Annual electric blanket tests reveal increased failure rate
Residents are being encouraged to check their electric blankets for signs of wear and age after recent testing sessions by Oxfordshire County Council’s Trading Standards team found that more than one in three failed safety tests.
A total of 920 electric blankets were tested at ten events across the county between 22 September and 10 October, an increase of nearly 200 compared to the previous year.
Of those tested, 338 failed safety assessments - a failure rate of 36.7 per cent, which is an increase from last year.
Councillor Jenny Hannaby, Oxfordshire County Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Safety, said: “I would like to thank everyone involved in making this important annual event such a success.
“This is something we have been offering for 26 years, free of charge, to our residents, and we encourage everyone to take advantage of it. If the condition of a blanket is allowed to deteriorate, there is a risk it could become faulty, posing a danger of injury or fire.
“These results highlight the importance of taking simple precautions to ensure everyone’s safety during the colder months. Some blankets may appear safe visually, but a professional check can help to identify hidden faults.”
People with electric blankets can also get advice on carrying out checks at home by visiting Electric Safety First’s website. If in doubt about the safety of a blanket, it should not be used.
Jody Kerman, Oxfordshire County Council’s Head of Prevention, Protection and Trading Standards, said: “Blankets and throws might fail a safety assessment for many reasons, and even quite new blankets can fail. This is why it’s important to have them regularly tested at one of our free annual events.
“The general advice is to replace blankets more than 10 years old - in one case, our team inspected a blanket that was over 60 years old - and to check them before use for exposed or bunched wires, wear and tear, or other damage.”
Electric blankets can be disposed of at any of the county council’s waste recycling centres.
Trading Standards were supported at these events by colleagues from Oxfordshire Fire and Rescue Service, city and district councils, Age UK, Oxfordshire Citizens Advice, Electrical Safety First, and other local volunteer groups and agencies. The Oxfordshire Volunteer Drivers Service also helped to collect and return blankets for those unable to travel to testing sites.
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