BUSINESS STANDARDS
is the quarterly magazine of BSI Group, highlighting the vital role that standards play in today's business environment. Regular features include interviews with leading business figures, as well as news on the latest developments in management systems and standards.
Policing the Kitemark: Kent Trading Standards
02 Jun 2009
Topics: Kitemark®
Late in 2008, Kent Trading Standards (KTS) successfully prosecuted the UK retailer of a particular brand of unsafe carbon monoxide detectors, following a lengthy investigation. As part of its case, KTS was able to prosecute the company for misuse of the BSI Kitemark symbol, a first of its kind in the UK.
The retailer was fined £65,000 with more than £5,000 in costs, representing the largest financial penalty ever secured by KTS.
While demonstrably unsafe, failing to function even in high concentrations of carbon monoxide, the detectors also lacked required warning markings and adequate instructions. The packaging of one batch also featured the BSI Kitemark symbol, despite the fact that it had no Kitemark licence and had never been tested by BSI.
In addition to pleading guilty to four charges under the General Product Safety Regulations 2005, the retailer also accepted responsibility for one charge under the Trade Marks Act 1994 and two charges under the Trade Descriptions Act 1968.
Though the company did recall the alarm several months after receiving an initial warning from KTS, and despite pleading guilty to the offences at Sevenoaks Magistrates Court, the Court decided that the case was so serious, the matter should be submitted to the Crown Court for sentencing.
"These alarms were designed to protect the public from potentially fatal levels of carbon monoxide but failed to do so and were not tested by this company before they were distributed across the country," says Kent County Council cabinet member for Community Services Mike Hill. "The use of the Kitemark symbol on one of the batches would also have misled unsuspecting customers to believe they could rely on this product, but they could not."
For more information visit www.kitemark.com
Business Standards © 2007. Editorial produced by Caspian Publishing in association with the British Standards Institution. Editorial opinions expressed on are not necessarily those of BSI Group or Caspian Publishing. Neither Caspian Publishing nor BSI Group accept responsibility for advertising or editorial content, nor for that appearing on linked third-party websites. Reproduction in whole or in part is forbidden without written permission from BSI Group or Caspian Publishing.
OCS, an international facilities services group based in the UK, has achieved triple certification to ISO 9001 Quality management, ISO 14001 Environmental management/ and BS OHSAS 18001 Health and safety management with BSI.
A little bit extra for Kitemark® bodyshops and garages
It's all well and good for an automotive bodyshop to earn the Thatcham BSI Kitemark® for Vehicle Body Repair, but it won't have as much impact if potential clients don't know about it. As a consequence, BSI decided to offer an Extras marketing toolkit to bodyshops and garages that have earned the Kitemark.
Anglian Building Products (ABP), the business-to-business division of Anglian Windows Ltd, has achieved certification to ISO 14001 Environmental management systems following an audit by BSI.
Gerda, a leading developer and manufacturer of products for the security industry, has become the first company to be awarded the Kitemark for thief-resistant lock assemblies, in line with BS 10621:2007 Thief resistant dual-mode lock assembly.
Until now, there has been no strict guidance in the UK relating to how audiovisual (AV) installations are carried out. This includes everything from computers and projectors to interactive whiteboards, plasma screens and loud speakers. For AV installation companies, processes can vary significantly.
Question: Is the contribution made by standards always positive?
Standards can make an enormous contribution to organizations, businesses and society - a number of recent studies have confirmed this as an indisputable fact. But is the contribution they make always positive? In my role as chairman of the United Kingdom Accreditation Service (UKAS), I have a close understanding of the world of standards. Most of UKAS' accreditation work is based on standards - from the certification of quality and environmental management systems to a huge range of product testing and beyond.
Have a standards-related question for BSI or a comment on the website? We'll find the right person to answer.
