Showing posts with label electrical safety. Show all posts
Showing posts with label electrical safety. Show all posts

Monday, September 20, 2010

Portable Generator Hazards


For a printable version (pdf) of this fact sheet, click here

For a pdf poster on Using Portable Generators Safely, click here

Portable generators are useful when temporary or remote electric power is needed. However, if used incorrectly, gasoline, kerosene, and other gas-powered generators can cause carbon monoxide poisoning, electric shocks, fires, and burns. Generator accidents can be fatal!

Carbon Monoxide (CO) Poisoning
Every year, people die in accidents related to portable generator use. For example, a young camper was killed by CO from a portable generator's exhaust tube adjacent to the victim's campsite. Most deaths involve CO poisoning from portable generators used indoors or in partially-enclosed spaces. The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports that between 1999 and 2004 portable generators caused 172 CO poisoning deaths in the U.S. (More....)

Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Electrical exam prep

The Department of Commerce is offering Electrical Exam Prep Training in Green Bay. It is a weekly course every Wednesday morning, starting September 29 through December 15, 2010. The times ares 9:00 am to 12:00pm, and it will be offered at the Brown County Library Auditorium in Green Bay.

Wednesday, May 28, 2008

Counterfeit Circuit Breakers Recalled

NEWS from CPSC

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 27, 2008
Release #08-286

Firm’s Recall Hotline: (866) 650-3076
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908


Counterfeit Circuit Breakers Recalled By Specialty Lamp International Due to Fire Hazard

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Counterfeit Circuit Breakers labeled as “Square D”

Units: About 371,000

Distributor: Specialty Lamp International Inc., of Deerfield Beach, Fla.

Hazard: The recalled circuit breakers labeled “Square D” have been determined by Square D to be counterfeit and can fail to trip when they are overloaded, posing a fire hazard to consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported.

Description: The counterfeit circuit breakers are black and are labeled as Square D QO-series models 115, 120, 130, 215, 220, 230, 240, 250, 260 and 2020 and Square D QOB-series models 115, 120, 130, 220, 230, 250, 260 and 1515. Actual Square D circuit breakers have (a) the amp rating written on the handle in white paint on the front of the breaker (authentic Square D circuit breakers manufactured prior to 2003 did not have white paint on the amperage numbers); (b) the Square D insignia molded onto the breaker side, and; (c) a yellow chromate mounting clip with half of the top of the clip visible. If your breaker, labeled as Square D, does not match this description, it could be counterfeit.

Sold by: Electrical product distributors nationwide from May 2005 through June 2006 for between $3 and $23.

Manufactured in: China or Unknown

Remedy: Consumers should contact Specialty to determine if the breaker they have is counterfeit and to arrange for a free inspection and replacement or refund if necessary.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Specialty at (866) 650-3076 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET, by email bart@specialty-lamp.com, or visit the company’s Web site at www.ebulb.net. This is not a Square D Company recall.

Picture of Genuine Square D Circuit Breaker
Genuine Square D Circuit Breaker

Picture of Genuine Square D Circuit BreakerA Genuine Circuit Breaker
has a white painted amp
rating on the toggle switch.



Picture of Recalled Counterfeit Circuit Breaker


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Send the link for this page to a friend! The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from more than 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $800 billion annually. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard. The CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals - contributed significantly to the decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.

To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC's hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270, or visit CPSC's web site at www.cpsc.gov/talk.html. To join a CPSC email subscription list, please go to https://www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx. Consumers can obtain this release and recall information at CPSC's Web site at www.cpsc.gov.

Electrical power strip recall



Recall Alert

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Office of Information and Public Affairs

Washington, DC 20207


April 16, 2008
Alert #08-557


HSN Recalls Power Strips for Charge-It-All Valets Due to Fire and Shock Hazards

The following product safety recall was voluntarily conducted by the firm in cooperation with the CPSC. Consumers should stop using the product immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Charge-It-All Valets

Units: About 17,000

Retailer: HSN LP, of St. Petersburg, Fla.

Distributor: Ingenious Designs LLC, of Englewood, New York

Hazard: The power strip located inside the valet has undersized wires, which can pose fire and shock hazards to consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: None reported

Description: This recall involves the power strips sold with the medium and large Joy Mangano Charge-It-All Valets. The valet is a box with divided compartments that comes with a power strip that allows the user to recharge and organize items such as cell phones, mp3 players, PDAs and cameras in a single location. The medium valet comes with a 3-receptacle power strip and the large valet comes with a 6-receptacle power strip. The letters J and M are printed in cursive under the valet.

Sold by: HSN LP, exclusively, from October 2007 through January 2008 for about $50 for the large valet and $40 for the medium valet.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the power strip. HSN LP will provide a replacement power strip and an in-store refund of $5. HSN LP will pay for all shipping charges to return the product. HSN is directly contacting consumers with the recalled units.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, call HSN toll-free at (888) 540-7052 between 8 a.m. and 7 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the company's website at www.hsn.com

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Send the link for this page to a friend! The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from more than 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $800 billion annually. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard. The CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals - contributed significantly to the decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.

To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC's hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270, or visit CPSC's web site at www.cpsc.gov/talk.html. To join a CPSC email subscription list, please go to https://www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx. Consumers can obtain this release and recall information at CPSC's Web site at www.cpsc.gov.


NFPA 2009 Code Changes

At the NFPA World Safety Conference & Exposition® in June, the NFPA membership will consider technical changes to 15 codes and standards. Here are significant changes to four of them:

NFPA Journal®, May/June 2008

Contact information


Office of Safety and Loss Prevention
University of Wisconsin System Administration
(608) 262-4792
 
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