Severe danger to my life using power tester
On the 11th July I purchased a screwdriver type power tester from this company via my Plumfix/Screwfix account receipt No A22306259304.
I am a competent trades person with over 40 years of experience without incident in the industry, many of my later years being spent in site management and covering all aspects of health and safety issues
On the first time of using the tester and correctly using within the manufacturer guidelines I received a massive electric shock whilst doing a simple task of changing a ceiling rose
This shock was transmitted through the tester and to the testing button on the base.
Fact 1. On reporting the matter to Screwfix I was advised that I would receive a call back as it was a matter of safety, this call was finally received yesterday.
Fact 2. On reporting the matter as a matter of urgency to the director of finance and corporate affairs of Carl Kemmering C K Tools I was eventually sent a first class jiffy bag to return the item for testing.
Fact 3. Following a delayed timescale and a further reminder email to the said director I eventually received a jiffy bag armed with first class return postage.
Fact 4. Whilst awaiting the arrival of the jiffy bag and further niggling doubt that my concerns previously raised in both telephone conversation and emails were not being taken seriously I got my highly competent electrician to undergo a competent test prior to returning the item and upgrading the postage to both signed for and guaranteed 2pm.next day delivery at my own expense. This I felt was my obligation and necessary action as I was highly concerned for other prospective users safety.
Fact 5. Despite being given a timescale of five days after a period of approximately 10 days I was totally shocked and stunned beyond belief to receive a C K report which claimed the tester was in perfect working condition.
This is totally contrary to the finding of my electricians test who described the tester as highly dangerous and summed up that in his opinion I was extremely lucky to be alive and almost certainly aided by the fact I was standing on a timber stool at the time of the shock.
In fact the engineer report from C K tools went as far as assuming that I must have been using the tester incorrectly.
Fact 6.I did not inform CK tools that I had under gone a test prior to returning the item. I also do not believe I informed them of my employment history but being proactive I actually enclosed a little video of the item for the benefit of the engineer showing a live reading at the test button by placing yet another tester to the base of the faulty item.
In the safety report which was issued by C K their project engineer describes the content of my video result as perfectly normal.
I believe his opinion of my video test to be correct, I am not an electrician so and it was merely supplying this additional home test to be proactive and and sharing my concern for his safety.
Fact 7. The report concluded as a matter of goodwill we would like to offer Mr Daly a replacement with the advice he reads the manufacturer instructions before use
To summarise I continue to remain deeply traumatized by this entire incident, I believe my electrician report will justify that the tester was highly dangerous and I strongly urge other to be highly cautious and aware of these facts before purchasing this particular item.
Despite many requests which I have further made for my item to be returned to me so that I may obtain an independence test the actions taken by this company by means of it's continued ignorance in ignoring all my correspondence since the test result continues to greatly add to my increasing anxiety and mental health.
Update on July 30 I had a further conversation with Screwfix who currently seem both sympathetic and helpful I await further contact from Screwfix and commend all the other products which I have purchased from them to date.
