Risk news

PC vendor HP has recalled 70,000 notebooks because of fire hazard concerns.

The faulty lithium-ion laptop batteries present a fire and burn threat to users and HP has voluntarily announced the recall and replacement programme for battery packs in notebook PC products manufactured between August 2007 and January 2008.

Employers may be particularly concerned for the welfare of their employees and the liability that having such equipment in the workplace could cause.

IT administrators at companies will now have to attempt to find the corresponding batteries.

Likewise, retailers may also be concerned about their product liability if they have sold the affected HP products. Further information about product liability can be found at http://www.nurs.co.uk/document-library/files/80/8001_-_products_liability_for_retailers_v2.pdf and explains how retailers can minimise their liabilities.

In February, HP announced the recall of a promotional USB flash drive which was moulded into the shape of a character from Kung Fu Panda, the DreamWorks Animation film.