[Recalls Page]

April 2008 Recalls and Product Safety News

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), DEWALT Industrial Tool Co., of Towson, Md., is voluntarily recalling about 13,000 DEWALT DW744 Jobsite Table Saws. The pivot bracket on the saw can separate which can misalign the blade and the fence and cause kick back. This poses a laceration hazard to consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Rio Brands, of Philadelphia, Pa., is voluntarily recalling about 800 Rio Beach® High-Boy Folding Beach Chairs. The rear leg of the chair can break, posing a fall hazard to consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Nintendo of America Inc., of Redmond, Wash., is voluntarily recalling about 71,000 Character-themed lapel pins. The metal lapel pin contains high levels of lead. Lead is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health effects.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Think Big Products LLC, dba LivingXL, of Canton, Mass., is voluntarily recalling about 400 Multi Texteline Hammocks and Striped Quilted Hammocks. The metal frame for the hammocks can crack and break, causing a consumer to fall to the ground.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Kyodo America Industries Co. LTD., of Lawrenceville, Ga., is voluntarily recalling about 530 LawnBott Lawn Mowers. The cutting blades continue to rotate when the mower is lifted from the ground and the spacing on the side of the lawn mower could allow room for a consumer’s foot to go beyond the shield and be struck by the blade. Both instances pose a serious laceration hazard to consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Waxcessories® Inc., of Dracut, Mass., is voluntarily recalling about 830,000 Electric Simmer Pots. The simmer pots have wire connections that can become loose, posing a risk of fire and electric shock to consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Avon Products Inc., of New York, N.Y., is voluntarily recalling about 17,000 Infant Santa Outfits. The pom poms on the 2006 and 2007 outfit and the snaps on the 2007 outfit can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Avon Products Inc., of New York, N.Y., is voluntarily recalling about 1,000 Basketball and Flower Tables. Surface paint on the tables contains excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Fisher Controls International (FCI), of McKinney, Texas, is voluntarily recalling about 142,000 Fisher Model R622H 1st stage LP gas regulators. Gas can leak from regulator when the diaphragm pulls inward into the casing, posing a fire or explosion hazard to consumers.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced today that eight firms have agreed to pay a total of $320,000 to settle allegations that the firms failed to report to the CPSC, as required by federal law, that their children’s hooded sweatshirts or jackets were sold with drawstrings at the hood and neck. These products, which the firms eventually recalled, pose strangulation hazards that can cause death to children.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Beco Baby Carrier Inc., of Newport Beach, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 2,000 Beco Baby Butterfly Carriers. The buckles on the carrier shoulder straps can unexpectedly release tension, causing the strap to slip through, posing a fall hazard to the baby.

Spring marks the annual kickoff for children’s outdoor sports. As snow boots are being stored away and bicycles, inline skates and scooters are brought out, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is teaming up with the Chicago White Sox to urge kids to put on their helmets and safety gear.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Performance Inc., of Chapel Hill, N.C., is voluntarily recalling about 3,000 2007 and 2008 Performance Travel Trac Trainers. The springs in the resistance trainers can unhook and become a projectile, posing a puncture hazard to users or bystanders.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Nashbar Direct Inc., of Canfield, Ohio, is voluntarily recalling about 200 2008 Travel Trac Gravity Inertial Trainers. The springs in the resistance trainers can unhook and become a projectile, posing a puncture hazard to users or bystanders.

During National Playground Safety Week (April 21-25), CPSC staff is releasing an update to the popular Handbook for Public Playground Safety, which contains guidance for childcare personnel, school officials, designers, inspectors, parents and school groups on building safer playgrounds. Considered by many to be the model handbook of playground safety, the agency’s guidelines for public playgrounds have been incorporated by many municipalities into local and state building codes.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Wal-Mart Stores Inc., of Bentonville, Ark., is voluntarily recalling about 12,000 "Hip Charm" Key Chains. The charms on the key chain can contain high levels of lead, which is toxic if ingested and can cause adverse health effects.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Santa’s Toy Corp., of Los Angeles, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 9,000 Western Rider Push Toys. Surface paint on the glove, shirt, and pants of rider toy contains excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Hobby-Lobby International Inc., of Brentwood, Tenn., is voluntarily recalling about 3,200 Lithium-polymer battery chargers and lithium-polymer batteries. The lithium-polymer batteries can ignite while charging, posing a fire hazard to consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), HSN LP, of St. Petersburg, Fla., is voluntarily recalling about 17,000 Charge-It-All Valets. The power strip located inside the valet has undersized wires, which can pose fire and shock hazards to consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Michaels Stores Inc., of Irving, Texas, is voluntarily recalling about 310,000 Flower Writers; Christmas Writers; Easter Writers; and Spooky Writers Seasonal Writing Pens. The seasonal writing pens' surface coating contains high levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), FUNTASTIC, of Houston, Texas, is voluntarily recalling about 26,000 Hillbilly Teeth. The gray surface paint on the teeth contains excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), OKK Trading Inc., of Commerce, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 2,000 Interchange Robot Toys. Surface paints on the toys contain excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Gamewell-FCI, of Northford, Conn., is voluntarily recalling about 3,000 Gamewell-FCI 7100 Series Fire Alarm Control Panels. The sounder on the panel’s main circuit board can fail to alert when there is a malfunction.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Dalmatian Press LLC, of Franklin, Tenn., is voluntarily recalling about 17,000 Little Builder Children’s Board Book Sets with Toys. The cylinder on the toy concrete mixer and the tailgate on the toy dump truck can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Henry Gordy International Inc., of Plainfield, N.J., is voluntarily recalling about 870,000 Fun ‘N Games Magnetic Dart Boards. Small magnets at the ends of the darts can detach. Magnets found by young children can be swallowed or aspirated. If more than one magnet is swallowed, the magnets can attract each other and cause intestinal perforations or blockages, which can be fatal.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Dollar Tree Stores Inc., of Chesapeake, Va., is voluntarily recalling about 300,000 Cuddly Cousins Plush Insect Toys. The recalled plush insect toys contain small parts, posing a choking hazard to small children.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Toys "R" Us Inc., of Wayne, N.J., is voluntarily recalling about 16,400 Imaginarium Multi-Sided Activity Centers and Jungle Activity Centers. Small parts on the toys can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), A.O. Smith Water Products Co., of Ashland City, Tenn., is voluntarily recalling about 1,500 Natural and Propane Gas Water Heaters. The water heater’s flue gas temperatures can exceed safe limits and produce excessive temperatures in the venting unit, posing a fire hazard. Also, the water heater’s exhaust can leak into the surrounding room, posing a carbon monoxide hazard.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Wal-Mart Stores Inc., of Bentonville, Ark., is voluntarily recalling about 61,000 Holiday Times Candleholders. The candle holders could tip over, posing a fire hazard. Also, the glass holder could break, posing a laceration hazard to consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), StyleMark Inc., of Ormond Beach, Fla., is voluntarily recalling about 144,000 pairs of Children’s Sunglasses. Surface paint in the orange lettering on the temples of the sunglasses contains excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Goodman Manufacturing Co. L.P., of Houston, Texas, is voluntarily recalling about 1,000 Package Gas-Electric Heating and Cooling Units. The serial plates on the units contain inaccurate information that could result in the use of undersized installation wiring, posing a fire hazard.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Brents-Riordan Inc. LLC, of Shreveport, La., is voluntarily recalling about 7,400 Hooded Youth Sweatshirts and Jackets. The garments have a drawstring through the hood, which can pose a strangulation hazard to children.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Cabot Stains (a division of Valspar Corp.), of Newburyport, Mass., is voluntarily recalling about 24,000 containers of Cabot Composite Deck Cleaner. One of the components of the composite cleaner can react with metal foil residue on the packaging, releasing heat and chlorine gas. This poses a fire and inhalation hazard to consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Master Lock, of Oak Creek, Wis., is voluntarily recalling about 27,000 Lock and Leash™ Locks. Red surface paint on the locks contains excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Gecko Alliance of Quebec, Canada , is voluntarily recalling about 1,670 Serenity Spa Hot Tubs. The hot tub’s spa control can overheat, posing a fire hazard.