It’s one year since a fire caused by a faulty tumble dryer destroyed several homes in a Shepherd’s Bush tower block. Despite this, the government still hasn’t implemented any of the Fire Brigade’s safety recommendations which followed the fire.
Almost every day, there is a fire in London involving faulty white goods. June’s tragic fire at Grenfell Tower started in a fridge freezer.
As part of the Total Recalls campaign the London Fire Brigade has made a series of urgent
calls for steps to make white goods safer. Now the Mayor, Fire Brigade and other campaigners have written to Prime Minister Theresa May to ask for immediate action.
Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan says:
The government’s delay in implementing these recommendations is simply inexcusable. The tragedy at Grenfell Tower in June is a stark reminder of just how devastating a fire caused by faulty white goods can be.
If an item is on the official 'recall' list, this information must be easily accessible so these fires can be prevented.
The government and manufacturers must urgently act to help prevent any further tragedies and keep Londoners safe.
Fire Brigade Commissioner, Dany Cotton says:
How many more devastating white goods fires does there have to be before the government makes it easier for consumers to check whether their fridges and freezers are on the recall list?
There is little to stop people buying second-hand kitchen appliances which pose a serious fire risk...It’s time to take action.
London Fire Brigade’s Total Recalls campaign is asking for:
- A single, publicly accessible register of product recalls
- International recalls to be included on the UK recall register
- Recalls to be better publicised to reduce confusion
- Risk assessments to be published when a fault is identified
- Greater regulation of secondhand appliances
- Changes to the way fridges and freezers are manufactured
- All appliances to be marked with model and serial number
- Sleeping risk to be included as a factor in risk assessments
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