| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE |
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| August 17, 1977 |
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| Release # 77-086 |
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Recall Of Weed And Grass Trimmers Announced
WASHINGTON, D.C. (Aug. 17) -- Black & Decker Manufacturing Company, in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), today announced a voluntary recall of approximately 40,000 No. 8209 Type 1 weed and grass trimmers. The trimmers were produced in the spring and summer of 1977 and distributed nationwide.
The orange-colored trimmer has a suggested retail price of $59.99 and uses nylon line to cut weeds and grass. It is sold with an unassembled two-part handle that consumers must assemble prior to use.
According to Black & Decker, engineering tests have indicated that consumers could damage the insulation surrounding the electrical cord when assembling the handle. Such damage could result in serious electrical shock.
Consumers are urged to immediately stop using the No. 8209 Type 1 trimmer and to return it to only a Black & Decker service center or a Black & Decker-authorized service center listed in the Yellow Pages. Products subject to the recall will be modified to a No. 8209 Type 2 trimmer at no cost to the consumer.
All No. 8209 Type 2 trimmers incorporate an additional safety feature to safeguard against any future possibility of electrical shock from this problem. Black & Decker, which informed CPSC of the potential safety hazard on August 1, has mailed certified letters providing recall instructions to all consumers who mailed in the registration card packed with the trimmer.
Consumers who require additional information should place a collect call to Black & Decker, 301/828-2955, between 8 A.M. and 5 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is still interested in receiving incident or injury reports that are either directly related to this product recall or involve a different hazard with the same product. Please tell us about your experience with the product on SaferProducts.gov
CPSC is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of the thousands of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $900 billion annually. CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical or mechanical hazard. CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters and household chemicals - contributed to a decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.
Federal law bars any person from selling products subject to a publicly-announced voluntary recall by a manufacturer or a mandatory recall ordered by the Commission.
To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury go online to www.SaferProducts.gov or call CPSC's Hotline at (800) 638-2772 or teletypewriter at (301) 595-7054 for the hearing impaired. Consumers can obtain news release and recall information at www.cpsc.gov, on Twitter @OnSafety or by subscribing to CPSC's free e-mail newsletters.