Some of Newcastle’s most vulnerable people will be given help to stay safe this winter by getting their electrical equipment tested.
Newcastle City Council will be working in partnership with the Electrical Safety Council and the Tyne and Wear Metrology Laboratory to make sure items like electric blankets and appliances including kettles are safe.
Technical experts from the council will be visiting people from Monday, 5 November who have been identified through the First Contact Newcastle Referral Scheme, where they will provide a free Portable Appliance Testing (PAT) of all electrical items.
In previous years people were asked to bring their electric blankets to customer services centres across the city and have them checked, but this year the scheme will be helping vulnerable adults who live across the city.
Any items deemed unsafe will be replaced, where there is an available electrical product, which includes kettles and electric blankets.
The scheme has been supported by the city council’s Adult Services team and Cllr Veronica Dunn, Cabinet Member for Adult Services and Cllr Michael Burke, deputy Cabinet Member for Housing.
Cllr Dunn said: “As the nights get colder people will be reaching for things like electric blankets to keep warm, but it is important to make sure items like this are safe. This scheme will support some of our city’s most vulnerable people and will help prevent accidents happening in the home due to faulty or damaged equipment.
“Councillor Burke and I are delighted to be working together to make sure this winter is a safe one for our city’s residents and their loved ones.”
This home testing scheme runs until Friday, 16 November. If you think you are entitled to a free check phone 0191 211 6121.
Page last updated: 1 November, 2012
