Tensor Inc. Fined $125,000 for Delay in Reporting Exploding Halogen Lamp
Bulbs
WASHINGTON, D.C. -, The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
announced today that Tensor Inc., of Chelsea, Mass., will pay a $125,000
civil penalty. The civil penalty settles allegations that Tensor
violated the Consumer Product Safety Act by failing to timely report
defects with its 500-watt halogen light bulbs used in torchiere lamps.
Tensor received 281 reports of the bulbs in these lamps shattering
resulting in at least six burn injuries and 35 fires before they
reported to CPSC. Three fires resulted in more than $25,000 in damage.
Under the law, firms are required to report defects and other
product problems to CPSC immediately. CPSC charges that Tensor failed to
report in a timely manner that the bulbs could explode due to use of
flawed, inferior glass. Exploding bulbs can spew extremely hot pieces of
glass around the room.
In agreeing to settle this matter, Tensor denies the charges that
it violated the law.
About 100,000 of the defective halogen bulbs were sold with
torchiere lamps exclusively through Montgomery Ward stores nationwide in
1995 and 1996. CPSC and Tensor conducted a recall of these halogen bulbs
on December 9, 1996. For more information, call Tensor's Customer
Service toll-free number at 1-800-USA LAMP between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. ET
Monday through Friday.