Leading charity warms against risk of unregistered appliances

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By registering a domestic appliance with the manufacturer, people can be informed of any recalls or safety issues as quickly as possible and reduce the risk of tragic incidents like fires and explosions

Householders who own unregistered appliances could be putting themselves and their loved ones at risk of serious injury and death, warns leading accident prevention charity, the Royal Society of Accident Prevention and the Association of Manufacturers of Domestic Appliances (AMDEA).

The alert comes during Register My Appliance Week which runs from 23-27 January. By registering a domestic appliance with the manufacturer, people can be informed of any recalls or safety issues as quickly as possible and reduce the risk of tragic incidents like fires and explosions.

Ashleigh Martin, public health advisor at the Royal Society of the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), said: “With such busy lives, it’s only natural not to have domestic safety at the top of our to-do lists. But a simple action like registering your appliance as soon as you’ve purchased it can help prevent against unnecessary tragedies. By registering your appliances in a timely manner, you can be among the first to hear when there is a potentially life-saving product recall.”

AMDEA CEO Paul Hide, said: “We urge anyone with unregistered appliances – whether brand-new, a pre-used buy or installed a while ago - to register all their appliances so they can be contacted in case of any safety notifications, repairs or recalls. Most manufacturers accept registrations of machines up to 12 years old, and there’s no need for a proof of purchase. It’s completely free and easy to do – it’s a win-win for keeping your home safe and possibly increasing the life span of your machine.”

Register My Appliance Week is run by AMDEA – the UK trade association for manufacturers of large and small domestic appliances; representing over 85% of the domestic appliance industry, rising to 90% of white goods brands. Members’ products include most of the UK’s top-selling brands of major white goods, other large and small kitchen appliances, heating, water heating, floor care, waste disposal and ventilation equipment.

To register your device, visit: www.registermyappliance.org.uk.