The Verve 42cm Heated Propagator (barcode 08643BQ 04084716) and The Verve 52cm Heated Propagator (barcode 08644BQ 04084723), are units used to provide heat for seedlings and cuttings, and were offered for sale between December 2011 and March 2012.

The B&Q retailer said: “Despite rigorous quality control procedures it has been brought to B&Q’s attention that,in a small number instances, this may overheat when in use. If you have purchased any of these products from B&Q since August 2010 PLEASE STOP USING IT IMMEDIATELY and return the product to your local B&Q store where a full purchase price refund will be given.”

More information can be found by calling their customer Services Helpline 0800 3890419 (Monday to Friday 8.30am to 8.00pm, Saturday 9.00am to 5.00pm)

The law states that landlords have an obligation to ensure wiring and electrical items and installations are in a safe condition and are maintained safety in the home – tenants should also be encouraged to report any electrical issues as soon as they appear so landlords can get these fixed.

The electrical safety council has created a guide for new and existing landlords to outline their legal responsibilities and how best to carry these out, more information on their site: http://www.esc.org.uk

At the basic level however, for portable electrical items, we would recommend both a regular physical inspection of all electrical items, leads and sockets, plus PAT Testing at regular intervals – ensuring you get all the certification to state the testing has been done and which items have been approved. This will certainly cover landlord’s electrical safety obligations.

The company were criticised for a number of basic safety failings – including placing a ladder on top of storage boxes instead of clearing a space for it on the ground, plus electrical circuits not being isolated before removing the front plate from a the junction box the member of staff was working on.

Additionally, the employee was a qualified electrician, someone the HSE said “should have known better”.

Isolating power before working on bare wiring and open electrical boxes is an essential part of safety, plus proper management at working at height.

Make sure you supervise any work you have undertaken by your own staff and ensure they get (and utilise!) the appropriate training. You would be wise to not only send designated employees to PAT Testing training but also to health and safety at work and basic first aid training, depending on your workplace and what situations they may encounter.

(Image by sludgegulper on Flickr, click to view original)

For both experienced and inexperienced organisers alike, here are some basic tips on how to ensure your safety when planning your outdoor celebration:

~ Use a marquee. To avoid having to worry about the weather, setting up a marquee will be great anyway, plus additional benefits for electrical safety. It can protect things you may want out on tables such as televisions and radios to follow the Jubilee during the celebrations – giving you time to unplug and turn off the power if rain hits. Remember though, a marquee doesn’t make it safe to watch a regular TV or use electrical items in the rain!

~ Check equipment. Something of an obvious one, but check all equipment you plan on using for frayed cables and plugs before use – for an event like this you may be pulling out spare TVs or items you’ve not used for a while so best to ensure they are safe.

~ Make leads safe. You’ll likely be using extension cords to get power to items out in the street – make sure cables are out of the way and not going to be tripped over. Either tape cables down or run them out of walkways.

~ Use waterproof equipment. Where necessary you will need to use waterproof equipment, such as lighting and extension cords that are likely to get wet if rain hits. Don’t bet on being able to predict the rain – showers can arrive with next to no warning and as soon as there is water involved you are in danger.

~ Don’t overload wires and sockets. Make sure you unwind extension cords fully to avoid them overheating, and don’t overload sockets with extra sockets – this can result in overheating and short-outs. Even if this doesn’t result in injury, it could ruin your TV and interrupt the Jubilee broadcast!

Common sense and a little bit of research is the best approach when setting up any electrics outside. Be prepared, get everything organised well in advance and know what you need to find out or set up. And then you can relax and have fun!

The Code of Practice for In-Service Inspection and Testing of Electrical Equipment by IEE- This is a reference book from the Institution of Electrical Engineers and one we recommend you get. If you want to get into specific requirements, this is the reference you’ll need, and you’ll find many other sources quoting it.

You can also find an awful lot of free, accurate and very helpful information at the Health and Safety Executive website section for Electrical Safety

Our next training course is on Thursday, April 26. The day starts at 10.30am, allowing plenty of time for those who have to travel far. For further information on how to book, check out our dedicated training page on the website.

PRODUCT: DKB Household Switzerland AG TURMIX AX 200 Humidifier

POSSIBLE DEFECT:
The heating coil fastener may become disconnected from the heating-regulator causing overheating with risk of fire and also the bottom of the housing to melt.

BATCH CODE: The only batch code affected is: 2811

MANUFACTURERS INFO:
The Air and Water Centre
Artex Avenue
Rustington
Littlehampton
West Sussex
BN16 3LN
Telephone: +44 (0)1903 858657
Email: info@airandwatercentre.com

PRODUCT: SANYO Microwave Ovens EM-C8787B UK2 and EM-C8787W

POSSIBLE DEFECT: Potential of electricity leakage and electric shock.

CODE NUMBERS: EM-C8787B UK2 and EM-C8787W

SERIAL NUMBERS:
1002UKM00617A to 01128A
1004UKM00001A to 00512A
1004UKM01129A to 01640A
1008UKM00001A to 01024A
1008UKM01641A to 02152A
1011UKM00001A to 00257A
1011UKM05771A to 06537A
1012UKM00001A to 01024A
1104AUM01241A to 01752A
1105UKM00617A to 01640A
1107UKM00001A to 01024A
1109UKM00001A to 00512A

SOLD: March 2010 until January 2012.

MANUFACTURERS INFO:
SANYO Sales and Marketing Europe Customer Contact Centre
Tel:+44 08009 230019(Freephone) / +44 01923 477351 9am to 5pm
Website: http://eu.sanyo.com

PRODUCT: Crown Upright Fan Heater

MODEL NO: CRH-UF04
POSSIBLE DEFECT: Product may overheat leading to a fire risk and potential exposure to melted plastic.
The only batch codes affected are: 1351 and 1361
MANUFACTURERS INFO:
CROWN –Tuscany Way, Normanton WF6 2UA Tel: 01924 227342.

PRODUCT: Calortec Electric Panel Radiators (Eco Prime) sold at B&Q:

POSSIBLE DEFECT: may not provide adequate protection from electric shock or overheating.

BAR CODES:
750Watts – 5 panels – barcode 5414746003600
1050 Watts – 7 panels – barcode 5414746003617
1510 Watts – 10 panels – barcode 5414746003624
1850 Watts – 12 panels – barcode 5414746003631

RETAILER:
B&Q Customer Service Helpline on (UK) 0800 3890419 (Monday to Friday 8.30am to 8.00pm, Saturday 9.00am to 5.00pm)

PRODUCT: VACUUM CLEANER – Hyundai and Synergy

POSSIBLE DEFECT: May overheat, emit black smoke and eventually combust into flames
Product Codes:
PLU 256749 HYUNDAI 1200W CYCLONIC VAC
PLU 249368 SYNERGY 1200W/1400W CYCLONIC VAC
Customers who have purchased any of these vacuum cleaners should return it immediately to any Poundstretcher store where a full refund will be given. A receipt is not necessary.
RETAILER: Poundstretcher Store.

PRODUCT: DISHWASHER – Bosch, Neff and Siemens

POSSIBLE DEFECT: POTENTIAL FIRE HAZARD.
PRODUCT CODES: Batch number range lies within FD 7901 to FD 8504 only.

If your batch number falls within this range, please visit the website www.repairaction.co.uk and enter your model number together with your batch number to verify whether your particular dishwasher is affected. From here you will be able to arrange your free of charge repair immediately.
Alternatively, contact the call centre. Opening hours are Mon – Fri 8am to 8pm and Sat – Sun 8am to 5pm.
www.repairaction.co.uk • freephone 0800 023 4881
This safety notice does not affect any other Bosch, Neff and Siemens branded appliances.

More information on these can be found on the Trading Standards Website.

This will affect tax relief on some businesses’ capital expenditure for plant and machinery. The change will take place on April 1 for companies and April 6 for sole traders.

For more information on how this may affect your business there more information available from: Business Link

Image by dr.mafisto on Flickr, click to view original.

With some fires across the pond recently started by electric heaters, the International Electrical Safety Foundation have publicised some suggestions for ensuring heaters are used safely.

You can apply these safety-precautions to the workplace too, as no doubt plenty of offices are using electric heaters to supplement heating for staff during the recent cold spells.

They recommend:

– Before using the heater, read the manufacturers instructions carefully and note any particular safety precautions recommended, or limitations of the heater.

– Don’t leave the heater unattended.

– Avoid placing heaters in corridors or stretching cables across rooms, causing a tripping hazard.

– Inspect the power sockets, plugs and cords of the heater regularly for fraying or damage.

– Ensure that heaters are placed at least 3 feet away from other objects, to avoid over-heating.

– As an electrical appliance, electric heaters should be PAT Tested, whether you get someone in or you send staff on one of our PAT Testing courses and buy a PAT Testing Kit so you can do it in-house.

– Ensure heaters are placed on flat surfaces, and never place them at a height or on top of furniture.

– When not in use, unplug heaters and ensure they are safely stored.

You can get more info from the Electrical Safety Foundation website here.

Hopefully we will have a long, hot Summer very soon and all the heaters can go back into hibernation again!

The next PAT Training day is Thursday March 22 in Exeter. You don’t need previous experience in PAT testing to attend as it is aimed at those with little or no experience. There will be a short test at the end of the day and successful candidates are issued with a Parker Bell Certificate of Training. For more details visit our training page on this website.