Consumer Product Safety

Press release 2012.05.24 [Prevention of accidents involving dryers and dehumidifiers]

Prevention of accidents involving dryers and dehumidifiers

National Institute of Technology and Evaluation
Product Safety Technology Center
May 24, 2012

NITE (National Institute of Technology and Evaluation; President: Itaru Yasui) gave a presentation for the media on preventing accidents involving dryers and dehumidifiers as shown in the attached materials.

1. Press release

Release date:
May 24, 2012
Title:
Prevention of accidents involving dryers and dehumidifiers
Publisher:
Product Safety Technology Center
Summary:
Of the product accident information reported to the NITE Product Safety Technology Center, the number of accidents involving dryers and dehumidifiers amounted to 261 from fiscal 2006 to 2010 on a "date of occurrence" basis. As for damage, 1 case involved loss of life (two persons), 1 case involved serious injury (three persons), and 19 cases involved minor injury (23 persons). Thirty two cases involved a fire.
As for product types, 65 cases involved electric washing and drying machines, 48 cases involved electric clothes dryers, 48 cases involved gas clothes dryers, 38 cases involved futon dryers, and 62 cases involved dehumidifiers. As for accident causes, 63 cases (24%) were caused by improper use and carelessness. In particular, 21 cases (approximately 44%) of 48 accidents involving gas clothes dryers were caused by improper use and carelessness. Accidents involving dryers and dehumidifiers tend to increase from June. As the rainy season approaches, the opportunities to use those products will increase, which may cause more accidents. Hence, we urge you to take note of proper use of the products to prevent such accidents.
Press briefing paper in Japanese

For more information;
National Institute of Technology and Evaluation (NITE)
Product Safety Technology Center, Product Safety Investigation Division

Contact us

 Consumer Product Safety Public Relations Division  Product Safety Technology Center  National Institute of Technology and Evaluation
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