Do you know if your household appliances are safe?
An investigation by consumer organisation Which? has identified that between 2011 and March 2014 nearly 12,000 fires started in people's homes due to faulty household appliances.
Andy Reynolds, electrical safety lead for the Chief Fire Officers Association, said "The shocking numbers identified by Which? demonstrate how essential it is that people are aware of the fire risks associated with faulty appliances. We are working with partners to highlight the issue of unsafe electrical appliances, and to promote safety and information campaigns."
"Key to protecting your home and family is making sure you're kept up to date with any potential safety issues and product recalls. We would urge members of the public to use Electrical Safety First's product checker, to make sure their appliances have not been subject to a recall, and to register their appliance with the AMDEA website, or direct with the manufacturer".
"We recommend that appliances are never left on overnight, or when you leave the house, unless they are specifically designed to remain on, such as fridges and freezers. And, of course, make sure that you have working smoke alarms on every level of your home, to warn you if a fire does break out."
You can register any household appliances with the manufacturer. The trade organisation the Association of Manufacturers of Domestic Appliances (AMDEA) has set up a website to help you do this. This helps you to be informed of any product recalls where safety issues are identified.