[Recalls Page]

September 2008 Recalls and Product Safety News

Water anywhere can be a potential drowning hazard. While pools are an obvious risk, parents should not let their guard down around other hazards such as bathtubs and buckets. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is warning parents that children need to be supervised around these common but sometimes hidden drowning dangers.

Found in various rooms of the home, large furniture such as TVs, chests, armoires, and appliances are staples in our homes. But these items can tip over and crush children, causing injury or death.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Buzz’s Boatyard, of New Smyrna Beach, Fla., is voluntarily recalling about 200 Toy Boats. The paint on the recalled toy boats contains an excess level of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), IKEA Home Furnishings, of Conshohocken, Pa., is voluntarily recalling about 5,000 (an additional 26,000 were sold outside of the U.S.) “KVIBY” Chests. The glass drawer knobs on the chest can break either during assembly or in use, posing a laceration 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 210,000 General Electric Toasters. An electrical short circuit can occur between the heating element and the bread cage, posing a fire and electrical shock hazard to consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Shivvers Manufacturing Inc., of Corydon, Iowa, is voluntarily recalling about 450 Jack Lift Tools and Kits. The jack lifts can have threads stripping or the nuts breaking, resulting in the shaft slipping and the mower falling from its stand-up position. This could cause serious personal injury to the consumer or property damage.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), BRP US Inc., of Sturtevant, Wisconsin, is voluntarily recalling about 18,000 Ski-Doo® Snowmobiles. Cracks can develop in the welded joints of the drive axle assembly of the snowmobile and can result in complete breakage. If this happens the track of the vehicle can unexpectedly lock, causing riders to be ejected off the vehicle or lose control and collide with bystanders, a fixed object or other vehicles. This poses a risk of serious injury or death.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), TCB Imports, of Vernon, California, is voluntarily recalling about 3,000 Toy Police Cars. The red paint on the toy cars contains excess levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Acting Chairman Nancy A. Nord today announced that Quin Dodd will be leaving his position as CPSC Chief of Staff, effective October 1. She also announced that Joseph Martyak, her Counsel, will assume the position of Chief of Staff at that time.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Razor USA LLC, of Cerritos, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 30,000 Razor® Dirt Quad Electric Powered Ride-On Vehicles. The control module for the throttle can fail and cause the electric ride-on vehicle to unexpectedly surge forward, posing a risk of injury to the user or a bystander.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Razor USA LLC, of Cerritos, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 103,000 Razor® PowerWing™ Three-Wheeled Scooters. The undersides of the foot platforms can have sharp edges, posing a laceration hazard to children.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Studio RTA, of Pico Rivera, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 48,600 TV Stands. The stability of the stands does not meet industry standards to prevent TV tip-over, posing a risk of injury or death to consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Igloo Products Corp., of Katy, Texas, is voluntarily recalling about 7,200 Igloo Marine Elite Coolers. Sharp edges on the stainless steel latch attached to the cooler can pose a laceration hazard to consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Jo-Ann Stores Inc., of Hudson, Ohio, is voluntarily recalling about 6,000 SmartSpace™ Papasan Chairs. The chairs were sold without a warning label instructing consumers to lock the chair’s legs before sitting. This poses a fall hazard to consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Gotham Lighting, of Conyers, Ga., is voluntarily recalling about 30,000 Gotham Compact Fluorescent Downlights (Recessed Ceiling Lights). The relay on the backup battery of the lights could be programmed incorrectly and prevent the lights from functioning in an emergency.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Giftco Inc., of Vernon Hills, Ill., is voluntarily recalling about 36,000 Harry Potter Bookends. The paint on the bookends contains excessive levels of lead, violating the federal lead paint standard.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Euro-Pro Operating LLC, of Newton, Mass, is voluntarily recalling about 1,600 Cooks Essentials Deep Fryers. The fryers can overheat, posing a burn hazard.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), LTD Commodities LLC and ABC Distributing, of Bannockburn, Ill., is voluntarily recalling about 6,000 Wood Abacus activity centers. The wooden rods on the abacus can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Petzl America, of Clearfield, Utah, is announcing a safety alert involving about 322,000 “MYO” and “MYO Belt” Headlamps. If the headlamp is used with rechargeable batteries, the cable connecting the battery pack to the lamp can spark, melt, or catch fire. This poses a burn hazard to consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), DCI LLC, d/b/a Hanashop, of Olive Branch, Miss., is voluntarily recalling about 180 Power Cords. The power cord wires are significantly undersized and allow incorrect insertion of the power plug, posing a risk of fire and/or shock to consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Aqua Lung America of Vista, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 25,000 Apeks Second Stage Scuba Regulators. These regulators can be missing the diaphragm cover which can cause the diaphragm to become displaced during a dive, allowing water to enter the scuba regulator. This poses a drowning hazard to divers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), AAFES, of Dallas, Texas, Babies“R”Us, of Wayne, N.J., Burlington Coat Factory/Baby Depot, of Burlington, N.J., K’s Merchandise (out of business), Meijer Distribution Inc., of Grand Rapids, Mich., Nebraska Furniture Mart, of Omaha, Neb., ShopKo, of Green Bay, Wis., Target, of Minneapolis, Minn., and Wal-Mart Stores Inc, of Bentonville, Ark., are voluntarily recalling about 600,000 Simplicity Brand Drop Side Cribs. Due to sizing problems with the crib’s hardware, the drop side can come off the tracks. When the drop side detaches or partially detaches, it creates a hazardous gap, which can lead to infant entrapment and suffocation.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Regent Sports Corporation, of Hauppauge, N.Y., is voluntarily recalling about 190,000 MacGregor Folding Soccer Goals and Mitre Folding Soccer Goals. The fixed knot flexible openings in the soccer goal net can pose a head and neck entrapment or strangulation hazard to young children.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Pottery Barn Kids, of San Francisco, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 20,000 Children’s Metal Water Bottles. The sip top on the water bottles can pull off, posing a choking hazard to young children.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Deere & Company, of Moline, Ill., is voluntarily recalling about 2,500 John Deere Gator XUV 620i Utility Vehicles. The fuel tank can leak from a gap in the seam at the base of the filler neck, posing a fire hazard.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) warns consumers on the Gulf Coast to protect themselves and their families against dangers in the aftermath of Hurricane Ike.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), PB Heat LLC, of Bally, Pa., is voluntarily recalling about 1,200 Gas Boilers. The pressure switch could have an internal defect that could fail to shut down the boilers under vent or air inlet blockage. This switch defect could allow the boilers to produce excessive levels of carbon monoxide, posing a risk of carbon monoxide poisoning to consumers.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is aware that some bassinets in the Simplicity recall announced August 28, 2008 include the Graco logo and “Winnie the Pooh” motif licensed by Disney Consumer Products. Consumers are urged to check their bassinets to ensure they are not using one of the recalled Simplicity models, including those with the Graco logo or “Winnie the Pooh” motif.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), JLA Home, of Plano, Texas, is voluntarily recalling about 2,900 Zebra Rugs. The rugs do not meet the federal flammability standard for small rugs and do not have the required flammability warning label.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Ashley Collection Inc., d.b.a. Protocol, of New York, N.Y, is voluntarily recalling about 78,000 “Protocol” Remote-Controlled Mini Helicopter Toys. The rechargeable battery inside the helicopter can overheat. This can result in the helicopter’s body melting, as well as a risk of fire or burns to consumers.

As parents prepare for a new baby with love and care, CPSC urges keeping safety in the mix. One area of great concern for the CPSC is pillow use in cribs. The CPSC is urging all parents to forego putting any kind of pillows in the crib due to the high risk of suffocation and entrapment.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Aqua Lung USA, of Vista, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 6,000 Titan DIN 1st Stage Scuba Regulators and Titan/Conshelf DIN Scuba Adaptors. Over-tightening of the DIN retainer by a technician during installation can result in the retainer breaking under pressure, a rapid escape of air from the scuba cylinder, and the regulator detaching from the scuba cylinder. This poses a drowning hazard to divers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Sony Electronics Inc., of San Diego, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 73,000 VAIO TZ-series Notebook Computers. Irregularly positioned wires near the computer’s hinge and/or a dislodged screw inside the hinge can cause a short circuit and overheating. This poses a burn hazard to consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Wolf Appliance Inc., of Madison, Wis., is voluntarily recalling about 24,000 Wolf Appliance Gas Ranges. Delayed ignition of gas in the 18-inch oven can cause a flash of flames to be projected at a consumer when the range door is opened, posing a burn hazard to consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Benjamin International, of Middlebury, Conn., is voluntarily recalling about 57,000 Fairy Dust Pendants and Candle Charms. The recalled metal pendants and charms contain high levels of lead. Lead is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health effects.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Optave Inc., of Alpena, Mich., is voluntarily recalling about 250 Action Baby Carriers. The baby carrier’s chest strap can detach from the shoulder straps, posing a fall hazard to the baby.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Menards, of Eau Claire, Wisc., is voluntarily recalling about 42,000 MasterForce 3.6-volt Cordless Screwdrivers. The battery can overheat and ignite during charging, posing a fire and burn hazard to consumers. There is no protective device on the lithium battery to prevent overheating.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Worldwise Inc., of San Rafael, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 223,000 SlyDog™ Retractable Dog Leashes. The metal clasp connecting the leash to a dog’s collar can bend or break while in use, causing the leash to recoil back unexpectedly. This poses a serious risk of injury to consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Target, of Minneapolis, Minn., is voluntarily recalling about 330,000 pairs of Circo Rosette Bobbie Socks. The ribbon on the sock can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Deda Elementi S.r.l., of Italy, is voluntarily recalling about 400 Deda Forza Bicycle Handlebar Stems. The top of the bicycle handlebar stem can crack and cause the rider to lose control, posing a crash hazard.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Eley Corporation, dba Rapid Reel of Lincoln, Neb., is voluntarily recalling about 7,000 Portable Garden Hose Reel Carts and Wagons. The tires on the portable garden hose reel can explode while being inflated, posing an injury hazard to consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Empress Arts Ltd., of Monterey Park, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 130 Children’s Hooded Sweaters. The sweaters have drawstrings through the hood. Children can get entangled in the drawstrings that can catch on playground equipment, fences or tree branches. In February 1996, CPSC issued guidelines to help prevent children from strangling or getting entangled on the neck and waist drawstring in upper garments, such as jackets and sweatshirts. From 1985 through June 2008, CPSC received reports of 27 deaths and 70 non-fatal incidents involving the entanglement of children’s clothing drawstrings.