Luckily the family escaped from their home unharmed, but the electrical fire has caused serious damage to their home. It was only spotted after hissing was heard coming from the kitchen and upon investigation the fire was found. We dread to think what would have happened if the family has not been alerted by this hissing and had slept through.
So why hadn't the family been informed?
Simply because they moved home and the letter from Beko was sent to their old address. Now, this might seem on the face of it that Beko had done their job and it was unfortunate they never received the letter but at Fulcher Edwards we think more should be done. In 2011 alone, London Fire Brigade reported that Beko fridge freezers had caused 20 house fires and 1 death in London.
Clearly, this family are not the only ones not to be aware of the potentially life threatening fault on their fridge freezer. Furthermore, we wonder how many other electrical appliances are being used across London that are potentially dangerous to their user.
Product recalls are often problematic and can range from anything from cars to everyday foods brought in the supermarket. We admit that we very rarely check product recalls in supermarkets so our question is, should we be simply relying on paperwork work telling us of serious safety concerns on products we have purchased?
In todays modern world we are contactable by virtually every method – we receive endless spam emails and sales calls, so if these companies can contact us to tell us about their products then we're surprised that companies such as Beko have no other contact details about their customers.
What might be a good solution?
Of course people move house, but people generally keep tabs on their mobile phones and the internet. A text message to advise of the potential safety issue would prompt people to ring a number with a reference. Social media channels such as Twitter and Facebook are a quick way of spreading news as users share and comment on important announcements.
What can I do if I'm worried?
If you have any doubt about the safety of an electrical appliance then do not use it and unplug it immediately. However, before you replace it (especially if its a large item) consult a qualified part p registered electrician to take a look. If you have any concerns about a Beko product or to check to see if they have written to you, you can check the link here
What happens if an electrical fire breaks out in my home?
Electrical fires often starts small and often unnoticed particularly if the fire starts in a socket. This means the fire would be burning inside the wall and by the time it is noticed, it would be capable of causing serious harm to the occupants inside the house.
Electrical fires spread very quickly so it is essential that everyone including pets leave the house and then alert the fire brigade. Don't return to your home until the fire crew tells you it is safe to do so.
If you able to do so, turn off power in your home using the switch located in your consumer unit. Its normally a big red switch that will cut power to everything in your home. We suggest making yourself familiar with this switch should you need to use it in an emergency. Also ensure you know where to find your consumer unit and that you can get to it easily. Lots of people store piles of boxes in front of theirs and it can be a half days work simply removing boxes and other household items out of the way in order to access it!
If you feel able to tackle the fire, only use a CO2 fire extinguisher, never water as you could electrocute yourself.
Before you switch power back on in your home, always ensure a Registered Part P electrician ensures it is safe to do so first.
No comments:
Post a Comment