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Safetyzone Winter 2021

Safetyzone

Welcome to the winter 2021 edition of Safetyzone, the Office of Fair Trading’s (OFT) product safety newsletter.

Features

Stay well this winter season

When the cool winter weather hits, there’s nothing better than getting warm and cosy with heaters, electric blankets, hot water bottles or heat packs. Whether your products have been stored during summer or recently purchased, it’s important to understand the safety risks involved when using any heated product. Our ‘well winter’ safety tips are here to keep you and your family safe and warm this season.

Children’s sleepwear

Children’s sleepwear must display a fire hazard label, but even sleepwear that is considered a low fire hazard is still flammable. Remember to always keep children away from open heat sources, like fireplaces and heaters, to prevent sleepwear catching fire.

  • Be cautious of children’s clothing purchased online, on holiday or received as gifts from overseas. These may not be subject to Australian mandatory safety standards.
  • Keep your child away from open flames and heaters.
  • Avoid buying loose fitting sleepwear, dressing gowns and clothing which could easily catch alight.

Check children's sleepwear recalls.

Electric blankets

It’s important to store your electric blanket properly, make sure it’s rolled up and not folded. Give it a safety inspection before use and look for any frayed fabric, exposed elements, damaged cords or scorch marks. If you notice any damage at all, it’s time to throw it away. A faulty electric blanket can cause a fire or electric shock.

  • Read and always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
  • Check before use each year — cords should not be frayed and the blanket covering the wires should not be worn out.
  • Don’t sleep with your electric blanket on - warm the bed and then turn it off.
  • Never place heavy items on your bed when the electric blanket is turned on.
  • Never place a baby on or under an electric blanket.
  • Seek advice about using an electric blanket if you have diabetes or are pregnant.

Check electric blanket recalls.

Hot water bottles

The rubber or polyvinyl chloride (PVC) used to make hot water bottles can break or deteriorate over time so always check for wear and tear. Never fill them with boiling water! Hot water bottles may help ease pain, but each year hundreds of Australians are treated for serious burns due to hot water bottle use accidents.

  • Don’t overfill or use boiling water in your hot water bottle — use hot tap water.
  • Once filled, avoid direct contact with your skin — use a fitted cover or wrap the bottle before use.
  • Never use a hot water bottle for a baby.
  • Never leave on one body part for more than 20 minutes.

Check hot water bottle recalls.

Watch the video: Hot water bottles - The hidden dangers

Wheat/heat packs

Always follow the heating instructions of purchased wheat packs. Heating homemade wheat bags can be dangerous as the moisture content and volume of these bags is unknown, increasing the risk of fire or serious burns. Over time the organic fillings inside wheat packs will dry out and become more combustible.

  • Do not heat and then place the wheat pack on or in bedding. Blankets trap the product’s heat and may cause it to ignite.
  • Never use wheat/heat packs for babies.
  • Allow the wheat pack to cool completely each time before reheating.
  • If you notice a burning smell, let the bag cool and then dispose of the bag — it is no longer safe to use.

Check heat pack recalls.

Candles, matches and lighters

Scented candles continue to grow in popularity, but candles remain one of the most common causes of house fires.

  • Make sure your candle holder is sturdy, is not combustible, cannot tip and is only placed on heat-resistant furniture.
  • Blow out all candles when leaving a room or going to sleep and ensure the wick ember is no longer glowing.
  • Never leave children unattended around candles, matches and lighters.
  • Store matches and lighters in a safe place, out of reach of children.
  • Keep lit candles away from any combustible material – e.g. curtains, bedding, clothing.

Check candle recalls.

Heaters

When pulling your heater out of storage each year, be sure to give it a once over safety check and make sure there are no exposed wires or loose power cord connections.

Gas heaters should have adequate ventilation as the carbon monoxide produced when gas is burnt is odourless, colourless and deadly. Gas heaters should be serviced regularly by a qualified technician to guarantee there are no carbon monoxide leaks.

  • Heaters should be placed on a flat, level surface.
  • Never use a gas heater or BBQ made for outdoor use inside your home.
  • Always supervise children and pets when heaters are in use.
  • Keep heaters well clear from items that might burn. A minimum of one-metre clearance from clothes, bedding, furniture, curtains and other combustibles is recommended.

Check heater recalls.

Fireplaces

At the start of every winter it’s important to have your fireplaces, combustion heaters, flues and chimneys put through a maintenance check by a qualified tradesperson to ensure they are working properly and safely.

  • Place a mesh screen in front of your fireplace to prevent sparks and wood falling out.
  • Make sure the chimney is clean and properly ventilated.
  • Never use petrol, oil or kerosene to help light the fire. They could cause an explosion.

Decorative alcohol fuelled devices

Decorative alcohol fuelled devices are designed for domestic use and produce a flame using alcohol as fuel. If used incorrectly, these devices can cause serious burn injuries and house fires.

  • Make sure your decorative alcohol fuelled device complies with the mandatory safety standard.
  • Always place on a level surface, out of reach of children.
  • Make sure no flammable items, including aerosols, are close to the device.
  • Do not leave devices on overnight, or unsupervised.
  • Never refill while alight, smouldering or hot. Always allow the device to cool before refuelling.
  • When refuelling, only use containers that have a flame arrester.
  • Read and follow the manufacturer’s instructions, including appropriate use of the device.

Check recalls of ethanol burners.

Watch the video: Don’t Fuel the Fire – Ethanol Fireplace & Burner Hazards

Button batteries

Button batteries are found in common household items and can cause serious injuries or death if swallowed. In Australia, one child per month is seriously injured after swallowing or inserting a button battery.

If friends or family with young children visit your home this winter, make sure TV remotes, key fobs, garage remotes, kitchen scales, torches, toys, and other items that use button batteries have secure battery compartments that can’t be opened by children, such as being secured with a screw.

If you suspect a child has swallowed a button battery, immediately call the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 26.

Check button battery recalls.

Watch the video: Button Batteries: Tiny batteries, big danger

Smoke alarms

Tragically, more than 50 people die in house fires each year, with many more injured. The majority of these homes don’t have working smoke alarms.

A smoke alarm is the best way to receive early warning of a fire and give you and your family the time needed to escape.

You lose your sense of smell while sleeping, so the loud beeping of your smoke alarm may be your family’s only notification before it’s too late. A working smoke alarm reduces your chances of dying in a house fire by 50%.

  • Test your smoke alarm is working every month.
  • Replace your alarm battery every year.
  • Replace your smoke alarm every 10 years. If you move to a new house, check the alarm — the date of manufacture should be displayed on the smoke alarm.

Check smoke alarm recalls.

More safety information

Keep up-to-date with product safety information and the latest product recalls by subscribing to Product Safety Australia’s email updates and recalls RSS feeds.

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Are you on track to meet the quad bike safety standard deadline?

The clock is ticking on phase 2 of the Quad Bikes Safety Standard!

From 11 October 2021, all general use quad bikes for sale or hire must:

  • have an operator protection device (OPD) attached to help protect riders from being crushed or pinned in the event of a rollover by holding the quad bike off the ground
  • meet minimum stability requirements.

Operator protection devices

A general use quad bike must have one of the following devices fitted or integrated into its design:

  • an ATV Lifeguard
  • a Quadbar
  • a device that offers the same or better level of protection from being crushed or pinned in the event of a rollover.

At this stage, youth and sports quad bikes are not required to be fitted with an OPD due to the lack of testing of after-market OPDs designed for these categories.

Minimum stability requirements

The minimum stability requirements you must meet from 11 October are:

  • lateral roll stability — a minimum Tilt Table Ratio (TTR) of 0.55 (must not tip on to two wheels on a slope less than 28.81 degrees); and
  • front and rear longitudinal pitch stability — a minimum TTR of 0.8 (must not tip on to two wheels on a slope less than 38.65 degrees).

Tilt table test procedures are contained within Schedule 1 of the Consumer Goods (Quad Bikes) Safety Standard 2019.

For more information, visit the Product Safety Australia website, and watch the ACCC’s videos for businesses and consumers.

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Cosmetics information standard has undergone a facelift

The mandatory standard for ingredients labelling on cosmetics first came into effect in 1991. The mandatory standard was updated on 24 November 2020 to include additional labelling requirements for hand sanitiser, with a six month transition period to help traders get ready.

The Consumer Goods (Cosmetics) Information Standard 2020 sets out the mandatory requirements for cosmetics ingredients labelling. These requirements are intended to:

  • reduce the risk of consumers unintentionally exposing themselves to ingredients causing allergic reactions
  • help consumers choose effective hand sanitisers
  • reduce the risk of product harm, including ingestion by children.

A list of products that are excluded from the standard can be found here.

On 24 May 2021, the transition period ended, and it became mandatory to comply with the new standard. It is now against the law to supply, offer for supply, manufacture, possess or control (for the purpose of trade or commerce) cosmetics in Australia that were manufactured from 24 May and do not meet the requirements of the new standard.

Labelling requirements for all cosmetics

Cosmetics must adhere to the following labelling requirements:

  • Product ingredient information should be available to consumers at the point of sale.
  • The listing of product ingredients is required on the container or on the product itself, if not packed in a container.
  • Where the container or the product is of a size, shape or nature that prevents ingredient labelling by any of the above methods, the mandatory information standard requires the display of information to allow consumers to be informed.
  • The list of ingredients must be prominently shown and clearly legible.
  • When listing ingredients, the ingredients need to appear in descending order calculated by either mass or volume.

Alternatively, the mandatory standard allows for the listing of ingredients in the following way:

  • ingredients (except colour additives) in concentrations of 1 per cent or more in descending order by volume (e.g. millilitres) or mass (e.g. grams)
  • followed by ingredients (except for colour additives) in concentrations of less than 1 per cent in any order
  • followed by colour additives in any order.

The mandatory information standard does not require the listing of the quantity or percentage of each ingredient.

The names of the ingredients in the list must be either their English names or their International Nomenclature Cosmetic Ingredient names.

Additional labelling for hand sanitiser

Hand sanitiser that contains alcohol as the primary active ingredient must display the following information on the product container:

  • The amount of alcohol contained in the product, shown as a percentage (%) of the total volume. This may be shown in the list of ingredients or elsewhere on the container.
  • The following warnings (words to the same effect, or pictograms may be used):
    • Keep out of reach of children.
    • For external use only.
    • If ingested, seek immediate medical attention.
    • Flammable – keep away from fire and heat.
    • Discontinue use if skin irritation occurs.

The Office of Fair Trading will be undertaking proactive compliance checks to ensure that hand sanitisers being offered for supply meet the requirements of the mandatory standard, including conducting random sample testing to ensure any claims regarding alcohol content are true and correct.

Further information regarding the mandatory standard can be found here.

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Tips for online traders

Looking to sell online? Australian product safety laws apply whether you sell through an online marketplace or from a physical store, and at every stage of the supply chain.

Always ensure you are selling safe products that comply with the relevant mandatory standards and product bans. Complying with international or other trusted safety standards does not automatically mean your product complies with Australian mandatory safety standards or bans.

You should also comply with product safety laws in any other jurisdictions where you supply your products. If in doubt, remove the product from your website until you can confirm it is compliant.

Ensure product safety information that would have otherwise been provided in-store is clearly communicated online, and provide convenient options for consumers to contact you if they need further information or assistance.

Report the death or serious injury or illness of a person that either you or a consumer considers was caused or may have been caused by a consumer product you supplied.

Immediately recall a product if you realise it may present a safety hazard, does not comply with a safety standard, or is banned; and notify the Australian Commonwealth Minister responsible.

Comply with all recall notices issued under the Australian Consumer Law.

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Online marketplaces commit to strengthening product safety

The Australian Product Safety Pledge (modelled on a similar initiative in the European Union) was developed by the ACCC in collaboration with state and territory product safety regulators and the initial pledge signatories, in response to the growth in online shopping and the challenges associated with managing product safety in the online marketplace.

By signing the pledge, marketplaces commit to certain product-safety related responsibilities demonstrating their commitment to providing consumers with a safe and trusted online shopping experience. Some of these commitments include:

  • removing unsafe product listings within two business days and informing relevant authorities on the action and outcomes
  • creating a pathway for consumers to report unsafe products
  • assisting suppliers to comply with Australian product safety laws
  • taking proactive steps to stop or limit the sale of banned, non-compliant and recalled products.

The pledge is a voluntary agreement, containing 12 product safety actions which signatories commit to and report on in an effort to improve and strengthen product safety measures across their businesses.

There are currently five marketplaces that have signed the pledge, AliExpress, Amazon Australia, Catch.com.au, eBay Australia and most recently MyDeal.com.au.

For more information, visit the Product Safety Australia website.

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Don't compromise on safety

Some testing labs may still be limiting their operations due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, that doesn’t remove the onus to have products tested to ensure they comply with the relevant regulations and standards.

If you cannot have your products tested prior to release to the market, postpone the release rather than risk harming consumers. For more information, see Product Safety Australia’s guide to testing.

Consider voluntary standards to help meet your obligations

If your product is not captured by one of the mandatory standards or product bans, you should consider conforming with any relevant voluntary standards to help meet your obligations under the Australian Consumer Law (ACL). This may also assist in managing any legal risk should concerns be raised about your product under the consumer guarantees or product liability.

For more information on product safety compliance and online selling platforms, visit the Product Safety Australia website.

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Recalls roundup

A product safety recall is the most common way for a supplier to remove unsafe goods from the supply chain. If you own one of the below items, follow the relevant link to find out what you need to do to make your item safe, or if you are entitled to a refund or replacement.

For more information on product recalls, visit the ACCC recalls website.

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Need help?

If you need help to identify product hazards, work with standards or develop a compliance plan, please contact the OFT's Consumer Product Safety Unit at OFT.Safety@justice.qld.gov.au. Fines for non-compliance with standards can be substantial so it’s better to be safe than sorry.

For more information on regulated products subject to mandatory standards and bans or to check for information about consumer products and services, visit the Product Safety Australia  website.

Want to report a product safety problem or seek advice?

Do you have some information you’d like to verify or are unsure about a product? The first step should be to visit the Product Safety Australia and OFT website. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, you can email the OFT Product Safety Unit at OFT.Safety@justice.qld.gov.au. We will try to answer any queries you may have concerning Product Safety within Queensland with a safety first approach, because your safety matters.

Feedback

If you find this Safetyzone newsletter useful, please tell us what you think by emailing OFT.Safety@justice.qld.gov.au.

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Last updated:
28 August 2023
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