Retailer fined for breaching electrical appliance safety rules

Published: 12.08.2009

A bargain store in Panmure was convicted and fined $1,500 plus $330 legal costs, for breaching the Electricity Regulations.

Style Master Limited was found guilty of offering for sale electrical products without first establishing their safety, in the Auckland District Court on 17 July 2009.

The products included a range of household electrical products such as table lamps, hair clippers and compact fluorescent light bulbs. These light bulbs were never intended to be used in a New Zealand light socket presenting a safety risk to anyone who used them.

Despite prior education and warnings, Style Master Limited, which is trading in the old Fulsun shop in Panmure, disregarded public safety and continued to sell these products.

Energy Safety is trying to get the message across to bargain type stores that they have a duty to ensure the safety of electrical products before they sell.

The rules are in place to protect consumers and encourage good business practice.

The prosecution was taken by Energy Safety, which is part of the Ministry of Economic Development. The company had breached Electricity Regulations 107(a) and 107(aa). Energy Safety is committed to ensuring the safe supply and use of electricity and gas. It undertakes an ongoing programme of investigations and audits of electrical and gas appliances.