[Recalls Page]

August 2006 Recalls and Product Safety News

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Agio International Company, Limited, of Hong Kong, is voluntarily recalling about 33,800 "Garden Treasures" Steel Dome Fireplaces. Touch-up paint used on the fireplace's exterior can ignite during use, posing a fire hazard.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Wild Planet Toys Inc., of San Francisco, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 273,000 Jet Streamers™ Water Blasters Pool Toys. When partially filled with water, the pool toy can stand upright on the pool floor with the rigid narrow end pointed upward, posing an impalement risk.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), FDL Inc., of Kokomo, Ind., is voluntarily recalling about 3,800 Milano Counter and Bar Stools. The recalled stools can be unstable due to missing screws, loose screws or wrongly sized screws, posing a fall hazard to consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Deere & Company of Moline, Ill., is voluntarily recalling about 16,000 John Deere X300 Select Series Lawn Tractors. A problem in the manufacturing process could cause damage to the circuit in the interlock module. If the interlock module fails, the mower blades will be able to run with no operator on the tractor seat. Consumers could suffer injuries from contact with operating blades.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Syratech Corporation, of East Boston, Mass., is voluntarily recalling about 10,000 Frog, Fish or Duck Lawn Sprinklers. The plastic body of the lawn sprinkler can crack when placed under intense water pressure and pieces of it can break off and be projected 5 to 10 feet in the air. This could pose a risk of injury to consumers and bystanders.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Apple Computer Inc., of Cupertino, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 1.1 million battery packs. These lithium-ion batteries can overheat, posing a fire hazard to consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Water Technology Inc., of Auburn, N.Y., is voluntarily recalling about 18,300 Goulds Pumps®, Bell & Gossett® and Red Jacket Water Products Brand Pumps for Fire Suppression Systems. A mechanical part on these pumps was not fully tightened, which can lead to the pump failing during use. If pumps sold with fire suppression systems fail, the risk of fire damage increases. The pump itself does not pose a fire hazard.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), York Barbell Company Inc., of York, Pa., is voluntarily recalling about 3,300 Olympic Weightlifting Bars. Due to a defect in the sleeve mechanism, the bar can break under the pressure of significant weight, which could injure consumers and by-standers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Blount International Inc., of Kansas City, Mo., is voluntarily recalling about 94,000 Oregon® and Silver Streak® Replacement Snapper Lawnmower Blades. When the lawnmower is operated, the replacement blade can crack and pieces can break away, posing a serious laceration hazard to consumers and bystanders.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Spin Master Toys, of Toronto, Canada, is voluntarily recalling about 7,500 Air Hogs RC Skywinder Radio-Controlled Airplanes. The rechargeable battery pack inside the toy airplane can overheat posing a burn hazard.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), School Specialty Publishing, of Columbus, Ohio, is voluntarily recalling about 43,000 "Ideal" and "Brighter Child" Brand Science Kits. The battery case in the science kit can overheat, posing a thermal burn hazard.

In an effort to reduce the rising death toll from carbon monoxide poisoning associated with consumer use of portable generators, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) voted unanimously (2-0) to issue a notice of proposed rulemaking (NPR) which would require manufacturers to place a new warning label on portable generators.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Target, of Minneapolis, Minn., is voluntarily recalling about 185,000 Scooters. The handlebars, wheels and wheel brakes can break and detach, causing the rider to lose control, fall and possibly suffer injuries.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Acuity Specialty Products Group Inc., a subsidiary of Acuity Brands Inc., of Atlanta, Ga., is voluntarily recalling about 6,800 5-gallon sizes of "Zep Industrial Purple Cleaner & Degreaser," and "Zep Heavy Duty Floor Stripper". 5-gallon plastic pails containing the cleaning products can unexpectedly crack and leak from the base, posing a risk to consumer due to the corrosive nature of these products.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Fun Express Inc., a subsidiary of Oriental Trading Company Inc., of Omaha, Neb., is voluntarily recalling about 340,000 toys. The paint on the bendable toys contains excessive levels of lead, which is banned under federal law. Lead is toxic and if ingested by young children can cause adverse health effects.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Lutron Electronics Co. Inc., of Coopersburg, Pa., is voluntarily recalling about 28,000 Dimming Ballasts. These ballasts, if not properly grounded in accordance with the National Electrical Code, can present a risk of electric shock to persons who come in contact with the ballast or with a light fixture that incorporates the ballast, such as when a consumer changes a fluorescent lamp bulb.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Black Diamond Equipment Ltd., of Salt Lake City, Utah, is voluntarily recalling about 18,000 Speed Buckle Harnesses. The harness could be threaded incorrectly. If threaded incorrectly, the webbing will easily slip when loaded. Incorrectly threaded buckles can loosen, which could cause climbers to slip out of the harness and fall.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Atico International USA Inc., of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., is voluntarily recalling about 209,000 Picnic Tables. The legs on the picnic table can buckle or break during use, causing the table to collapse or fold unexpectedly.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Black & Decker (U.S.) Inc., of Towson, Md., is voluntarily recalling about 160,000 mowers. An electrical component in the lawnmowers can overheat, posing a fire hazard.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Lands' End, of Dodgeville, Wis., is voluntarily recalling about 400 Cool Blue Backpacks. The backpack's battery pack can overheat causing the battery case to melt, presenting a burn hazard if touched.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Gotham Architectural Lighting division of Acuity Lighting Group Inc., of Conyers, Ga., is voluntarily recalling about 4,700 lighting fixtures. The reflector/trim pieces may not be properly attached to each other. The lower portion of the reflector/trim assembly could detach and fall from the ceiling striking consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Kindermusik International Inc., of Greensboro, N.C., is voluntarily recalling about 10,000 Cage Bells. If the bell inside the instrument is damaged during manufacturing, the bell can be pulled out of the instrument, posing a choking hazard.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Dell Inc., of Round Rock, Texas, is voluntarily recalling about 2.7 million battery packs. These lithium-ion batteries can overheat, posing a fire hazard to consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Ballard Designs Inc., of Atlanta, Ga., is voluntarily recalling about 775 candles and candle sets. The packaging or holder can ignite, posing a fire hazard to consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Brunswick Bowling & Billiards Corp., of Lake Forest, Ill., is voluntarily recalling about 22,400 Frameworx Table Height Chairs and Bar Stools. The down shaft on the seat plate assembly can fracture, which can cause an occupant of the seat to fall.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), NRS, of Moscow, Idaho, is voluntarily recalling about 700 NRS Manta Surfer River Boards and LL Bean Body Boards. The safety warning label containing precautionary information on proper use and operation was not affixed to the device.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Dollar Tree Stores Inc., is voluntarily recalling about 600,000 Power Xtensions. The counterfeit extension cords could have undersized wire and substandard insulation, which can cause overheating, resulting in a possible shock hazard.

Summer is quickly coming to an end and parents and children nationwide are preparing for another school year. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is reminding parents to take precautions to keep children safe when they head back to school.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Quiksilver Inc., of Huntington Beach, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 48,000 Quiksilver and Roxy Girl lounge pants. These lounge pants fail to meet the children's sleepwear flammability standards, posing a risk of burn injury to children, due to the possible ignition of the garment. These garments were not labeled or marketed as sleepwear, but because they are children's loungewear, they must meet the children's sleepwear flammability standards.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), J.C. Penney Corporation Inc., of Plano, Texas, is voluntarily recalling about 3,000 Crazy Daisy 3-in-1 Electronic Motion Shade Lamps. The lamp's electrical circuit board can spark and overheat due to an electrical problem, posing a fire hazard to consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), ALEX, of Northvale, N.J., is voluntarily recalling about 4,200 ALEX® Cooking Sets. The glass pot lids can break, posing a laceration hazard to children.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Spencer Gifts LLC, of Egg Harbor Township, N.J., is voluntarily recalling about 1,500 Mars Lightning ElectroPlasma Lamps. Arcing between an object and the removable cover of the lamp can pose a fire hazard.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), The Toro Company, of Bloomington, Minn., is voluntarily recalling about 84,000 Toro Snow Commander and CCR Single Stage Snowthrowers. The plastic fuel tank can crack and leak gasoline, posing a risk of fire and injury.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Quiksilver Inc., of Huntington Beach, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 9,700 Hide & Seek Hooded Sweatshirts. A drawstring is threaded through the hood, posing a strangulation hazard to children. In February 1996, CPSC issued guidelines to help prevent children from strangling or getting entangled on the neck and waist by drawstrings in upper garments, such as jackets and sweatshirts.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Robertshaw Controls Co., of West Plains, Mo., is voluntarily recalling about 7,800 Robertshaw FS Flame Switches and FM Automatic Safety Valves (installed in commercial cooking appliances). These controls are designed to prevent gas from flowing when the pilot light is out. The recalled controls can remain on after the pilot light is extinguished. If this happens, gas can continue to flow to the main burner of the appliance, which poses a risk of a gas explosion and fire.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), MTD Southwest Inc., of Tempe, Ariz., is voluntarily recalling about 20,000 Troy-Bilt 4-Cycle Gasoline String Trimmers. The blade that trims the excess string of these weed trimmers can detach from the plastic shield covering the trimmer head. The blade can be thrown outward, hitting the user or bystander, resulting in a laceration.