Woman's electrocution puts heater hazards in spotlight

Authorities have warned residents to exercise caution when installing water heaters after a woman was recently electrocuted.

The 23-year-old UAE woman, identified as Laila M., lived in Khuzzam in Ras Al Khaimah. Her family heard a crash while she was bathing in the family home. Realising something had happened, the family knocked down the door to the bathroom to get to her. They took her to Saqr Hospital, where she was pronounced dead on arrival.

Doctors said the woman died of electrocution, and a faulty water heater was blamed for her death.

Investigators found that the recently-replaced heater - which was of poor quality - had an internal short-circuit that caused the electrocution. The brand was, however, not disclosed.

"When homeowners are thinking of installing new water heaters, they should choose a good quality one, and should contact a qualified technician to install it," said Major Jasem Al Kharraz, who heads the safety and security section at Ras Al Khaimah's Civil Defence Department.

Al Kharraz warned residents against buying low-quality heaters because of the dangers associated with their use. "Heaters require frequent maintenance, specially in winter," he said.

Many people do not use their heaters during the summer months, he said. As winter approaches, they first need to have the heaters inspected to ensure they are safe, he said.

"The best way to use a heater is to keep it on until your bath reaches the desired temperature. After that, you should turn off the heater and get into the tub," he said.

The less expensive heaters are in demand because many homeowners said they are just as safe as the more expensive ones and they do the same job.

The risks, however, are not only restricted to big water heaters. In Dubai, for instance, potentially lethal heating coils can be bought for as little as Dh2. Nearly every grocery or electrical appliance shop sells these portable water-heating coils. The metallic coils are intended for heating water, coffee and tea, but they can pose a potential shock hazard to the user. "We tell the buyers to follow the instructions printed on the box," said Prakash, a shopkeeper at a grocery in Rolla.

"If the coil is heated while not immersed in liquid, it will be damaged. No one should take his eye off the coil while heating anything," said Pradeep, a shopkeeper in Bur Dubai.

The coils most often sold are for coffee heaters (Dh2 to Dh4) and water heaters (Dh3.50 to Dh10).

The box in which the unit is packaged is clearly marked with instructions. A Taiwan-made brand of heating coils tells users to avoid dipping the bakelite handle into the water.

"I use it to heat my coffee. The quality is average, but it's good enough for me and it's cheap," said Ali, a shopkeeper in Naif. Asked if people are aware of the fire hazard these heaters pose, he said: "It's up to them to follow instructions."

Any shopkeeper selling electronic appliances that do not comply with municipality safety standards can be fined as much as Dh30,000. The law requires every trader to ensure that the electrical appliances they are selling comply with the safety standards set by the civic agency.

The Dubai Central Laboratory inspects shops and monitors the market to ensure that only approved products are sold.

Salah Abdul Rahman Amiri, Director of the laboratory, said it is setting up a separate unit to test home appliances. "We are in the process of developing a comprehensive system to check electrical home appliances to ensure safety standards are met," he said.

The law also states no one is allowed to market any electrical equipment in the emirate unless it has the necessary approval.

The violater is subject to be fined "for not less than Dh1,000 and not more than Dh30,000". The authorities can also close the shop for three months or void the shop's trade licence.

'Water heaters can explode at any time'

Water heaters are time bombs waiting to explode on unsuspecting residents, a civil defence official said yesterday.

His warning came a day after a heater blew-up in a building on Abu Dhabi's Muroor Road, causing about Dh20,000 of damage but no injuries.

Colonel Mohammad Saleh Baddah, head of public relations and the moral guidance department at the General Directorate of Civil Defence, said: "Many people do not recognise the great danger a heater can cause to them unless it's regularly checked. Each heater has a certain lifespan, but most people use them for too long and do not think they need regular maintenance unless they stop working.

"This makes heaters time bombs that can explode at any time."

Tuesday's explosion occurred at 9.45am, ripping a hole in the wall of the building and sending shards of glass and cement on to three cars parked outside.

Col Baddah said all water heaters should be kept at a temperature of 70C to 90C, and they must be checked regularly. The date of any maintenance should be recorded on the heater, which must be replaced after five years.