FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 23, 2004
Release #04-169 |
Ames Recall Hotline: (866) 239-2281
CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908
Ames True Temper Media Contact: (202) 463-8171 |
CPSC, Ames True Temper Re-Announce Recall of Wheelbarrows -
Company Offering Gardening Tool Gift to Consumers with Repair
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Ames True Temper Inc., of Camp Hill, Pa., is again voluntarily announcing the recall of about 647,000 wheelbarrows. The plastic wheel assemblies on these wheelbarrows, manufactured by O. Ames, a predecessor company of Ames True Temper, can break when the tires are being inflated. This can result in plastic pieces exploding from the rims of the wheels, possibly hitting nearby consumers and causing lacerations and other injuries.
Ames True Temper has learned of additional serious incidents involving the recalled wheelbarrows since the original recall announcement. A total of 21 incidents have occurred from 1996 to the present, including injuries involving hand, arm and facial fractures and cuts. In a few cases, more serious and permanent injuries have been reported.
To prevent further injuries, consumers should not inflate the tires on these wheelbarrows. Ames True Temper is offering a free replacement steel wheel assembly for each wheelbarrow and is offering consumers a free gardening tool gift as an incentive to have this repair performed.
The wheel assemblies on these wheelbarrows have a black plastic rim and have an approximately 14-inch diameter wheel. They have red, green or orange tubs or trays made of steel or plastic and were sold under the brand names "Easy Roller," "Homeowner," "Mustang," or "Thoroughbred." The brand name was printed on the label attached to the tray at the time of purchase. Wheelbarrows with metal wheel assemblies are not part of this recall. No "True Temper" or "Jackson" wheelbarrow is part of this recall.
Hardware stores and home centers nationwide sold the recalled wheelbarrows from January 1993 through December 2000 for between $20 and $30.
In addition to the free replacement wheel assembly and free gardening tool incentive, the company is conducting the recall campaign with new measures to reach home gardeners who are the primary users of these recalled wheelbarrows. These new measures include placing ads in gardening publications, providing recall information to editors and webmasters of specialty gardening magazines and Web sites, and providing new point-of-sale posters to retailers.
For more information, call Ames True Temper toll-free at (866) 239-2281 between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the company's Web site at www.amestruetemper.com
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.