We all know someone who can be a bit forgetful!

But, being distracted when a pan of oil is left on a hob, can soon become disastrous.

Assisted living accommodation, hostels, holiday cabins, caravans, and the kitchens of people living with dementia, are obvious environments that would benefit from a device that monitor heat levels on a hob, and acts if a kitchen is left unattended.

But we can all be susceptible to distractions, a knock on the door, a telephone call, a programme on the telly that grabs your attention, taking your mind off the job in hand. If that job is preparing a meal requiring hot oil, the consequences could be catastrophic!

HobSensus is a neat device that combines a heat detecting sensor and a timer. Pressing the red button starts the timer and activates the hob. It is then used in the normal way. If the cooker is left, power will be cut when the timer runs out.

However, the clever part is the 64-zone sensor that ‘watches’ the cooking surface, measuring the temperature in each zone. If the heat approaches a dangerous level, an audible warning sounds and the green active lights begin to flash amber.

If no action is taken and the temperature continues to rise, the warning sound becomes more intense and the lights flash red. Then, before flashpoint is reached, the power is cut.

Conveniently, this happens before a smoke detector is activated and well in advance of fire alarms sounding. In multi-occupancy dwellings this avoids both evacuation and fire service call outs. In domestic situations, it prevents smoke damage and lingering smells of burning oil as HobSensus acts before a crisis point is met.

HobSensus is easy to install, a competent electrician should take no more than 45 minutes. The Sensor head sits 600mm centrally above the cooking surface. The Power Switching Unit is located between the cooker Isolator switch and the hob. Where possible the two units are connected using low voltage cable, this provides power to the Sensor Head. Where this is not practical, owing to glass splashbacks and the like, 4AA batteries will power the unit for up to 2 years.

The two units communicate via Blue Tooth. When dangerous temperatures are approached, a signal to the Power Switching Unit cuts power to the hob, rendering the kitchen safe.

With a switching capacity of 40 Amps HobSensus will control most electric hobs up to 900mm in width.

With a growing number of avoidable incidents, it’s surprising that timers and sensors that make kitchens safer are not as commonplace as CO2 and smoke detectors.

Electrical Safety First, the campaigning organisation which aims to reduce death and injury caused by electricity is recognised by Government and industry as the leading authority on electrical safety. ESF works with manufacturers, retailers, and consumer safety organisations to improve safety regulations and standards. Perhaps its recognition of kitchen safety issues, by way of last year’s Safety Innovation Award going to HobSensus, will place more emphasis on hob safety.

Such a simple, but effective device, HobSensus is active across numerous student accommodation properties, and since installation not a single hob incident has been reported.