[Recalls Page]

March 2004 Recalls and Product Safety News

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Kingfisher Publications PLC, a UK-based subsidiary of Houghton Mifflin Company, of Boston, Mass., is voluntarily recalling "My Easter Basket" Books. A sponge "touch-and-feel" item inside the book can detach or small pieces can be torn away, posing a choking hazard to young children.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Babies "R" Us of Wayne, NJ. , is voluntarily recalling Snail Push Toys. The screw securing the toy handle to the push toy could detach, posing a choking hazard.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Lithonia Lighting, of Conyers, Ga., is voluntarily recalling High Intensity Discharge (HID) light fixtures with acrylic lenses and/or reflectors. A component in the light fixture can leak fluid, which can degrade the acrylic lenses and reflectors, causing them to crack and fall. Falling pieces of acrylic can injure someone below the fixture.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is announcing today that Lifetime Products Inc., of Clearfield, Utah, has agreed to pay an $800,000 civil penalty to settle allegations that it violated federal reporting requirements associated with its portable basketball hoops.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Stanley Furniture Company Inc., Stanleytown, Va., is voluntarily recalling 318 Isabella model cribs. An incorrect screw (used to attach the movable gate) was provided for the assembly of some of these cribs. The crib cannot be assembled using this screw. However, if consumers have substituted their own screw, it may not properly hold the movable gate in place. The result is a potential risk that a child could fall from the crib or become entrapped between the gate and the mattress.

Based on its investigation of two deaths caused by carbon dioxide (CO2) canisters flying off paintball guns, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is issuing a new warning. Paintball gun users should be advised that the brass or nickel-plated valve that connects directly to the canister must not be unscrewed from the canister when removing the canister assembly from a paintball gun. This valve must stay secured and rotate with the CO2 canister.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Fedders Corporation, of Liberty Corner, N.J., is voluntarily recalling about 13,500 window air conditioners with electric heat. If the outside fan blade becomes blocked when operating in the heating mode, this unit could present a fire hazard.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Murray, Inc., of Lawrenceburg, Tenn. is voluntarily recalling Murray lawn mowers, lawn tractors and garden tractors. Plastic components on these lawn mowers and lawn tractors can crack if they are struck by an object thrown from the blade. Objects can be ejected from the mower unexpectedly and could hit nearby consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Murray, Inc., of Lawrenceburg, Tenn. is voluntarily recalling Murray lawn tractors with remote-mounted fuel tanks. The fuel tank can develop cracks allowing fuel to leak posing a fire hazard to consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Palliser Furniture Ltd., Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, are voluntarily recalling "Poof" Chairs and Table Sets. A metal rod can protrude through the fabric and its sharp edges could cause scratches or cuts.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Bath & Body Works and The White Barn Candle Company of Columbus, Ohio, are voluntarily recalling "Real Essence" votive candles. These votive candles can burn with a high flame or irregular flame posing a fire hazard to consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), APA Marketing Inc., of Commerce, Calif., is voluntarily recalling 400 Encore! Home Entertainment Wall Units. The control box for the touch dimmer lighting mechanism can overheat, posing a fire hazard to consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Brass Light Gallery Inc., of Milwaukee, Wis., is voluntarily recalling 1,400 Alabaster Wall Sconce Lights. The tie-downs, which secure the electrical wires to the mounting bracket, may come loose, causing the wire to touch the bulb and pose a fire hazard to consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Lakewood Engineering & Manufacturing Co., of Chicago, Ill., is voluntarily recalling 150,000 Sun-Sational Electric Heaters. Electrical connections inside of the heater can become loose. This could cause the metal portion of the heater to become energized, posing a serious shock hazard to consumers.

During a news conference to launch National Poison Prevention Week, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the American Association of Poison Control Centers, and the Poison Prevention Week Council warned against unintentional poisonings. On average, there are 28 deaths and more than 1.2 million incidents each year where children under 5 years of age are exposed to possible poisons.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Harbor Freight Tools of Camarillo, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 9,390 Heavy Duty Portable Industrial Cord Reels. Electric shock or fire possible because the internal grounding conductor may not be properly secured to the receptacle.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Char-Broil, of Columbus, Ga., is voluntarily recalling 108,000 Char-Broil® Gas Grills to replace temperature gauges. If moisture gets inside the temperature gauge, the glass cover on the gauge can break, posing a risk of injury to people nearby.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Light Distribution Inc., of Miami, Fla., is voluntarily recalling about 500 electric hand-held hair dryers. These hair dryers do not have an immersion protection device or ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) on the power cord, which poses a serious electrocution hazard if dropped in water.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Lado Co. of America, of Flushing, N.Y., is voluntarily recalling about 600 electric hand-held hair dryers. These hair dryers do not have an immersion protection device or ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) on the power cord, which poses a serious electrocution hazard if dropped in water.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Tristar Products Inc., of Fairfield, N.J., is voluntarily recalling about 5,000 Steam Buggy Deluxe steam cleaners. Hot water and steam can escape from the steam cleaner's handle and inner hose, posing a burn hazard to consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), FAO Schwarz Inc., King of Prussia, Pa., is voluntarily recalling 323 Fire Engine Pull-Along Toys. Small parts can detach from the toy, posing a choking hazard to small children.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Lasko Products Inc., of West Chester, Pa., is voluntarily recalling about 186,000 Space Heaters. The power cord connection can overheat and cause the cord to separate from the space heater. This poses a fire, burn and shock hazard.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Salton, Inc., of Lake Forest, Ill., is voluntarily recalling 16,700 Timex Outdoor Appliance Timers. The Timex timers have reverse polarity in the wiring, which allows current to flow to the attached appliance when the timer is turned off. Consumers can receive an electric shock.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Wagner Spray Tech Corp., of Plymouth, Minn., is voluntarily recalling about 180,000 Wagner cordless drill charger bases. A defective battery can cause the charger base to overheat, causing the base to melt and possibly burn nearby objects.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Brand Imports LLC, Scottsdale, Ariz., is voluntarily recalling about 1 Million Children's Rings. The rings contain high levels of lead, posing a risk of lead poisoning to young children.

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