A national chain store has been prosecuted by Westminster City Council for selling electrically dangerous lamps and kettles. Zoostation Ltd, which runs trendy homeware and accessories store, Octopus, in Carnaby Street and the Trocadero as well as other stores across London and in Bath, York, Leeds and Manchester, pleaded guilty to three offences of selling dangerous electrical goods at City of Westminster magistrates' court in April last year. The company was prosecuted under the Consumer Protection Act 1987 and the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994. According to Westminster Trading Standards, the wiring of the 230 V metal lamps was so poorly insulated that it could turn the appliance live and deliver a potentially lethal electric shock. The kettles were also badly designed, such that water could run down into the base and affect the wiring - again turning the product live. The company came to the attention of Trading Standards following a complaint in Manchester about a defective hairdryer. The case was referred to Westminster where the company's main office is based.Westminster's trading standards officers sent sample lamps and kettles for testing by an expert electrical engineer, who confirmed the wiring was faulty and that the products were dangerous. The officers then seized more than 2,700 lamps and kettles worth almost £80,000 from the chain's 12 stores nationwide with help from trading standards officers in other regions.Zoostation Ltd was fined £7,000 and ordered to pay £12,000 in costs. Westminster City Council endeavoured to work with Zoostation to ensure all unsafe appliances were removed from the market. A formal product recall could only be issued with agreement and cooperation from Zoostation Ltd, otherwise the Council would have been be liable for all costs incurred in the process.

[url="http://www.esc.org.uk/public/news-and-campaigns/news/news/article/national-chain-prosecuted-for-selling-dangerous-lamps-and-kettles/"]Continue reading...[/url]