WINTER 2022 PRODUCT SAFETY TAKE CHARGE Tiny button or coin batteries are lethal if ingested, so it is vital that items containing them are secure and comply with safety standards With Christmas just around the corner, parents may be looking for lastminute stocking-fillers for their children. Button and coin batteries are found in a wide range of consumer products, including small remote controls, thermometers, hearing aids and small light-up gadgets. While they pose no risk if adequately secured within a device, they can cause death if they end up in the hands and mouths of small children. Coin batteries can be particularly harmful if ingested because they contain lithium. These small batteries can also be inserted into ears and noses, causing serious injuries if undetected. To reduce the risk, you should: Safe disposal of batteries n Ensure batteries contained in products you manufacture or You must: n Position your battery disposal facility so that children cannot access the old batteries n Empty recycling units on a regular basis, so they are not left overflowing n Use opaque containers to keep the batteries out of view n Site recycling units in clear view of a member of staff to help with monitoring Credit: Sarah Noonan, Trading Standards officer sell are safe, and that the battery compartments are secure n Implement, wherever possible, the principles contained in PAS 7055:2021, Button and coin batteries: safety requirements specification. The General Product Safety Regulations 2005 require that new and used consumer products placed on the market are safe, and PAS 7055 helps in this goal n Ensure your product labelling, instructions and packaging (including warnings) are accurate and effective n Promote and maintain responsible merchandising practices, including displays and locations n Encourage and facilitate the safe disposal and/or recycling of batteries. For more detailed guidance on battery safety, go to the Business Companion website. Protecting consumers from non-compliant products Sales of non-compliant products are a bigger issue for the UK than outright counterfeiting. Non-compliant products are not necessarily fake, but they dont fulfil essential product safety standards, bringing a risk of fire and electric shock to anyone using them. With soaring costs and difficulties in supply chains, some businesses are resorting to buying items online, where a lack of regulation of thirdparty sellers is leading to a rising tide of potentially unsafe items becoming available. Its particularly concerning when businesses buy in materials or products with supply chains that are difficult to trace that they then brand as their own, without ensuring they fulfil regulatory requirements. In the current economic climate, businesses are looking to fulfil customer needs by buying in, for example, energy-saving devices. However, our investigations have found that many items available online are not only substandard and dont save energy, but they are also dangerous, presenting a serious risk of fire or electric shock. Always check where the supplier is located: a co.uk url doesnt guarantee the website is UK-based, as many fake and substandard goods are manufactured overseas, as quickly and cheaply as possible, and not safety tested. To help address this, campaigning UK charity Electrical Safety First offers tools to support businesses in ensuring the goods they sell are safe. These include a simple but effective plug-checker, which allows you to quickly confirm that the plugs on electrical appliances meet required standards. For further information, please contact your local Trading Standards Service For up-to-date news stories and information, follow us on Its Check it Out browser extension also lets you know if you are buying from a third-party seller. In addition, Electrical Safety First was closely involved in the development of two standards to help ensure the safety of products: PAS 7050 bringing safe products to market and PAS 7100 improving product safety recalls. For more information on product safety, visit the Electrical Safety First website. Credit: Martyn Allen, technical director, Electrical Safety First Anonymous Hotline 0300 303 2636 Is your sector being undermined by unscrupulous traders operating outside the law? Report them via Trading Standards Anonymous Hotline or online and help level the playing field for honest businesses.