April 2005 Recalls and Product Safety News

[The Straight Story]

http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prerelapr05.html


CPSC, Carter’s® Announce Recall of Carter’s Brand Children’s Overalls

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Carter’s®, of Atlanta, Ga. is voluntarily recalling about 31,000 Carter’s® Infant and Children’s Overalls. The plastic center of the decorative snaps on these garments can detach, posing a choking hazard.
CPSC, American Honda Motor Co. Announce Recall of ATVs

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), American Honda Motor Co. Inc., of Torrance, Calif. is voluntarily recalling about 200,000 Honda 2004-2005 FourTrax All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs). The steering rods can separate, causing the driver to lose steering control. This could cause the ATV to crash and pose a risk of serious injury or death.
CPSC, Maytag Corp. Announce Recall of Hoover Self-Propelled Upright Vacuum Cleaners

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Hoover Co., of North Canton, Ohio. Hoover Co. is part of the Maytag Corp. is voluntarily recalling about 636,000 Hoover Self-Propelled Upright Vacuum Cleaners. The recalled vacuums have defective on-off switches that can overheat the handle and toolholder areas of the vacuum, resulting in a fire hazard.
CPSC, Zebco Announce Recall of Children’s Fishing Poles

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), W.C. Bradley/Zebco Holdings Inc. doing business as Zebco, of Tulsa, Okla. is voluntarily recalling about 1.5 million Children’s Fishing Poles. The paint on the rods of these fishing poles contains lead. Lead is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health effects.
CPSC, Wal-Mart Stores Inc. Announce Recall of Karaoke Cassette Player/Recorders

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., of Bentonville, Ark. is voluntarily recalling about 220,000 Nu-Tronix Karaoke Cassette Player/Recorders. The paint on the five control buttons of the karaoke player contains excessive lead, posing a lead poisoning hazard to young children. Lead poisoning in children is associated with behavioral problems, learning disabilities, hearing problems, and growth retardation.
CPSC, Baja Products Announce Recall of My First Crayon-Balls™ and My First Crayon-Ball™ Activity Sets

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Baja Products Inc. of Delray Beach, Fla. is voluntarily recalling about 145,000 My First Crayon-Balls™ and My First Crayon-Ball™ Activity Sets. Small crayon balls can break loose from the plastic base of the products. This can pose a choking hazard to young children.
CPSC, Yamaha Motor Corp., U.S.A. Recall Reminder for Off-Road Motorcycles and ATVs

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. of Cypress, California is voluntarily recalling about 2,755 PW80 and TT-R90 Off-Road Motorcycles and about 850 Grizzly 125 ATVs. The rear brake shoe material could separate due to improper adhesive curing, adversely affecting rear braking performance.
CPSC, Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. Recall Reminder for ATVs

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. of Cypress, California is voluntarily recalling about 86,000 Raptor YFM660R ATVs. Vibration from the engine and driveline during long periods of high rpm usage could cause the rear master cylinder reservoir to agitate resulting in brake fluid aeration. A small amount of air bubbles could enter the master cylinder adversely affecting rear brake performance.
Nautilus Inc. Agrees to Pay $950,000 Penalty for Failing to Report Bowflex Fitness Machines Defects and Injuries

Nautilus Inc., of Vancouver, Wash., has agreed to pay a $950,000 civil penalty. The penalty, which has been provisionally accepted by the Commission, settles allegations that the company failed to give CPSC timely reports on serious injuries and safety defects with nearly 800,000 Bowflex fitness machines. Under federal law, manufacturers, importers, distributors, and retailers must immediately report information about potentially hazardous products to the Commission.
CPSC, Solar Inc. Announce Recall of Flashing Toy Pacifiers

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Solar Inc. of Tappan, N.Y. is voluntarily recalling about 24,000 Flashing Pacifiers or 2-in-1 Flashing Pacifiers with Whistle Necklaces. The nipple can detach from the base, posing a choking hazard to young children.
CPSC, Sears Roebuck and Co. Announce Recall of Table Saw Rip Fences

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Sears Roebuck and Co., of Hoffman Estates, Ill. is voluntarily recalling about 41,800 Table Saw Rip Fence Assemblies. The rip fence - a metal guide that keeps material being sawed from shifting side to side as it passes through the cutting blade - can come loose. This could result in kickback of the material being sawed and possible injury to the operator.
CPSC Approves First Step Toward Mandatory Standard for Cigarette Lighters

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) voted unanimously (2-0) on April 1, 2005, to move forward with the first of three steps in developing a new mandatory safety standard for cigarette lighters. The vote to approve an Advanced Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, which is open for public comment, sets the Commission on a path to consider a way to prevent most mechanical malfunctions of lighters and reduce the fire hazard associated with some lighters.
CPSC, L.L. Bean Inc. Announce Recall of Director’s Chairs, Replacement Seats

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), L.L. Bean Inc., of Freeport, Maine, and Rio Brands, of Philadelphia, Pa. are voluntarily recalling about 3,500 Director’s Chairs and Replacement Director’s Chair Padded Seats. The wooden dowels in the fabric seats are too small and can break or slide out of the fabric sleeves; the fabric seat can tear from the wooden seat frame; and the chair frame also can break at the backrest upright, the armrest and at the leg axis. These failures can cause the chair’s occupant to fall to the floor, and possibly sustain injuries.
CPSC, DESA Heating Products and Scheu Manufacturing Co. Announce Recall of Propane Heaters

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), DESA Heating Products, of Bowling Green, Ky., and Scheu Manufacturing Co., of Upland, Calif. are voluntarily recalling about 588,000 “ALL-PRO”, “Reddy Heater” and “MASTER” Infrared (Tank Top) Propane Heaters. The plastic ring on the heater’s regulator can crack, causing gas to leak out if the propane tank and heater regulator are turned on. This can create a fire hazard if an ignition source is present.
CPSC, Hunter’s View Announce Recall of Safety Harnesses Sold with Tree Stands

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Hunter’s View, of Peoria, Ill. is voluntarily recalling about 500,000 Safety Harnesses Sold with Tree Stands. The harnesses could fail during use, resulting in consumers falling from tree stands and suffering serious injuries or death.
CPSC, Southern Living At HOME Announce Recall of Tea Light Candles

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Southern Living At HOME is voluntarily recalling 3,480 Fern Warm Comforts Tea Light Candles. Some of these tea light candles from one production run can burn with a high flame, due to contamination.
CPSC Reminds Americans to Change Smoke Alarm Batteries When Changing Clocks for Daylight-Saving Time

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reminds Americans to change their smoke alarm batteries when changing their clocks for Daylight-Saving Time this Sunday, April 3. While about 90 percent of U.S. households have smoke alarms installed, a CPSC survey estimated millions of those households, about 20 percent, do not have any working alarms.

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