A CALL for all plastic-backed refrigeration products to be urgently removed from sale has been supported by Dorset & Wiltshire Fire and Rescue Service.

Consumer champion Which has urged this removal following an investigation carried out on more than 500 of the most popular appliances which revealed the backing of almost half of fridges tested are made of unsafe plastic that poses a potential fire risk.

DWFRS is welcoming these further calls for changes to keep consumers safe from potentially deadly fridges and freezers.

The UK Fire and Rescue Service has been lobbying manufactures since 2012 to make changes to the way fridges and freezers are made to ensure they have fire resistant backing to cover the flammable foam inside them.

Seth Why, head of prevention and protection and DWFRS and area manager, said: "Not covering a fridge back in fully fire-retardant material is an unnecessary risk and there are still too many appliances on sale without this in place. While most fridges and freezers work safely for years, they are potentially the most dangerous appliance in the home if they are involved in a blaze because they contain so many flammable materials.

"They are also one of the few electrical items to always be left on when you are sleeping. We are not trying to scare consumers, but it's important people are aware of the risks.

"We would urge consumers to ensure they register any new white goods or electrical products with the manufacturer, to ensure the can be informed if any dangerous faults are discovered in the future."

DWFRS have released a some simple steps to help keep you safe:

  • Before buying a new fridge or freezer, check to see what the back is made of and avoid buying one that is plastic backed.

  • If you are concerned about the safety of a product, stop using it and make your concern known to the retailer, manufacturer or your local Trading Standards office.

  • Clean your tumble dryer filter after every load.

  • Don't overload sockets with lots of energy-hungry appliances.

  • A list of recalled products is available on the gov.uk product recall page.

  • Always make sure new appliances are registered so that manufacturers can contact you in the event of any problems. Register at: www.registermyappliance.org.uk.

  • Make sure you have working smoke or heat alarms.

  • Always keep your white goods in a safe place out of the way, and avoid keeping them in escape routes such as hallways and landings.