Welcome to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Podcast for June 22, 2006.

CPSC announced this week that an Ohio fireworks importer was sentenced to 30 days imprisonment and was given a $5,000 fine for criminal contempt related to violations of the terms of a May 2003 consent decree. Larry Lomaz, president of Midwest Fireworks Manufacturing Inc., of Deerfield, Ohio, was found guilty of nine separate violations.

CPSC played an active role in the investigation of Mr. Lomaz’s activities, which also resulted in Lomaz previously paying $30,000 in forfeited profits from sales of illegal fireworks.

U.S. District Judge James S. Gwin found Lomaz’s business practices “reckless and unlawful” saying they “increase the likelihood that such illegal or unregulated fireworks will reach the hands of American consumers, including children.”

CPSC also announced a fireworks recall this week :

BJ Alan Company is Recalling about 61,000 packages of “Thunderstick Rocket” Fireworks for an Explosion Hazard.

These rockets are overloaded with flash powder, violating the regulatory standard for this product. During use, these fireworks could explode with a greater force than expected and cause burns and bodily harm to nearby consumers. No incidents or injuries have been reported.

The products are a stick-type rocket with a 4-inch long, and ½-inch in diameter engine mounted on a 16-inches long wooden stick. The engine is wrapped in blue or purple paper with a picture of a rocket, and the writing, “Phantom Fireworks Thunder Stick Rocket.”

They were sold at nationwide from December 2005 through June 2006 for about $10 per package of six rockets.

Consumers should immediately stop using the product and contact BJ Alan Company for a free replacement product.

For additional information, contact BJ Alan Co. at (800) 777-1691 or visit the firm’s Web site at www.fireworks.com.

Also this week,

Adjmi Apparel Group is recalling about 55,000 Reebok Children’s windsuits. The Reebok logo appliqué on the clear rubber zipper pull on the jacket can detach, posing a choking or aspiration hazard to young children.

Reebok has received one report of a child that began to choke from a detached logo appliqué, but no injuries have been reported.

The recalled Reebok children’s windsuits are full-zip boys’ polyester jacket and pants sets with a cotton lining and the name “Reebok” or Reebok’s Vector logo embroidered on the chest of the jacket. They were sold at Mervyns, and Toys “R” Us/Babies “R” Us stores nationwide from December 2005 through May 2006

Consumers should immediately take the recalled product away from young children. Consumers can either return the suit in exchange for a free replacement suit or, cut off and discard the clear rubber zipper pull and continuing to use the original suit.

For additional information or to receive instructions on receiving a replacement product, contact Adjmi at (800) 873-5570 or go to www.Reebok.com

For additional information on all CPSC recalls and safety news, visit our Web site at www.cpsc.gov. Until next time, stay safe.

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