Lesley Rudd, Chief Executive, Electrical Safety First OPINION


‘Redefine what we think we know about product safety’


August 2023 ertonline.co.uk


The E-Bulb extinguisher next to a coin. Credit: Job GmbH 12


Lesley Rudd, Chief Executive, Electrical Safety First calls for product designers and innovators to enter the 2023 Safety Innovation Awards…


I


nnovators, designers and divergent thinkers, it’s that time of year where we at Electrical Safety First recognise and reward the best forward-thinking approach to product design and safety. Our coveted Safety Innovation Award, sponsored by Product IP, is open to applications concerning both projects and products at all stages of development.


I am consistently in awe of the incredible innovations that this Award unearths. The Safety Innovation Award is an extraordinary opportunity for creators and innovators to showcase their ground-breaking projects and products. Two of my favourite aspects of this Award are also two of the most important. These are both the fact that this Award is free- to-enter and that it welcomes applications that are either at the initial design phase or fully- realised concepts. So, whether you’re a young designer with a brilliant idea or an industry veteran with a cutting-edge product, this is a great opportunity for you and your team to get the recognition you deserve. Past winners of the Award have impressed


our judges by their ability to prioritise safety from the very inception of their product. One remarkable triumph from 2020 was the ‘world’s smallest fire extinguisher’ – the


ingenious E-Bulb, created by JOB Group. The E-Bulb device, seamlessly integrated into electrical appliances, possesses the incredible ability to extinguish internal fires before they even become visible to users. In 2021, Aico’s Ei1000G SmartLINK Gateway emerged as the clear winner. Developed with housing associations and social landlords, it acts as a bridge between data from smoke and fire alarms and a cloud portal. This keeps homeowners and landlords informed about alarm status; boosting confidence in property safety. Additionally, the gateway monitors humidity and air quality, surpassing standard alarm capabilities, and influences consumer behaviour through direct messaging. The winners of last year’s Award, Connected Innovations, displayed its own ground-breaking solution to potential fire hazards: a smart socket device. This socket is equipped with the ability to monitor external factors and can quickly shut off appliances if a build-up of heat is detected in the plugs and surrounding wiring. Anthony Parfitt, CEO and Founder


of


Connected Innovations, expressed his delight at winning the Safety Innovation Award and the industry exposure it provided him and his entire team.


Shifting our focus to this year’s Award, the stage has been set and the deadline for


There’s more info here: www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk/award


entries is fast approaching. Thursday 31 August marks the cut-off date for submissions. The winner of our Award will be announced during our annual Electrical Product Safety Conference in November. This platform will provide the winner with a unique opportunity to present their innovation to an audience of industry leaders, safety-minded professionals, and organisations dedicated to electrical safety and protecting consumers. The Conference itself will offer invaluable insights into each stage of the product lifecycle and will showcase information regarding all of the shortlisted applicants’ innovations. The winner will also receive media coverage about their entry, newsletters, and dedicated social media posts to showcase their creation. In addition to this, our highly respected Technical Team at Electrical Safety First will provide a half day of coaching to suitable candidates to help them further develop their product or project and navigate that challenging journey to market. Every year, I am impressed by the amazing innovations that our award highlights. I truly believe that a great idea can come from anywhere and I am looking forward to seeing more Award entries that challenge conventions! So, to all would-be entrants, I urge you to unleash your creativity, defy convention and redefine what we think we know about product safety. It’s time to submit your entries and allow us to help you on your path to safeguarding lives and developing your innovation. Take the chance: you just might win!


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