Product safety reportOPSS
Machinery Automation Vertical Form Fill & Seal (VFFS) Machine safety warning over an electric shock risk
Product Safety Report for Machinery Automation Vertical Form Fill & Seal (VFFS) Machine presenting a risk of electric shock and burns.
Product image from the OPSS safety notice
What to do now
The hazard with Machinery Automation Vertical Form Fill & Seal (VFFS) Machine is electric shock: it does not meet the safety requirements that keep live parts away from fingers.
- Unplug it now and put it away where nobody will plug it back in.
- Do not open it up or try to repair it yourself.
- This is a safety report rather than a manufacturer recall: the listing has been taken down, but the seller may not contact you. Get in touch with the seller through the marketplace.
- Report it to Trading Standards through the Citizens Advice consumer service if the seller does not respond.
Why it matters. Mains electricity in the UK is 230 volts, enough to cause serious injury or death. Cheap chargers, adaptors and appliances sold online are among the products most often found with this fault.
If someone has been hurt
Look out for
- burns where the current entered or left the body
- tingling, numbness or muscle pain
Get help urgently
- anyone who has had a mains shock and is confused, has chest pain, an irregular heartbeat or burns — call 999. Do not touch them until the power is off
This is general information based on NHS public guidance, not medical advice. In an emergency call 999. For urgent advice use NHS 111 (NHS 24 on 111 in Scotland) or, in Northern Ireland, your GP or out-of-hours service.
Getting your money back
Contact the seller through your order history and say that the product is the subject of an OPSS safety report. Keep screenshots of the listing and your order.
If the seller does not respond, the marketplace’s own dispute process or your card provider is the next step.
From the official notice
Published by the Office for Product Safety and Standards (2604-0005). Quoted as issued.
Summary
Product Safety Report for Machinery Automation Vertical Form Fill & Seal (VFFS) Machine presenting a risk of electric shock and burns.
The risk
The product presents a risk of electric shock because:
It does not incorporate adequate protective earthing, meaning the machine frame and body could become live in the event of an electrical fault.
Cabinet doors are secured only by plastic latches, allowing ready access to live electrical parts during operation.
External electrical cables are not adequately supported or protected and may become damaged, exposing live conductors.
Electrical connections can detach easily, and cables pass through apertures without suitable protection, increasing the risk of live conductors contacting the metal casing.
Electrical cables were not consistently colour‑coded, increasing the risk of unsafe work during maintenance or repair.
The product also presents a risk of serious injury from burns, crushing or entanglement because:
There are no safeguards to prevent contact with hazardous moving and heated parts.
Users may come into contact with heated clamping and sealing jaws and in‑running nip points formed by rotating elements.
The absence of a suitable emergency stop prevents the machine from being stopped quickly in an emergency.
The product does not meet the requirements of the Supply of Machinery (Safety) Regulations 2008.
Action taken
The machine has been identified as unsafe in its current condition, and its continued use presents a risk of serious injury. The manufacturer has provided customers with information about the safety risks identified with the machine, and customers have been advised to contact the manufacturer regarding appropriate modifications.
Advice to consumers
The machine has been identified as unsafe in its current condition, and its continued use presents a risk of serious injury. The manufacturer has provided customers with information about the safety risks identified with the machine, and customers have been advised to contact the manufacturer regarding appropriate modifications.
Additional information
PSD notification number: 2604-0005
Notified by: Health and Safety Executive
Product description
Vertical form, fill and seal machine.
Open the OPSS notice
Questions
Why has Machinery Automation Vertical Form Fill & Seal (VFFS) Machine been reported?
The hazard with Machinery Automation Vertical Form Fill & Seal (VFFS) Machine is electric shock: it does not meet the safety requirements that keep live parts away from fingers. Mains electricity in the UK is 230 volts, enough to cause serious injury or death. Cheap chargers, adaptors and appliances sold online are among the products most often found with this fault.
How do I know if my product is affected?
The notice describes the affected product rather than listing codes. Compare the product name, pack size and where you bought it with the official notice.
What should I do now?
Unplug it now and put it away where nobody will plug it back in. Do not open it up or try to repair it yourself.
Can I get a refund or a repair?
Contact the seller through your order history and say that the product is the subject of an OPSS safety report. Keep screenshots of the listing and your order. If the seller does not respond, the marketplace’s own dispute process or your card provider is the next step.
