Electrical Safety Foundation Warns of Counterfeit Products

"Trademark counterfeiting has reached the electrical sector," the Electrical Safety Foundation International said Sept. 29. The warning echoes similar advisories from the Industrial Safety Equipment Association, ISEA, which has warned that counterfeit safety products may lack required certification and be unsafe.

ESFI, a non-profit that was founded in 1994 by Underwriters Laboratories Inc., the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, and the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, , said counterfeiters have targeted well-known industrial and consumer brands and registered marks of testing and certification laboratories. "Counterfeit electrical products can pose significant safety hazards and, left undetected, can cause deaths, injuries, and substantial property loss in the home and the workplace," said Anne Mayberry, ESFI's program manager.

Counterfeited products include control relays, batteries, smoke detectors, fuses, circuit breakers, electrical receptacles, ground fault circuit interrupters, power strips, surge suppressors, and extension cords, said ESFI, which recommends looking for the CSA, UL, or ETL-SEMKO certification mark and contacting the certifier if unsure. Buyers should beware of bargains that seem too good to be true and should use established vendors who purchase goods from legitimate distributors and genuine manufacturers, the foundation says. For more information, visit www.electrical-safety.org or call 703-841-3229.