[Recalls Page]

March 2011 Recalls and Product Safety News

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is urging consumers to stop participating in a new type of water-related recreational activity, due to the potential risks of suffocation and drowning. The activity is called water walking and the water walking ball has numerous brand or ride names.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, The Toro Company, Bloomington, Minn., is voluntarily recalling about 3700 (in the U.S.) and 109 (in Canada) Toro Z Master ZRT Mowers. Mowers with the optional deluxe seat have an operator presence switch built into the seat that may activate the mower when the operator vacates the seat, posing an injury hazard from the blade to the operator and anyone in the vicinity of the mower.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) today announced the termination of the All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) Action Plan for SunL Group, Inc., of Irving, Texas. Effective immediately, it is unlawful for any importer or distributor to import or distribute into commerce any ATV subject to the SunL Group ATV Action Plan.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Exmark Manufacturing Company, of Beatrice, Neb., is voluntarily recalling about 750 Exmark Pioneer S-Series riding mowers. Welds on the motion control linkage can fail and cause the driver to lose control of the machine, resulting in a crash hazard.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Kingsman Fireplaces, of Canada, is voluntarily recalling about 40 gas fireplaces. Delayed ignition can cause the fireplace's propane gas to explode and break or shatter the glass door. This poses a laceration hazard to consumers nearby.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Lasko Products Inc., of West Chester, Pa., is voluntarily recalling about 4.8 million box fans. An electrical failure in the fan's motor poses a fire hazard to consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Gerber Legendary Blades, of Portland, Ore., a division of Fiskars Brands Inc., of Madison, Wis., is voluntarily recalling about 103,000 Gerber® Gator® Combo Axes. The knife in the axe handle can come out when the axe is used for chopping or hammering, posing a laceration hazard to the user.

Small, coin-sized cell batteries can be found in products in nearly every home in America. From the musical greeting card sitting on the table, to the remote control next to the TV, "button batteries" as they are commonly referred to, are in thousands of products used in and around the home. Young children and senior adults are unintentionally swallowing the cell batteries and in some cases, the consequences are immediate and devastating.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, Undersea Systems International Inc. dba Ocean Technology Systems, of Santa Ana, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 1,700 (in the United States) and 80 (in Canada) Guardian full-face diving masks. The purge assembly on the diving mask can disengage from the regulator, resulting in loss of air to the diver. This poses a drowning hazard to the consumer.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Delta Enterprise Corp., of New York, N.Y. are re-announcing the 2008 recall of more than 985,000 drop-side cribs with "Crib Trigger Lock and Safety Peg" hardware. In January 2011, CPSC and Delta learned of a 2009 death in which 7-month-old girl from Colorado Springs, Colo. became entrapped and suffocated between the detached drop-side and mattress of her recalled crib. The crib was purchased secondhand and re-assembled without safety pegs in the bottom tracks.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Scotch Corporation, of Dallas, Texas, is voluntarily recalling about 74,760 Instant Power® Toilet Bowl Restorer™ bottles. The contents can leak from the cap when the bottle is turned on its side. When this happens, the cleaner can come into contact with consumers and property, posing a risk of chemical burns and irritation to the skin and eyes.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is conducting an investigation into the safety of pool and spa drain covers and the adequacy of testing procedures used to determine the flow rating of these covers. The investigation has revealed that the testing protocols used by some laboratories may have been improper and, as a result, some covers certified by these laboratories may not comply with the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act (P&SSAct). Pool and spa drains that use covers certified with inaccurate flow ratings may fail to prevent the hidden hazard of a drain entrapment.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) are issuing an updated remediation protocol for homes with problem drywall. A study conducted on behalf of CPSC by Sandia National Laboratories in New Mexico, finds no evidence of a safety hazard to home electrical systems. Sandia simulated long-term exposure of wiring and other electrical components to hydrogen sulfide gas, which is associated with problem drywall.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, Maruyama U.S. Inc., of Denton, Texas, is voluntarily recalling about 18,000 (in the United States) and 750 (in Canada), gasoline-powered backpack blowers and mister dusters. The gasoline tank can split and leak fuel, posing a fire hazard to consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, Kawasaki Motor Corp. U.S. A., of Irvine, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 3,400 (in the United States) and 100 (in Canada), gasoline-powered backpack blowers. The gasoline tank can split and leak fuel, posing a fire hazard to consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Parigi Group, Ltd., of New York, NY, is voluntarily recalling about 1,600 girls' jeans for toddlers. Decorative rhinestones and sequins on the jeans' pockets can pose a choking hazard to young children.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Bravo Sports, of Santa Fe Springs, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 169,000 pogo sticks. The bottom of the pogo stick's frame tube can break or come apart and a pin holding the spring in place can break, posing laceration and fall hazards to consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Matilda Jane LLC of Fort Wayne, Ind., is voluntarily recalling about 1,500 Girl's dresses. The buttons can come off, posing a choking hazard.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Suzuki Motor Corporation, is voluntarily recalling about 1,350 Suzuki QuadSport ATVs. The regulator/rectifier circuit board can fail and cause the engine to stall during riding due to an insufficient battery charge, increasing the risk of a crash.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is announcing the winners of its first-ever poster contest for middle school students on carbon monoxide (CO) safety. Trachell from Hawaii was awarded the grand prize; Finalists from California, Hawaii, Massachusetts, Missouri, New Hampshire, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Virginia.

On Sunday, March 13, consumers across the country will change their clocks for daylight saving time. With this week being National Consumer Protection Week, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is urging consumers to use this opportunity also to change the batteries in their smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms.

Today, the U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) goes live with the SaferProducts.gov database mandated by Congress, as part of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act. Beginning today, consumers are encouraged to visit www.SaferProducts.gov to submit Reports of harm or risks of harm, and to search for safety information on products they own or may be considering buying.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, American Suzuki Motor Corp., of Brea, California; Montgomery Motors Ltd., of Honolulu, Hawaii; Suzuki del Caribe Inc., of Rio Piedras, Puerto Rico, are voluntarily recalling about 29,000 Suzuki KingQuad ATVs. Some KingQuad ATV's plastic fuel tanks were improperly manufactured and can develop a fuel leak, posing a fire hazard.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Atico International USA Inc., of Fort Lauderdale, Fla., is voluntarily recalling about 57,000 holiday rattle baby slippers. The internal stuffing and rattle inside the slippers decorative figures can be pulled out, posing a choking hazard to young children.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Rocky Mountain Bicycles, of Canada, is voluntarily recalling about 325 Rocky Mountain bicycles. The front fork steering tube can break, posing a fall injury hazard.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Kid O Products, LLC of Perth Amboy, N.J., is voluntarily recalling about 1,400 wooden fruit puzzles. The knobs attached to the puzzle fruits can come loose, posing a choking hazard to young children.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, The Land of Nod, of Northbrook, Ill., is voluntarily recalling about 9,700 "Camp Nod" lantern nightlights. An electrical short circuit can occur in the nightlight's wiring, posing a risk of fire or shock hazard to consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Southern Enterprises Inc. (SEI), of Coppell, Tx., is voluntarily recalling about 6,000 Colin Cowie Gel-Fuel Wood Fireplaces. Heat from the operating unit causes the plastic mounting screws to deform causing the unit to fall from the wall, posing a fall and fire hazard.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Sunsations Inc., of Virginia Beach, Va., is voluntarily recalling about 3,600 children's hooded sweatshirts with drawstrings. The hooded sweatshirts have drawstrings through the hood which can pose a strangulation or entrapment hazard to children.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced today that Ms. Bubbles Inc., of Los Angeles, Calif., has agreed to pay a civil penalty in the amount of $40,000. The penalty agreement settles staff allegations that the firm knowingly failed to report to the CPSC immediately, as required by federal law, that its children's hooded jackets were sold with drawstrings through the hood. The penalty agreement has been provisionally accepted by the Commission.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Stanley Security Solutions Inc., of Indianapolis, Ind., is voluntarily recalling about 63,100 6K and 7KC series door locksets. The latches can fail and the door cannot be unlocked from the inside, posing an entrapment hazard. This failure could lead to the inability to vacate a location in an emergency.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Global Equipment Company, of Port Washington, N.Y. , dba Global Industrial, is voluntarily recalling about 5,000 Global Workbench Power Risers, Power Aprons and Power Shelves. Misrouted wiring in the electrical outlets on the workbench risers, aprons and shelves, and reverse polarity in some workbench power cords pose an electric shock hazard.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Sunbeam Products Inc., of Boca Raton, Fla., is voluntarily recalling about 159,000 Wine Bottle Openers. The wine bottles can break when opened with the recalled opener, posing a laceration hazard to consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Fun World, Inc. a Division of Easter Unlimited, Inc. of Carle Place, N.Y., is voluntarily recalling about 1,800 Little Pet Vet costumes and Dr. Littles costumes. The costumes are sold with a toy stethoscope accessory. The plastic ear pieces at the end of the stethoscope can be pulled off, posing a choking hazard to young children.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Baja Inc., d/b/a Baja Motorsports, of Anderson, S.C., is voluntarily recalling about 4,300 Dirt Bikes. Fuel can leak from the fuel tank, posing a fire and burn hazard to consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Milestone AV Technologies LLC, of Savage, Minn., is voluntarily recalling about 2,500 Low-profile power conditioners/surge protectors. Improper grounding of the case and inadequate insulation for the circuit breaker poses an electrical shock hazard to consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, Sunjoy Industries Group Limited, of Steubenville, Ohio, is voluntarily recalling about 20,000 (in the United States) and 400 (in Canada) freestanding steel outdoor fireplaces. The decorative bronze powder coat finish on the fireplace chimney can ignite during use, posing a fire hazard to consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, Manhattan Group LLC, of Minneapolis, Minn., is voluntarily recalling about 400 Parents® Busy Time Activity Centers™. Wooden pegs on the xylophone activity can come loose, posing a choking hazard to young children.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, AOSOM LLC, of Tualatin, Ore., is voluntarily recalling about 5,000 wooden playpens. The wooden playpen can break, split and/or crack at points where screws and other hardware are located. Small, broken wood pieces and hardware from the playpen can pose a risk of choking and laceration hazards to children. In addition, an unstable playpen can fall over onto a child, posing an entrapment hazard.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, IKEA Home Furnishings, of Conshohocken, Pa., is voluntarily recalling about 94,000 (in the U.S.) and 34,000 (in Canada), FÖRSTÅ Coffee/Tea Makers. Pressure from the metal pot holder against the coffee/tea maker can cause the glass to break unexpectedly, posing burn and laceration hazards.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Liebherr-Canada Ltd of Ontario, of Canada, is voluntarily recalling about 5,702 Liebherr built-in 30-inch wide bottom freezer refrigerators. The refrigerator's door can detach, posing an injury hazard to consumers.

U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Chairman Inez Tenenbaum today has established a new Chairman's Commendation Circle Award program to identify and honor people and organizations that have made significant contributions to consumer product safety.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, Rhino Toys Inc., of Santa Cruz, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 14,000 (in the United States) and 14,000 (in Canada), OBall Links & Mini Rattles™. The hard plastic C-links on both ends of the rattles' soft plastic chain can break, posing a choking hazard to young children.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Burlington Coat Factory, of Burlington, N.J., is voluntarily recalling about 7,460 Slow Cookers. The slow cooker's control panel can overheat and melt, posing a fire hazard.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Lennox Hearth Products LLC, of Nashville, Tenn., is voluntarily recalling about 3,200 Lennox Shadowdance Natural Gas Log Set Burner Assemblies. A crack can develop at the gas valve connection allowing natural gas to leak while the burner is in use, posing a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Dick's Sporting Goods Inc., Coraopolis, Pa., is voluntarily recalling about 229,000 resistance tubes and resistance tube kits. The plastic clip that attaches the resistance tube to the handle can break during use causing the tubing, handle or fragments of the plastic clip to strike the user. This poses a contusion and laceration hazard.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Tommy Bahama Group Inc., of Seattle, Wash., is voluntarily recalling about 1,800 Mini-Candle Travel Sets. The candle flame can spread from the wick to the wax causing a larger than expected flame, posing a risk of burns to consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, FAB/Starpoint LLC, of New York, N.Y., is voluntarily recalling 79,000 Circo beaded door curtains. Strangulations can occur when a child plays with the beaded strands by wrapping them around their necks or by creating loops in which they can insert their heads. Also, children can get entangled in the strands, which are prone to entangle, just by running through the doorway.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, Baby Jogger LLC, of Richmond, Va., is voluntarily recalling about 1,545 (in the United States) and 450 (in Canada) Baby Jogger Jump Seats. If the Jump Seat does not properly lock into place, the Jump Seat could disengage from the stroller allowing the child to fall out.