By Claire Reilly
As winter begins to descend, the ACCC has issued a timely reminder for consumers and retailers about the safety of electrical heating products in the winter months, asking Australians to be mindful of products that have been recalled due to electrical faults.
Faulty heaters and electric blankets are listed as two of the major dangers for consumers in the winter months, with the ACCC confirming that almost 400,000 products from the electric blanket category alone were recalled last year.
“If faulty, electric blankets can overheat, cause an electric shock, spark and potentially cause a fire,” said ACCC Deputy Chair Delia Rickard. “Almost 400,000 potentially faulty electric blankets were recalled last year. Check the Recalls Australia website www.recalls.gov.au to make sure yours isn’t one of them.
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While recall numbers were not as high in heater category, faulty heaters can also be potentially life-threatening products to keep in the house according to Rickard.
“Faulty heaters can overheat, cause an electric shock, spark and potentially cause a fire,” she said. “Additionally, if heaters are placed too close to furniture or if clothes or other items are placed on a heater, the heat could cause the item to ignite.
“Over 41,000 potentially faulty heaters were recalled last year so check to make sure yours isn’t one of them. Do not place heaters too close to furniture in your home, or place clothes on your heater.”
Consumers are advised to check in with the ACCC to see if previously purchased products have been recalled before they use them.
“[Consumers can] download the free iPhone or Android Recalls Australia app to ensure that none of your warmers have been recalled before winter starts,” said Rickard.
The ACCC also warned consumers about the dangers of using faulty hot water bottles and microwavable wheat bags. Wheat bags in particular have been subject to increased scrutiny in recent weeks, with New South Wales Deputy State Coroner Paul MacMahon recommending increased safety precautions for the products, after investigating a deadly fire caused by a wheat bag in 2011.