Using paraffin (kerosene) for cooking, heating or lighting is strongly associated with poverty in South Africa. In addition, many regard it to be the most dangerous form of household energy because of the high profile given to the unacceptably high number of harmful paraffin related domestic incidents that have taken place. Research in recent years, however, has revealed that the danger is not so much paraffin per se but rather the unsafe system of paraffin use. If the systemic problems are addressed, paraffin can be used very safely. Furthermore, hospital surveillance is indicating that burn injuries involving electricity are equal in magnitude to those related to paraffin. This suggests a common problem of poor household energy safety practise that must be addressed.