wet areas.