Electrical Safety First once again received considerable attention at this year’s Chartered Trading Standards Conference, due to its relevant messages about the safety of electrical appliances.
The sold-out, annual four-day event at Telford’s International Centre saw hundreds of visitors and exhibitors convene to take part in workshops, theatre sessions and seminars on issues of trade best practice. The overall theme of the conference set out to engage all in the development of plans and recommendations that can be implemented to safeguard consumer interests and support the legitimate business environment, by improving market surveillance and setting standards.
High on the agenda was the future of trading standards and the direction that the government review has taken. The original review announced in June 2015 looked solely at Trading Standards but the focus has now changed into an examination of all local government impacts on businesses.
As well as providing visitors with a range of informative leaflets and consumer advice, Electrical Safety First’s display of counterfeit high street products proved a hot topic for discussion among trading standards officers, many of whom had encountered such items in their own investigations.
Electrical Safety First’s Product Safety Manager, Stephen Curtler, hosted a theatre session with local authority representatives and industry professionals on ‘the true cost of counterfeit electrical products’; to raise awareness of the issue and provide an opportunity to present the key findings of our research into the very real threat that counterfeits pose to consumers.
With its focus increasingly moving towards consumer and appliance safety, it is more important than ever for Electrical Safety First to forge stronger links with Trading Standards. The success of the Charity’s participation in the conference is a positive indicator of what can be achieved through such a relationship.