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SAFETY ALERT
Expert issues important advice to stay warm AND safe over the colder months
- Jamie Harris, Assistant Technology and Science Editor
ONLINE shoppers are being urged to think twice when buying popular money-saver warming gadgets as the cold weather ramps up.
Inspectors from the Office for Product Safety & Standards have seized two products at UK borders in the last month that fail to meet important rules.
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Both were originally listed by third parties on Amazon - but are now no longer available.
One was an electric foot warmer with a dodgy fuse which doesn't have a sufficient granular filler to operate as needed.
"The product presents a serious risk of fire because it is inadequately earthed," the Office for Product Safety and Standards warns.
"If an electrical fault occurs in the appliance/power supply, the poor-quality fuse will not function as required, potentially causing the product to overheat and ignite."
Read about recent recalls
The product - which originates from China - was also criticised for lacking sufficient marking, labelling and documentation.
Fortunately, the import was rejected at the border and destroyed.
The Office for Product Safety & Standards also obtained an air heater that presents a fire risk recently.
Experts found that the cable can overheat, as the mains supply cord had excessive resistance and can become hot during use, leading to it igniting and causing a fire.
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This too was rejected at the border.
While these products were caught before they managed to reach consumers, people still need to watch out, according to a major electrical safety charity.
What to do next if you have recalled food or products
"As we head into winter we know people will be looking for gadgets to keep themselves warm more generally, and it’s essential you stick to a reputable retailer or manufacturer to ensure what you’re buying is safe," said Stephen Curtler, product safety manager at Electrical Safety First.
"We often use personal heating devices likeelectric blanketsin very close proximity to our bodies, so it’s even more important these devices are made to a high standard as they can pose a serious danger to us if they are substandard and start a fire.
"Not all defects with a product are obvious from the outside and the risk factor can often been hidden inside.
"Separately with direct plug-in heaters, another device people turn to in the winter months to stay warm, these can cause very serious fires if they are left too close to fabrics that they can ignite.
"Keep them far away from flammable fabric and avoid plugging them into extension leads as this can overload the sockets, and they could tip over, presenting a fire risk.
"We have previously found adverts online selling shoppers plug in heaters, exploiting the high cost of energy in order to entice consumers into purchasing them as an alternative means of staying warm, only to find they are substandard.
"Stick to a reputable retailer to ensure your personal heating device doesn’t pose a significant risk to you this winter."
Your product recall rights
PRODUCT recalls are an important means of protecting consumers from dangerous goods.
As a general rule, if a recall involves a branded product, the manufacturer would usually have lead responsibility for the recall action.
But it's often left up to supermarkets to notify customers when products could put them at risk.
If you are concerned about the safety of a product you own, always check the manufacturer’s website to see if a safety notice has been issued.
When it comes to appliances, rather than just food items, the onus is usually on you - the customer - to register the appliance with the manufacturer as if you don't there is no way of contacting you to tell you about a fault.
If you become aware that an item you own has been recalled or has any safety noticed issued against it, make sure you follow the instructions given to you by the manufacturer.
They should usually provide you with more information and a contact number on its safety notice.
In some cases, the manufacturer might ask you to return the item for a full refund or arrange for the faulty product to be collected.
You should not be charged for any recall work - such as a repair, replacement or collection of the recalled item.
