Avon Fire & Rescue Service (AF&RS) has teamed up with Electrical Safety First, the UK’s leading safety charity, to remind people to register their electrical products.
House fires and electric shocks, which can be caused by faulty appliances, are amongst some of the biggest fears people have, yet most people still don’t register their electrical items.
This means manufacturers are unable to contact them in the event of a recall.
Faulty appliances alone cause £41.6 million of damage in the UK every year and 46 deaths are caused annually by electrical fires.
Yesterday, Thursday 21st January, was Register My Appliance Day and it’s hoped it will remind people to take a few minutes to log their details.
A new study from Electrical Safety First found that a house fire, being burnt and getting an electric shock top the list of fears people have about their homes.
However, while the majority of people said they know a recalled item can cause a fire or electrocution, only half of people in the UK registered the last electrical item they bought, leaving themselves open to the danger of having a recalled item in their home.
Registering an appliance ensures you receive important safety messages about the item you possess.
Since 2011 there have been over 300 different recalled electrical items, including frequently used products such as phone charges and adapters, kitchen appliances, hairdryers and washing machines.
Despite 96% of people saying they would return an electrical item if they knew it had been recalled the success rate for recalls in the UK is rarely more than 10-20%, indicating people may be unknowingly living with a potentially dangerous recalled item as it isn’t registered.
Phil Buckle, from Electrical Safety First said: “We know electrical products are high on shopping lists this sale season so we’re urging the public to keep their families and homes safe by making a habit of registering a new product as soon as they get it home.
“People may think it’s too much hassle or there is no benefit of providing contact details but an unregistered appliance can be a hidden danger in homes as it’s difficult for manufacturers to trace them.”
Group Manager for Risk Reduction at AF&RS, Matt Peskett, said: “We see first-hand the damage, loss and devastation that electrical fires cause to families and their homes.
“Taking the time to register an appliance as soon as you buy it ensures you’ll be notified by the manufacturer if there is a fault or a safety repair is needed.
“Having a recalled item in your home puts you and your family at risk, it’s too dangerous to ignore.”
To check if an electrical item has been recalled, visit: http://www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/recall and to register an appliance, visit http://www.registermyappliance.org.uk/.
