With their ornate design and intricate mosaic patterns, it’s hardly surprising that Turkish-style lamps are a popular decorative feature in many Western Australian homes.

But just because they are beautiful, it’s important to remember that lamps are an electrical item that can pose a serious safety risk if they haven’t been approved for sale in Australia.

Our colleagues at Building and Energy – WA’s energy safety regulator – recently issued infringement notices of $5,000 each to two retailers after a site inspection revealed some Turkish-style lamps in the stores lacked the required electrical safety certification labels.

Some of the non-compliant lamps had dangerous defects including damaged wiring inside the curved metal tube and no earth pin, which is compulsory for electrical items cased inside metal.

Faulty electrical items can cause shocks or fires, so for this reason all electrical appliances sold or hired in Australia are required to be independently assessed as having a safe design that complies with Australian electrical standards.

It doesn’t take long to check whether an item is certified – look for an approval number or a regulatory compliance mark (a tick in a triangle) on all household appliances and their plugs.

Certification can also be confirmed by searching for the model number on the Electrical Equipment Safety System website at eess.gov.au

We all expect the electrical appliances we use to be safe, so it is vital that everyone plays their part to ensure that unregulated household electrical equipment is not sold or used in Australia. This applies when shopping in-store as well as when ordering items online.

If you spot electrical equipment being sold without safety labels, please report it to Building and Energy for further investigation on 1300 489 099 or be.info@dmirs.wa.gov.au

Building and Energy’s guide to importing, selling or hiring electrical appliances and equipment is available at dmirs.wa.gov.au

Commissioner for Consumer Protection, Lanie Chopping.

Director of Energy Safety Saj Abdoolakhan with a non-compliant lamp.