Community campaign gives the public five top tips to keep their kitchens safe
A new campaign to raise awareness on the importance of kitchen safety has been launched today by Beko, in partnership with the Department for Communities and Local Government.
The ‘Be a Hero’ campaign is launching as part of Electrical Fire Safety Week, a Department for Communities and Local Government ‘Fire Kills’ initiative, and aims to raise awareness about kitchen safety by encouraging the public to make five simple preventative checks in their homes.
Consumer poll results released today highlight the public’s apathy towards kitchen safety and their domestic appliances. The results show:
- More than 80 per cent of consumers feel it is important to check the electrical safety of their domestic appliances
- Yet only 1 in 3 check their appliances once a year; 35 per cent never check them at all
- Fat build up is a kitchen hazard, yet more than a third of people admit to only cleaning their oven once a year or not at all
- Over 10 per cent of people have used a heater or other electrical device to defrost their fridge-freezer
- 86 per cent have never received additional guidance on how to maintain the safety of their domestic appliances
The ‘Be a Hero’ campaign takes these messages directly to the public as part of various community initiatives over the coming months. Consumer leaflets and posters listing the five simple checks are being distributed at community events and home safety visits by fire and rescue services and housing associations nationwide.
Sir Ken Knight, the Government’s Chief Fire and Rescue Advisor, said:
"Electricity is an integral part of all of our lives – from the essentials like cookers and heating to luxuries like entertainment systems and beauty products. Half of all accidental fires start in the kitchen, often from poorly maintained or misused electrical equipment, so it is essential to be sure that your domestic appliances are in good working order and that your home is safe."
Please click here to download the top five tips
