A Dublin woman was fatally electrocuted while holding a charging mobile phone in a bath last year, an inquest has heard.
🤦♀️
Her husband, Joe O’Gorman, expressed concern that many people are being lulled into “a false illusion of safety” by mobile phone manufacturers that promote that their equipment is waterproof.
It is, but there’s a reason you don’t have electrical outlets in bathrooms! So how was she charging it? Glad you asked:
He outlined how a three-metre extension cable had been plugged into a socket in the bedroom. Mr O’Gorman complained that there is no warning on certain phones about the danger of coming into contact with water while being charged.
Why would there be? There’s no warning on my oven that sticking my head in it and turning on the gas isn’t a good idea either!
Mr O’Gorman told the inquest he wants the message to go out about the hazard created by charging a mobile phone in bathrooms.
No need, Joe, we already know this!
He said warnings about such a hazard should be displayed prominently on the outside of packaging of all electronic devices.
“The only thing you hear about is how these phones are great in up to six feet of water. It gives people the idea that you can have your phone near water,” said Mr O’Gorman.
And you can! It wasn’t the shock she got from the phone, it was the cable connected to the National Grid that did for her!
H/T: Angry Exile via Twitter
The article misses some important information. Did she have kids, was the dozy cow passing her genes on to the next generation of chavs?
ReplyDeleteObviously they have no insurance or he wouldn't be going all out to put the blame for her demise on to a third party, a third party with plenty in their deep pockets. Although he was too dozy to realise that phones don't charge using 240V. They change using much, much smaller voltages which is why most use USB C. So back to the electrickery company.
Two thoughts. As Lord T says, phones charge at low voltages and should be insulated from mains voltage. If she was not using the phone’s proprietors charger, but maybe one from a Chinese online site, then he has no case.
ReplyDeleteSecondly I thought all houses now have a device that shuts off the power in about 3 hundredths of a second to prevent electrocution. (Google ELCB). I expect the phone manufacturer would demand an inspection of the house wiring and pick on the slightest fault to avoid blame. Taking on a company with deep pockets means you’re up against expensive lawyers.
Suffragium per litteras delendum est.
All new houses and any rewires need an RCB, or ELCB, and any owned by the council should have one so may be a case there for the pocket diving. I don't think you can't buy a panel now without RCB on it.
DeleteThere is no law, as far as I am aware, and there are so many nonsensical laws nowadays I have no idea about and this could be one, that mandates all houses have one. Don't bother correcting me as I really don't care. I had RCBs when they were new as it just made common sense. Kids, paper clips and electrickery don't mix. You can even buy stand alone ones for £5 if your panel doesn't have one. How much was the phone? But not enough for safety. Good choice for our collective IQ.
There are 14 allergens that must be listed on food labels (https://www.food.gov.uk/business-guidance/allergen-guidance-for-food-businesses).
ReplyDelete"Experts" suggest there are at least 4 more that should be added (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5ypgrzxx9go).
At some point we'll have every possible ingredient on the list to make sure no one is at any risk. Then the list will be too long to read for those who need to be aware.
Sadly the sh!te chargers available, especially those that have fake CE stickers, are borderline dangerous, mains voltage is just a hairs breadth away even without adding water. Sadly we've become a society that is very safe, so the real risks are forgotten. Mains voltages near water, riptides, portable LPG gas, flammable clothing near fires. Some of us are old enough to have lived through times where these were real and common means to shuffle off. The millennials have had a relatively safe upbringing and are sadly not that risk aware.
ReplyDelete