Due to a manufacturing fault, some of the plug inserts break apart when being unplugged from a power socket, exposing unwitting consumers to the possibility of serious injury or even death.
Once again we have seen the ACCC launch another recall for a dodgy imported electrical product.
On October 31, the Queensland Electrical Safety Office (ESO) issued a recall for Radio System Australia’s plug inserts on power adaptors for PetSafe® brand and SportDOG® brand products manufactured between 2009 and 2016.
Due to a manufacturing fault, some of the plug inserts break apart when being unplugged from a power socket, exposing unwitting consumers to the possibility of serious injury or even death.
As has been the case with many previous recalls, the product was imported from China and is clearly not in line with Australia’s safety standards.
At Master Electricians Australia, I’m proud to say that over the years our organisation has taken an unapologetically aggressive stance on dodgy imported products.
Australia has become nothing short of a dumping ground for overseas companies that manufacture replicas of legitimate brands at greatly reduced prices. This simply must end.
Overseas companies repeatedly exploit loopholes in our legal framework in order to leave out the more expensive, but also higher quality, elements when they manufacture electrical products. By substituting in poorer quality components and overlooking the need to independently test their products, they jeopardise the safety of everyday Australian consumers.
Safety standards are in place to protect people from the serious danger that may confront them due to a faulty electrical product. Despite this, many stores stock equipment that simply doesn’t comply with Australian standards and in the process expose people to unnecessary and potentially deadly risk.
Recent examples of dodgy electrical products awash within the Australian electrical market range from things such as faulty laptop chargers, to exploding hoverboards, and to the long-running saga relating to the Infinity and Olsent Cable recall which began more than 2 years ago.
While Australian businesses cough up big dollars to ensure that their products are in line with Australian safety standards, foreign manufacturers are not subject to the same level of scrutiny.
MEA would like to see tighter regulation that does not allow suppliers or importers to simply say that their product is compliant and the industry just take their word for it. We need to ensure that they are compliant and the only way to achieve this is by mandating full testing of all products with adequate checks and balances in place.
In the meantime, while we continue to advocate for tighter and more stringent regulation, it is important that those of us within the electrical industry lead the way on this issue. Every electrical contractor must ensure that they shun cheaper and less reliable suppliers by choosing safe, compliant and reputable products that are fully in line with Australian standards.