No time to waste for a total recall

MACHINES can go wrong. It’s a fact of life. But there’s a big difference between being faulty and being deadly.

Elizabeth Griffin’s dishwasher was so dangerous it killed her.

The 71-year-old grandmother had a model that was recalled. But she never knew. And it caused a fire that led to her death. Her family lost a wonderful wife, mother and grandmother. It was a tragedy that was avoidable. The makers, Hotpoint, knew about the fault in 2010. They began recalling the machines in 2013. Three years later. That’s far too long.

Even four years after that, Elizabeth was unaware of the deathtrap in her kitchen.

Since April 2012 almost 16,000 blazes have been caused by washing machines, tumble dryers, cookers, dishwashers and fridges.

That’s why we are campaigning for a proper database that everyone can use.

If a proper system was in place many faulty appliances could have been recalled.

Earlier this year, a committee of powerful MPs said the Government was “painfully slow” in bringing in a white goods recall system.

The Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy Committee said ministers were not showing the “necessary degree of urgency” needed to tackle the problem.

The same can be said of Whirlpool – which now owns Hotpoint and other big brands.

Ridding homes of dangerous products is a huge task – and it points out environmental concerns and a host of logistical problems. But only one fact matters. There are up to a million defective dryers in people’s homes. That’s untold lives at risk.

If Whirlpool refuses to speed things up, the Government must step in.

And that goes for any other company dragging its feet.