About Make it SafeThe British Blind and Shutter Association (BBSA) launched the Make it Safe campaign in 2009 to raise awareness for safer blinds.
This campaign was established to provide appropriate safety advice to homeowners, landlords and those responsible for public and commercial buildings.
The BBSA has worked with European standards bodies to ensure the development of new standards for internal window blinds. Published at the end of February 2014 in the UK these standards define a safe product under the General Product Safety Regulations and the BBSA fully supports the requirements this places on the entire industry.
In effect this means any trader manufacturing, importing, selling or installing window blinds must comply with these standards to prove compliance with the General Product Safety Regulations.
The BBSA was pleased to see the introduction of new standards regarding the testing of safety devices so consumers can buy retrofit items safe in the knowledge that they are fit for purpose.
Information and AdviceSince 2009 the BBSA has supplied over 2,500,000 Make it Safe brochures to consumers, child care and health professionals across the UK. The original Make it Safe brochure is also available on this website in 10 other languages.
The internationally recognised Make it Safe videos help to communicate how to make existing blinds safer and what to consider when purchasing new blinds.
The BBSA works with UK Government, Trading Standards and safety organisations such as the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents and the Child Accident Prevention Trust to ensure that the industry and those who use internal window blinds are given expert and appropriate advice.
The Make it Safe campaign is widely referenced in other European countries and the BBSA has taken part in the EU’s International Product Safety Week in Brussels as well as safety presentations in Northern Ireland, Italy and China. We work with our colleagues in The European Solar Shading Organisation (ES-SO) and further afield to share information and best practice.
