We have added a product recall checker widget to the website (see bottom right) which will automatically update with the most recent recalls. When you click on the products listed you will then be directed to the appropriate records on the Electrical Safety Council’s website.
According to the Electrical Safety Council
Since the start of 2011, there have been 228 recall notices for electrical products, including seven types of fridges, four washing machines and seven hairdryers. However, only 10-20% of recalled products are ever returned or repaired.
Around half of all accidental domestic fires in the UK are caused by electricity, with the vast majority of these attributed to electrical appliances. Electrical appliances are the third most frequently notified product group when it comes to recalls.
The need to improve consumer awareness of, and response to, recalls is something of which we are all very much aware. Research carried out by Electrical Safety First has indicated that two million adults have consciously ignored a recall notice for an electrical item. Many people associate recalls with ‘annoying faults’ rather than safety. They are not aware of the risks of continuing to use a recalled product. They think that responding to a notice and returning a product will be too much hassle. And if it’s a luxury item, like a television or beauty product, they are not prepared to do without it.
“