CPSC, Davidson Ladder Inc. Announce Recall of Attic Stairways

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Davidson Ladder Inc. of Smyrna, Tenn., is recalling about 1,150 attic stairways. A hinge can fail, causing the opened stairways to collapse. Consumers climbing the stairs can fall and be injured.

CPSC and Davidson Ladder Inc. have received 5 reports of ladders collapsing, resulting in two injuries. One consumer fractured his arm and another strained his knee.

The attic stairways are made with aluminum steps and rails with a wooden door and frame surrounding the stairway. The recalled stairways display the following model numbers on a white sticker on the bottom step: AS224P, AL224P, AS254P and AL254P. The wooden door displays four labels, three of which provide safety information and a fourth that reads in part, "DAVIDSON MANUFACTURING."

Builders Square, Home Depot, Stein Lumber, Holston Building Products and small independent stores nationwide sold the stairways from January 1995 through March 1997 for about $150 to $200.

Consumers should stop using the stairways immediately and contact the store where purchased. Stores will install the consumer's choice of either a new aluminum or wooden attic stairway free of charge. For more information about this recall, consumers should call Davidson Ladder Inc. at (800) 666-2811 between 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. CDT Monday through Friday, or write to the company at 728 Straub Road, Chesterfield, MO 63017-7948.

Consumers should stop using the stairways immediately and contact the store where purchased. Stores will install the consumer's choice of either a new aluminum or wooden attic stairway free of charge.

CPSC and Davidson Ladder Inc. have received 5 reports of ladders collapsing, resulting in two injuries. One consumer fractured his arm and another strained his knee.