Generator Safety Tips
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Never use a generator indoors, including in homes, garages, screened porches and otherenclosed or partially enclosed areas, even with ventilation such as an open garage door.
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Follow the instructions that come with your generator. Locate the unit outdoors and away from doors, windows, and vents that could allow carbon monoxide to come indoors.
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Install battery-operated carbon monoxide alarms according to the manufacturer's installation instructions. Test them frequently.
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Keep the generator dry and do not use in rain or wet conditions. To protect from moisture, operate it on a dry surface under an open, canopy-like structure. Dry your hands if wet before touching the generator.
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Plug appliances directly into the generator. Or, use a heavy-duty, outdoor-rated extension cord that is rated (in watts or amps) at least equal to the sum of the connected appliance loads. Check that the entire cord is free of cuts or tears and that the plug has all three prongs, especially a grounding pin.
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Never try to power the house wiring by plugging the generator into a wall outlet, a practice known as "backfeeding." This is an extremely dangerous practice that presents an electrocution risk to utility workers and neighbors served by the same utility transformer.
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If you must connect the generator to the house wiring to power appliances, have a qualified electrician install the appropriate equipment in accordance with local electrical codes.
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For power outages, permanently installed stationary generators are better suited for providing backup power to the home. Even a properly connected portable generator can become overloaded. This may result in overheating or stressing the generator components, possibly leading to a generator failure.
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Never store fuel for your generator in the home.
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Before refueling the generator, turn it off and let it cool down. Gasoline spilled on hot engine parts could ignite.
Source: The Consumer Product Safety Commission