15 February 2023 , 18:00
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A warning has been issued over the use of a blender which is on product recall after a man died in a fire sparked by the gadget.
The London Fire Brigade believe a flat fire in North London, which led to the death of a man in Tottenham in 2021 was caused by a faulty blender from Boxo Blend Ltd.
Following the fatal blaze, Islington Council suspended the business while they investigated and safety tests found Boxo Blend's blenders were a fire risk.
Voltage issues and a lack of thermal protection meant the products didn't comply with electrical equipment safety regulations.
The council's investigation found the Islington-registered company hadn't carried out any safety checks on at least 1,875 blenders, assuming they had been carried out by the Chinese manufacturer.
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The company then failed to fully co-operate with Trading Standards to recall the remaining blenders and the council issued legal proceedings.
More than 650 of these blenders had been sold or given away to the public, the council's investigation found (Media Wales)More than 650 of these blenders had been sold or given away to the public, the council's investigation found. Almost 1,000 have now been seized by the council and approximately 150 were destroyed in the fire.
Islington’s Trading Standards officers believe that as many as 650 ‘Boxo Blend’ blenders may still be in use. Anyone who has one of the blenders should dispose of it safely. Boxo Blend Ltd is no longer trading and has been dissolved, so you can't return its products.
Bashiru Anthony Blenman, one of the men who ran the company, pleaded guilty to two offences under the General Product Safety Regulations 2005, one for having the unsafe blender for supply and one for of not informing the council where the blenders were when required to do so.
At Highbury Corner Magistrates' Court on February 1, Blenman was sentenced to 12 weeks’ imprisonment suspended for 12 months, 150 hours of unpaid work, and was asked to make a contribution of £700 to costs plus a £128 victim’s surcharge.
A forfeiture order for all seized blenders was also made.
Safety tests found Boxo Blend's blenders were a fire risk (Media Wales)Cllr John Woolf, Islington Council’s Executive Member for Community Safety, said: “We’re committed to keeping people safe, and will take robust action to help protect the public.
"This incredibly tragic case, which occurred in our neighbouring borough, highlights how important it is for all businesses, however small, to fulfil their legal responsibility to make sure any products they import are tested and meet UK safety regulations.
"We remain forever vigilant, and we will investigate and, where appropriate, prosecute to help protect the public.”
John Herriman, Chief Executive of the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) said: “This case highlights the importance of product safety and is a stark reminder that dangerous products can kill.
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"Businesses that import and sell goods in the UK have a responsibility to ensure products comply with the law, and they should be aware of the tragic consequences of cutting corners, as well as the severe penalties they face if they fail to take these responsibilities seriously."