Consumer Product Safety Roundup, Dec. 2007: Selected Product Recalls and Safety News (cpsc.gov)

From www.cpsc.gov (the Consumer Product Safety Commission website), some recent items related to product recalls and safety:

Deadly Danger: CPSC Urges Parents To Not Place Infants on Air Mattresses The U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is warning families nationwide that air mattresses are too soft for use with sleeping infants. Never place infants to sleep on air mattresses or other soft surfaces (such as water beds and adult beds), which are not specifically designed or safe for infant use.

Venmar Ventilation Inc. Recalls Heat Recovery Ventilators Due to Fire Hazard In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Venmar Ventilation Inc., of Quebec, Canada, is voluntarily recalling about 1,100 Heat Recovery Ventilators. The thermal protector in these units can fail, posing a potential fire hazard to consumers.

AutoZone Recalls Booster Cables Due to Electrical Hazard In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), AutoZone Parts Inc., of Memphis, Tenn., is voluntarily recalling about 140,000 Valucraft Booster Cables. The booster cables clamps were assembled incorrectly resulting in reverse polarity. This poses an electrical shock and explosion hazard to consumers.

Shopping Channel HSN Agrees to Pay $875,000 Civil Penalty
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced today that HSN LP (previously known as Home Shopping Network), of St. Petersburg, Fla., has agreed to pay a civil penalty of $875,000. The civil penalty settles allegations that HSN LP failed to report in a timely manner, as required by federal law, serious injuries and hazards with the Welbilt Electronic Pressure Cookers.

North American Breaker Co. Recalls Counterfeit Circuit Breakers Due to Fire Hazard
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), North American Breaker Co. Inc. (NABCO), of Burbank, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 50,000 Counterfeit Circuit Breakers. The recalled circuit breakers labeled “Square D” have been determined by Square D to be counterfeit and can fail to trip when they are overloaded, posing a fire hazard to consumers.

World Dryer Recalls to Repair Hand and Hair Dryers Due to Electric Shock Hazard
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), World Dryer Corp., of Berkeley Ill., is voluntarily recalling about 25,000 World Dryer and Bradley Brand Hand and Hair Dryers. Some of the nozzles on these dryers are not grounded. If an electrical component comes into contact with an ungrounded nozzle, it can pose a shock hazard to consumers.

Pressure Cookers Recalled By Manttra Inc. Due to Burn Hazard
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Manttra Inc., of Virginia Beach, Va., is voluntarily recalling about 38,250 Pressure Cookers. If the pressure cookers are not closed properly, the lid can separate and allow hot contents to spill out. This poses a risk of burns to consumers.

Lenox Recalls Covered Warmer Dishes Due to Fire and Burn Hazards
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Lenox Group Inc., of Bristol, Pa., is voluntarily recalling about 43,000 Covered Warmer Dishes with Racks. Flames from the tea candle can extend up the sides of the dish. In addition, a label on the bottom of the dish causes excessive smoke when exposed to the flame. This poses fire and burn hazards to consumers.

Christmas Candle Sets Recalled By Specialty Merchandise Corp. Due to Fire Hazard
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Specialty Merchandise Corporation (SMC), of Simi Valley, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 13,000 Christmas Candle Sets. The snowman candle could tip over and the exterior coating on both candles can ignite, posing a fire hazard.

DeWALT Recalls Cordless Drills due to Fire Hazard
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), DEWALT Industrial Tool Company, of Towson, Md., is voluntarily recalling about 346,000 DEWALT Cordless Drills. The trigger switch of the cordless drill can overheat, posing a fire hazard to consumers.

McQuay Recalls Air Conditioners/Heat Pumps Following Fires
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), McQuay International, of Minneapolis, Minn., is voluntarily recalling about 8,800 Remington and McQuay “ComfortPac” Air Conditioners and Heat Pumps. Wires in the heater element can overheat and spark, posing a smoke and fire hazard to consumers.

US Consumer Product Safety Commission Acting Chairman Nancy Nord Applauds House Vote on Landmark Consumer Product Safety Legislation
The Acting Chairman thanks the U.S. House of Representatives for passing landmark legislation today that finally gives the CPSC the additional tools and resources to address the growing issue of imports and other important product safety issues.

American Honda Motor Corp. Recalls Lawn Mowers Due to Laceration Hazard
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), American Honda Motor Corp., of Torrance, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 167,000 Honda Walk-Behind Lawn Mowers. The cutting blades could rotate under power when the control lever is released. The lawn mowers do not comply with mandatory federal safety standards for lawn mowers. The spinning blade poses a serious laceration hazard to consumers.

Bombardier Recreational Products Recalls Snowmobiles Due to Crash Hazard
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP), of Quebec, Canada, is voluntarily recalling about 480 Ski-Doo® Model Year 2008 MXZ X 600 RS Snowmobiles. A defect in the carburetor can prevent the throttle from freely returning to the idle position. This can result in an unexpected loss of control leading to a collision and cause serious injuries or death.

Full Body Safety Harnesses Recalled by Gorilla Due to Fall Hazard
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Gorilla Inc., of Flushing, Mich., is voluntarily recalling about 60,000 Full Body Safety Harnesses. The harnesses could fail during use, resulting in a hunter falling from the tree stand and suffering serious injuries or death.

Bicycle Helmets Recalled by Specialized Due to Failing Helmet Standard
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Specialized Bicycles, of Morgan Hill, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 3,000 Specialized Bicycle Helmets. The helmets fail testing required under CPSC's safety standard for bicycle helmets. This can pose a head injury hazard to riders in a fall.