Eaton Raises Awareness of Electrical Counterfeiting

In recognition of May’s designation as National Electrical Safety Month, Eaton Corp., Cleveland, announced it is collaborating with Independent Electrical Contractors (IEC) and the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) to promote electrical safety and raise awareness of the dangers of counterfeit electrical products.

The effort will focus on the dangers of counterfeit electrical products as part of a broader outreach effort during National Electrical Safety Month this May. Eaton is continuing its effort to educate key audiences about counterfeit products and the dangers they pose in residential and industrial settings as well as the adverse economic impact.

Eaton will collaborate on a survey to IEC members aimed at studying the current awareness of counterfeit electrical products in the electrical contracting industry. Results of the survey will help build future awareness campaigns aimed at combating electrical counterfeiting.

“The leadership role Eaton is taking to educate all facets of the electrical industry about the dangers of counterfeit electrical products is helping reduce health, safety and economic dangers,” said Thayer Long, executive vice president and chief executive officer, IEC National. “As we help our members face the challenges posed by the ever-changing world of the electrical industry, the importance of electrical safety and avoiding counterfeit electrical products is a message that can save lives and prevent injuries and property damage.”

Eaton and ESFI will collaborate on a social media campaign to share electrical safety tips and facts, including tips from Eaton’s new “I Didn’t Know” awareness campaign on the dangers of counterfeit electrical products, focusing on how to avoid and identify such products. Follow the conversation on Twitter using #anticounterfeit.

ESFI will also share tips from its campaign, “Electrical Safety for All Ages,” which takes a multi-generational approach to electrical safety by encouraging families to work together to identify and correct potential home fire hazards. For ESFI’s complete collection of National Safety Month resources, visit www.esfi.org/NESM.

Eaton will also share insights into the prevalence and dangers of electrical counterfeit products from the viewpoint of an Eaton Certified Contractor Network instructor with an article in IEC’s Insights magazine and a concurrent session at the IEC National Convention & Electric Expo in Portland, Oregon this September.

The Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) sponsors National Electrical Safety Month each May to increase public awareness of the electrical hazards around us at home, work, school, and play. ESFI’s previous anti-counterfeiting efforts include Buyer Beware, a national public awareness campaign and the DVD feature, “Counterfeits Can Kill.”  ESFI is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization dedicated exclusively to promoting electrical safety. For more information about ESFI and electrical safety, visit www.esfi.org.