SaferProducts incident

Failure type

Electrical shock / short

Incident narrative

SaferProducts.gov consumer incident report 20151223-DE9DC-1541448. Severity: Injury, No First Aid or Medical Attention Received. Product: Shark NV500 (Vacuum Cleaner). Incident: 12/24/2014 (Approximate) - The consumer indicates as soon as she received her product and use it, she received electrical shock on her hands and fingers that escalated up to her arm. Although it did not feel like a static shock, she asked her husband to try it and it did not shock him. 03/15/2015 (Approximate) - The consumer used the product once again and the same thing occurred; she kept being shocked by it. The consumer contacted the manufacturer and explained the situation. She was informed that the problem may be in the handle and so they would send her a replacement. The consumer indicates that when she received the replacement handle and installed it on the vacuum, she continued to get shocked. 12/22/2015 - The consumer contacted the manufacturer and told them that the problem persisted. They advised the consumer to use hand lotion when she uses the product, as well as wear rubber shoes. The consumer indicates that there is not a lot of carpeting in her home and the rooms were there is carpeting are not used often so she states that she uses her vacuum approximately four or five times a year, which is why she only contacted the manufacturer about the product a couple of months after the initial use.