Users Warned Mobile Phone Unsafe in Explosive Atmospheres
The European Commission has told member states to prohibit the Expert EP-EX-1 phone from being marketed as complying with the ATEX Directive.
Britain's Health and Safety Executive posted an alert Dec. 9 tell suppliers and users of Expert XP-Ex-1 mobile phones that they are not safe for use in potentially explosive atmospheres because of an identified risk of possible ignition. German authorities first identified the problem and took steps to withdraw the phone from the German marketplace, according to HSE.
The phone is manufactured by Experts Intrinsic Safety Specialists, a company based in the Netherlands.
"Following safeguard action approved by the EC under the ATEX Directive (Directive 94/9/EC) in respect of a mobile phone 'Expert XP-Ex-1,' the Commission considers that this mobile phone fails to comply with the essential health and safety requirements referred to in Article 3 of the Directive 94/9/EC and set out in Annex 2. The European Commission has now required Member States to prohibit the placing on the market of mobile phone 'Expert XP-Ex-1' as compliant with the ATEX Directive," the alert states.It says the phone must not be used where products complying with the Equipment and Protective Systems Intended for Use in Potentially Explosive Atmospheres Regulations 1996 (as amended) are required.
The official text of the Commission Decision can be found in the official journal, number L 297/66, at page 2.