April 16, 2025

Retailers in hot water over dangerous electrical appliances

Building and Energy issued the following update:

WA’s energy safety regulator is urging consumers, retailers and importers to ensure household electrical equipment is approved for sale in Australia after uncovering businesses selling unsafe and illegal appliances.

Building and Energy issued infringements of $5,000 each to two retailers in Perth’s southern suburbs after inspectors found most electrical appliances on sale lacked the required safety certification.

The unapproved products included samovars (metal water heaters), rice cookers and portable ovens with overseas plugs and uninsulated pins. The retailers were also ordered to stop selling the non-compliant appliances and urged to contact past customers to recall sold items.

“Unapproved electrical appliances and equipment can pose serious risks, such as electric shock and fire,” WA’s Director of Energy Safety, Saj Abdoolakhan, said.

“It is illegal in WA to sell household electrical appliances that are not approved by an Australian regulatory authority. This includes items with international plug tops because of different safety and voltage requirements across the world.”

Shoppers and sellers should always check for a symbol of a tick inside a triangle – a regulatory compliance mark (RCM) – which shows the electrical product meets Australian standards and has been independently approved for use. The item’s model number can also be searched at the Electrical Equipment Safety System website (eess.gov.au) to verify certification.

Building and Energy has published a fact sheet on selling, hiring or advertising electrical appliances and equipment.

“It is crucial that consumers, sellers and importers all play their part in preventing unsafe electrical equipment from entering the Australian market,” Mr Abdoolakhan said.

“If you see an electrical appliance for sale that looks unsafe or doesn’t have a regulatory compliance mark, please report this to Building and Energy.”

Images: The unapproved products included a samovar (metal water heater) with a Turkish plug top, as shown by Building and Energy senior electrical inspectors Kris Green (left) and Jim Armstrong.