Warwickshire News Mine

Whether it’s your kettle or iron, extension lead or an electric drill, the advice from Warwickshire Trading Standards Service is to get it checked.

Faulty electrical appliances are one of the top three causes of accidental house fires in Warwickshire. Last year over 50 house fires started across the county due to faulty toasters, heaters, table lamps and faults with wiring, cabling or plugs and other such appliances. Fire is not the only danger from faulty or damaged electrical goods, there is also an increased risk of electric shock – which can kill.

The one off testing programme, funded by a grant from the Electrical Safety Council, will be available on the following dates at the venues below:

Monday 1st March Rugby
    Brownsover Community Information Centre
    Hollowell Way, Rugby

Tuesday 2nd March Atherstone
    North Warwickshire Borough Council
    The Council House, South Street, Atherstone

Wednesday 3rd March Nuneaton
    Nuneaton Fire Station, Newtown Road, Nuneaton

Thursday 4th March Leamington Spa
    Lillington Youth Centre, Mason Avenue, Lillington, Leamington Spa

The booking hotline is now open, telephone or email:

01926 736477
(Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm)

patesting@warwickshire.gov.uk

Bookings for safety checks are available by appointment only and will be taken on a first come first served basis. The number of appointments is limited so book early to avoid disappointment.

If you are unable to take advantage of the testing programme, you can do a visual check of your goods by checking the warning signs below. Around 95% of faults or damage can be found by just taking a good look at the appliance, cable and plug.

10 signs to look out for that could spell danger:

Hot plugs & sockets
Lights flickering
Brown scorch marks on sockets & plugs
Damage to the cable covering the internal wires, eg cuts & abrasions
Damage to the plug, eg cracked casing or bent pins
Non standard joints, including taped joints, on the cable
Outer covering of the plug not entering the plug leaving exposed the internal coloured wires
Appliances that have been used in conditions which are unsuitable, such as damp kitchens or bathrooms and dirty, dusty garages
Damage to the outer covering of the appliance or obvious loose parts or screws
Overheating, burn marks or stains on the appliance

If you see something that indicates the product might be unsafe stop using it and seek expert advice.

For a complete guide to electrical safety in the home visit the Warwickshire website: http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/tradingstandards and http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/fireandrescue.

Link to WCC