[Recalls Page]

September 2009 Recalls and Product Safety News

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Deere & Company, of Moline, Ill., is voluntarily recalling about 90 John Deere Compact Utility Tractors. An incorrectly sized differential was installed in the tractor transaxle affecting the engagement of the differential lock and causing the tractor to turn to the left when braking. This causes the vehicle to veer left when the brake is applied, posing a risk of collision and injury to the operator and bystanders.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Lamplight Farms Inc., of Menomonee Falls, Wis., is voluntarily recalling about 720,000 Flame Guards on Clear-Vu® Torch Fuel Containers. The flame guards on the recalled replacement torch fuel containers can malfunction and cause the containers to melt while the torch is in use, posing a fire hazard to consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), IMI Cornelius, of Osseo, Minn., is voluntarily recalling about 14,000 Quest Commercial Juice Dispensers. Fraying of wiring within the wiring harness can cause the juice dispenser’s transformer to overheat, posing a fire hazard.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Big Lots Stores, Inc., of Columbus, Ohio, is voluntarily recalling about 20,000 Wooden Bunk Beds. The bunk beds’ mattress support slats and side support railings can break, posing a risk of the bunk bed collapsing and a fall hazard to consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Travel Hammock Inc., dba Grand Trunk, of Skokie, Ill., is voluntarily recalling about 2,500 Single and Double “Parachute” Hammocks. The hammock’s supporting hooks can fail, causing occupants to fall and suffer injuries.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Bosch Thermotechnology Corp., of Londonderry, N.H., is voluntarily recalling about 85 Gas Boilers. A problem with the boiler’s ignition due to insufficient output voltage from the boiler’s transformer can damage the boiler’s venting. This can result in leaking flue gases, posing a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning to consumers.

In keeping with its commitment to protect the lives of children and families, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is launching “CPSC 2.0,” a comprehensive social networking initiative that will make lifesaving and other safety information more accessible to consumers. Utilizing a variety of technologies and social media sites, CPSC will rapidly expand its reach to millions of consumers.

For young children, the home is a playground, and while many parents childproof to ensure that their home is a safe place, some may not be aware that unsecured TVs, furniture and appliances are hidden hazards lurking in every room. Today, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is urging parents once again to take simple, low-cost steps to prevent deaths and injuries associated with furniture, TV, and appliance tip-overs.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), C & J Clark America Inc., d/b/a the Clarks Companies N.A., of Newton, Mass., is voluntarily recalling about 2,000 Children’s Shoes. Molded rubber pieces on the sole of the recalled shoes can detach, posing a choking hazard to infants and young children.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Northwest Manufacturing Inc., of Red Lake Falls, Minn., is voluntarily recalling about 600 WoodMaster AFS 900 Outdoor Furnaces. The temperature gauge can fail and cause fire in the fuel storage hopper, posing a fire and burn hazard to consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Trudeau Corporation, of Canada, is voluntarily recalling about 22,000 Trudeau Garlic Duo Slicers. The garlic duo’s slicer blades can break during use, posing a laceration hazard to users.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), SRAM LLC, of Chicago, Ill., is voluntarily recalling about 24,000 10 Speed SRAM Bicycle Chains with PowerLock connector links. The recalled PowerLock connector links, used on bicycle chains, are brittle and can crack, allowing the chain to separate from the bicycle and posing a fall hazard to the rider.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced today that Kohl’s Department Stores Inc., of Menomonee Falls, Wis. has agreed to pay a civil penalty of $425,000. The penalty settlement (pdf), which has been provisionally accepted by the Commission, resolves CPSC staff allegations that Kohl’s Department Stores knowingly failed to report to CPSC immediately, as required by federal law, that children’s hooded sweatshirts it sold had drawstrings at the neck.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced today that Hill Sportswear Inc., of Paramount, Calif. has agreed to pay a civil penalty of $100,000. The penalty settlement, which has been provisionally accepted by the Commission, resolves CPSC staff allegations that Hill Sportswear knowingly failed to report to CPSC immediately, as required by federal law, that children’s hooded sweatshirts it manufactured and sold had drawstrings at the neck.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced today that two firms, Maran Inc., of North Bergen, N.J. and K.S. Trading Corp., of Moonachie, N.J., have agreed to pay a total of $85,000 in civil penalties. The penalty settlements, which have been provisionally accepted by the Commission, resolve CPSC staff allegations that the firms knowingly failed to report to CPSC immediately, as required by federal law, that children’s hooded sweatshirts or jackets they sold had drawstrings at the neck.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Grizzly Industrial, of Bellingham, Wash., is voluntarily recalling about 500 Bandsaws. Some of the recalled bandsaws do not have a grounding wire installed, which poses an electric shock hazard to consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Jolla Sport USA Inc., of Irvine, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 2,300 Children’s Hooded Fleece Sweatshirts. The recalled sweatshirts have a drawstring through the hood, which can pose 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 drawstrings in upper garments, such as jackets or sweatshirts.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Team Work Trading, of Los Angeles, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 1,400 Children’s Animal Masks and Pendants. The recalled children’s animal masks and pendants contain high levels of lead. Lead is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health effects.

As a new school year gets underway, President Obama launched a major back-to-school campaign today aimed at keeping kids in the classroom. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s (CPSC) new Chairman Inez Tenenbaum carried the President’s message to South Carolina where she met with students and faculty at Rosewood Elementary School in Columbia.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), OfficeMax Inc., of Naperville, Ill., is voluntarily recalling about 216,000 Office Max Task Chairs. The back and the base post of the chair can break while in use, posing a fall hazard to consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Wal-Mart Stores Inc., of Bentonville, Ark., is voluntarily recalling about 4.2 million Durabrand DVD Players (1.5 million were previously recalled). The DVD player’s circuit board can overheat, posing a fire and burn hazard to consumers.