Mail*Link(r) SMTP FWD>FW: Crock Pots
By all means contact the manufacturer! Let them know the models & serial
numbers of the defective products. They should be anxous to correct the
situation.
If you have doubt about their interest level, send a carbon copy to
Underwriters Laboratories (main office)
333 Pfingsten Road
Northbrook, IL 60062-2096
(While test houses are not police, UL CAN force a recall and can get people's
attention.)
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List-Post: [email protected]
Date: 5/24/96 9:29 AM
From: rbusche
The initial message....
_______________________________________________________________________________
To: Multiple recipients of list SAFETY
From: Safety on Fri, May 24, 1996 12:22 AM
Subject: Crock Pots
Friends Of The Net:
A few days ago, one of our food service workers received an
electric shock when her hand touched a crock-pot while wiping
down a countertop. Our investigation showed that the exposed
metal parts of the crock-pot were electrically hot - at a
potential of 115V. The countertop is stainless steel, and
provided the path to ground via the sink, etc.
The pot has a two prong polarized plug and the outlet has a
polarized socket. Our testing showed that the outlet was
correctly wired. If we reversed the crock-pot plug in the outlet
(using an adaptor), the potential on the crock-pot went to zero.
The snack bar has three brand new pots and all test the same. In
addition, the 3 year old pot I have at home tests the same.
Correcting the problem here is not difficult - we plan to add an
equipment ground to the crock pot. The crock pot is an off-the
shelf model by Rival, and is labeled "for household use only",
which seems to exempt it from any grounding requirement. In any
event, most homes have formica or other non-conductive
countertops. What concerns me here is that the polarized
plug/socket scheme is pretty useless if things aren't wired
correctly. There are probably thousands of electrically hot
appliances sitting on people's countertops waitng for someone to
complete the circuit.
I'm considering contacting Rival and/or CPSC. Anyone have any
other ideas? Am I missing something?
Bill Turnbull, CSP
[email protected]
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Date: 24 May 1996 08:28:24 -0600
From: "rbusche" <[email protected]>
Subject: FW: Crock Pots
To: "PSTC group" <[email protected]>
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