Fake chargers are making headlines — but the risk has been around for years

Recent news reports have highlighted serious safety concerns around cheap, fake and unsafe phone chargers being sold online. Some chargers have been reported as presenting risks of electric shock, fire and even explosion.

It is a worrying reminder of how something small, cheap and familiar can become a serious fire safety hazard.

For many people, this may feel like a new issue. For Essential 6, it is not. We have been discussing the dangers of unsafe chargers, overloaded sockets, damaged cables and poor electrical safety practices in our Fire Awareness and Fire Warden Training for years.

These are not unusual hazards. They are everyday risks found in offices, care homes, schools, hotels, warehouses, retail premises, staff rooms, workshops, commercial buildings and our homes all across the UK.

The real danger is that unsafe chargers often look harmless

One of the biggest problems with fake or poor-quality chargers is that they can look very convincing. They may appear similar to genuine products, feel solid in the hand and work normally at first. However this doesn’t not mean they are safe.

A charger may be poorly made internally, missing essential safety features, inadequately insulated or unable to manage heat properly. The danger is often hidden inside the product, where the average user cannot see it.

In a workplace, this creates a clear fire safety concern. Staff may bring in personal chargers, use cheap replacements, plug devices into extension leads or leave equipment charging unattended and over time, this will become accepted as normal and we find many companies have no policies in place to control this.

Fire safety training helps challenge that normalisation and brings back much needed awareness.

Why this matters to employers

Employers have a responsibility to manage fire safety in the workplace under the Regulatory Reform Fire Safety Order 2005. That means looking beyond the obvious risks and paying attention to the ordinary behaviours that can lead to incidents.

Charging a phone at work may seem harmless. So might using a cheap replacement plug, leaving a device charging overnight or plugging multiple items into one extension lead and without knowing overloading the extension lead.

But many fires begin with routine habits that nobody questioned.

Workplaces should be asking:

  • Are staff using safe and suitable chargers?
  • Are damaged cables removed from use?
  • Are extension leads being overloaded?
  • Are devices left charging overnight or unattended?
  • Are charging areas kept away from combustible materials?
  • Are staff confident to report electrical concerns?
  • Do fire wardens know what to look for during routine checks?

If these questions are difficult to answer, it may be time to refresh your Fire Awareness or Fire Warden Training.

Fire awareness starts before the alarm sounds

Good fire safety is not just about knowing what to do when the alarm goes off. It is about recognising hazards before a fire starts.

Fire Awareness Training gives staff the knowledge to identify common workplace risks and understand their role in preventing fire. This includes risks linked to electrical items, chargers, housekeeping, escape routes, fire doors, storage, human behaviour and emergency procedures.

At Essential 6, our training is immersive, practical, relevant and designed around the types of risks people actually see in their workplace.

We help learners understand:

  • How fires start and spread
  • Common causes of workplace fires
  • Electrical and charging-related risks
  • The importance of good housekeeping
  • Fire evacuation procedures
  • What to do when the alarm sounds
  • When not to tackle a fire
  • How to report hazards before they become incidents and be proactive

The aim is to create safer habits, not just tick a compliance box.

Why Fire Warden Training is so important

Fire wardens play a key role in workplace fire safety. They help support prevention, evacuation and emergency readiness. They may be responsible for helping check escape routes, identifying hazards, assisting with drills and supporting others during an evacuation.

That role requires confidence.

A fire warden should understand a lot more than just where the extinguishers are. They need to recognise risks, understand how people behave in an emergency and know the limits of their responsibilities.

Essential 6 Fire Warden Training gives nominated staff the knowledge and practical experience to support a safer workplace.

Our training can cover:

  • Fire warden duties and responsibilities
  • Fire prevention and hazard spotting
  • Common causes of workplace fires
  • Unsafe chargers and electrical risks
  • Fire doors, escape routes and signage
  • Human behaviour during fire situations
  • Evacuation principles
  • Fire extinguisher types
  • Safe extinguisher use
  • Practical live fire training
  • Smoke simulation exercises in simulation glasses

Practical extinguisher use on live fire

Many people have seen fire extinguishers in the workplace for years but have never used one. In a real incident, that lack of experience can lead to hesitation, confusion or unsafe decision-making.

Essential 6 training includes the opportunity to practise extinguisher use on live fire.

This gives learners a far better understanding of how extinguishers work, what they can and cannot do, and why personal safety must always come first.

The focus is not on encouraging people to take unnecessary risks. The focus is on helping them make safe, informed decisions.

Learners understand:

  • Which extinguisher may be suitable for different fire types
  • How to approach a small fire safely
  • Why an escape route must always be maintained
  • When it may be appropriate to use an extinguisher and how to use a fire extinguisher
  • When the correct action is to leave, raise the alarm and call the fire service

This practical element makes the training memorable and meaningful.

Smoke simulation goggles: bringing evacuation challenges to life

Smoke can change everything during a fire. It reduces visibility, causes disorientation and can make even familiar environments feel confusing.

Essential 6 uses smoke simulation goggles to help learners understand how difficult movement and evacuation can become when visibility is reduced.

This is a powerful learning experience. It helps staff appreciate why clear escape routes, closed fire doors, good housekeeping, visible signage and calm procedures are so important.

It also helps fire wardens understand that real emergencies are rarely neat or predictable.

Fake chargers are a reminder, not the whole problem

The recent focus on unsafe chargers is important, but it is part of a much wider fire safety issue.

Every workplace contains everyday fire risks. Some are obvious. Some are hidden. Some become dangerous because people have walked past them for months and stopped noticing them.

A cheap charger.
A damaged cable.
An overloaded socket.
A blocked escape route.
A fire door wedged open.
Combustible items stored where they should not be.

Fire safety training helps staff see these risks differently.

Book Fire Awareness or Fire Warden Training with Essential 6

Essential 6 delivers professional, practical and engaging Fire Awareness and Fire Warden Training for organisations across the UK.

Our courses are designed to move beyond basic theory and help learners develop real confidence. With practical extinguisher use on live fire, smoke simulation goggles and experienced trainers, we make fire safety relevant, memorable and useful.

Training is suitable for:

  • Offices
  • Care homes
  • Healthcare settings
  • Schools and nurseries
  • Hotels and hospitality venues
  • Warehouses
  • Retail environments
  • Construction teams
  • Manufacturing sites
  • Charities and community organisations

Whether you need Fire Awareness Training for all staff or Fire Warden Training for nominated personnel, Essential 6 can help you strengthen fire safety knowledge and confidence across your organisation.

Enquire today

Fake chargers may be in the headlines, but workplace fire risks exist every day.

If your staff need to recognise hazards, understand evacuation procedures or gain practical confidence using extinguishers on live fire, speak to Essential 6 today on 01803 26 66 66 or email info@essential6.co.uk.

Essential 6 — practical fire safety training that prepares people to act safely when it matters most.