The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced today that it has accepted a Settlement Agreement from K Mart Corporation, in which K Mart agreed to pay a civil penalty of $60,000 to resolve Commission allegations that the firm failed to report a defect in the School Days Scissors Desk Set in a timely manner, as required under the Consumer Product Safety Act. On September 21, 1988, K Mart initiated a voluntary recall of 48,000 scissors desk sets.
The Commission alleges that Kmart knew or should have known that the scissors desk sets sold during July 1988 contained a razor blade cutting knife component, which constitutes a defect that could create a substantial product hazard. This hazard could result in children sustaining severe lacerations.
Prior to August 1, 1988, Kmart became aware of several customer complaints concerning the razor blade component, including one incident in which siblings, ages seven and 10, each lacerated a finger. The firm removed the product from sale on July 7, 1988, but did not alert the public. After being contacted by the Commission on August 5, 1988, Kmart provided preliminary information regarding the alleged defect; however, it did not fully report until September 23, 1988. By signing the Agreement, Kmart does not admit the existence of a substantial product hazard or that it violated the statutory reporting requirements.
Consumers are again reminded that Kmart will provide a full refund to all owners of the scissors desk set. The desk sets were originally sold at Kmart stores for less than $l each during July 1988. These desk sets are in a plastic blister package and contain a pair of scissors, a pencil sharpener and a razor blade cutting knife. The blister package is affixed to a piece of purple cardboard which bears the words "School Days Scissors Desk Set" on the front and "Manufactured in Taiwan, Republic of China, For Kmart Corporation," on the back. Consumers should remove the scissors desk set from young children and return it to the nearest Kmart store.
About the U.S. CPSC
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risk of injury associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product-related incidents cost the nation more than $1 trillion annually. Since the CPSC was established more than 50 years ago, it has worked to ensure the safety of consumer products, which has contributed to a decline in injuries associated with these products.
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