For protection against faults of this nature a circuit-breaker is used in place of a fuse. Circuit-breakers offer the following advantages compared to fuses. Unlike fuses which only operate once and need to be replaced a circuit-breaker can be reset.
So, are fuses safer than circuit breakers?
A fuse will only handle the amount of amperage that it is rated for. Circuit breakers can be reset after they trip, which is a huge advantage over fuses, but they don’t add any level of safety. Today, circuit breakers are used in homes instead of fuses. The main reason is because a circuit breaker can be re-used.