The Electrical Safety Foundation International conducted a survey about counterfeit electrical products and found 54 percent of those surveyed are “extremely concerned” about counterfeits.
The survey was conducted using an online questionnaire, with a sample size of 932 completions.
Most respondents (75.9 percent) believe counterfeit electrical products present a substantial or moderate threat to public health and safety. Almost 55 percent of respondents believe their company does not provide adequate training about the issues related to counterfeit electrical products, and there is no discernable difference between industry sectors on this point.
In response to the survey, Eaton came up with five tips to assist professionals throughout the electrical supply chain recognize and report suspect products.
- Contact brand owner. If a product is believed to be counterfeit, it is recommended to contact the brand owner or contact Eaton at report_fakes@eaton.com.
- Provide as much information as possible, including name, business name, address, domain name and any other identifiers of vendor. Provide a description of the commodity, including explanation on why it is suspect to be counterfeit.
- It is beneficial to establish a company-wide process for reporting counterfeit electrical products. This provides a collaborative outlet for alerting fellow workers and protecting property.
- Default to International Property Rights (IPR) Center who will disseminate the information for appropriate response. Contact the IPR Center at IPRCenter@dhs.gov or 1-866-IPR-2060.
- Buy authentic by purchasing products from the manufacturer’s authorized distributors or resellers. There is a higher risk of counterfeits if one cannot trace the path of commerce to the original manufacturer.
