How safe is your mobile phone charger?

Cheap import chargers and coming up the list to be the prime cause for fire hazards or electric shocks.

HALF are ‘unfit for sale’

In a recent investigation, more than 50 per cent of chargers sampled by East Riding Council's trading standards officers proved to be unfit for sale.

After recently removing 55 chargers from sale, the officers bought a sample of 11 from mobile phone accessories shops, discount shops, market stalls and e-cigarette shops across the East Riding.

Independent tests showed three had critical safety failures and another three had technical failures on the markings or instructions.

This is known to be a problem across the country, but the message does not seem to be getting across to buy quality chargers

The main faults found in unsafe chargers across the UK include inadequate insulation between the input and output circuits, leading to a risk of fire and electric shock.

Other faults include components not properly secured or poorly soldered, incorrect size and positioning of live and neutral pins and a lack of proper instructions for use.

The normal cost of branded one is between £15 and £20, so essentially you are getting what you are paying for. If you pay £2.00 for a charger – expect to get £2.00 worth.

Electrical Safety First, a UK charity dedicated to reducing deaths and injuries caused by electrical accidents, is urging people to check the charger plugs easily into a socket and look for a manufacturer's brand name or logo and also a CE mark.

Visit www.electricalsafetyfirst.org.uk for more safety information.