trade comment: electrical safety Setting a standard for safety
In the aſtermath of Grenfell and a host of high-profile recalls, product safety has come out of the shadows - rising up the news agenda and consumer consciousness. Here Martyn Allen, Technical Director for leading safety charity, Electrical Safety First, looks at how the new Office for Product Safety and Standards is impacting on the product safety landscape.
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stablished at the beginning of 2018, the Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) was created
as part of the government’s response to the Working Group on Product Recalls and Safety - which built on the previous review of product recalls led by consumer champion, Lynn Faulds Wood. The remit for the OPSS is considerable. As
a ‘national oversight body’ it must identify consumer risk and manage responses to large-scale product recalls. All of which is taking place during a period when – Brexit or not – there are new challenges arising from globalisation, the expansion of online shopping and the rapid rate of product innovation and connected technology. With almost 5,000 fires in 2016-17 (the equivalent of 13 fires per day across the UK) caused by faulty electrical appliances and leads - including recalled items - Electrical Safety First has welcomed the OPSS as a much needed development. The charity, which was a key member of the Working Group, has consistently highlighted the need to improve recall rates (which are estimated to be as low as 10-20%). An ineffective recall means that consumers are being put at risk - and business brands and reputations can be badly damaged too. To address this, the OPSS commissioned a new Code of Practice
(PAS 7100), which launched last March. Its aim is to help businesses protect consumers - and their own reputation - by improving the recall process. A PAS (or publicly available specification)
aims to speed up the standardisation process by providing initial guidelines for a process, product or service. So we could say that the new Code is the first step in the standardization of the recall process. To ensure a 360 degree approach to the issue, the Code was established in collaboration with the British Standards Institution (BSI) and a range of key stakeholders, including retailers, consumer groups and industry bodies. It is designed to offer a clear template for what businesses and regulators are expected to do, in ensuring a recall or ‘corrective action’ is undertaken safely and systematically. We see the Code as a vital business tool – not just for manufacturers of electrical products but all those involved in the electrical product sector, including retailers, importers and distributors. It also makes clear the role of regulators and explains how they can support business in dealing with corrective actions. The major benefit it provides, and the focus of the Code is advanced planning – helping businesses establish the correct procedures and improve their product recall preparedness.
Fires caused by faulty appliances can be devastating So it is worth emphasising that its
principles are scalable and relevant to businesses of any size. The OPPS has clearly recognised the problems many small and medium sized businesses have, in terms of dealing with a wide range of regulations and legal requirements. This includes making the material available as a download, available at
https://tinyurl.com/y8sntsnc. There are also a number of YouTube videos, which provide further information. (See
http://tinyurl.com/y6yc5suv) In terms of impact on the product safety landscape, the OPSS is aiming for a step change in improving product recalls. The PAS 7100 is an excellent start.
An example of the damage caused by faulty electrical beauty tools
April 2019
A simulated fire showing the dangers of electrical beauty tools
www.innovativeelectricalretailing.co.uk | 23
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