October 2008 Recalls and Product Safety News

• PC Notebook Computer Batteries Recalled Due to Fire and Burn Hazard

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), about 35,000 (with an additional 65,000 batteries sold worldwide) Lithium-Ion Batteries manufactured by Sony Energy Devices Corporation, of Japan, and used in Hewlett-Packard, Toshiba and Dell Notebook Computers, were recalled. These lithium-ion batteries can overheat, posing a fire and burn hazard to consumers.

• CPSC Urges Consumers to Replace Batteries in Smoke Alarms This Weekend

While changing your clock can keep you on time for work on Monday, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) advises consumers that putting fresh batteries in your smoke alarms can save your life.

• DYMO Recalls Power Adapters Sold with DYMO® Printers Due to Burn Hazard

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), DYMO, of Stamford, Conn., is voluntarily recalling about 17,000 DYMO® LabelWriter® Power Adapters used with printers. The power adapters can fail, causing the printer to overheat. This can pose a burn hazard to consumers.

• Fit & Fresh™ Mixers Recalled by MEDport LLC Due to Laceration Hazard

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), MEDport LLC, of Providence, R.I., is voluntarily recalling about 54,500 Fit & Fresh™ Smooth Blend Mixers. While placing the cup on or off the base of the mixer, the mixer can be unexpectedly turned on, activating the blade. This can pose a serious laceration hazard to consumers.

• Homelite Consumer Products Announce Recall to Repair Chain Saws Due to Chain Brake Failure

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Homelite Consumer Products Inc., of Anderson, S.C., is voluntarily recalling about 370,000 Homelite Chain Saws. The chain brake can fail to stop the chain on its first application, posing a risk of laceration to consumers.

• Wooden Toys Recalled by Earth Friendly Due To Choking Hazards

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Earth Friendly LLC, of Beaverton, Ore., is voluntarily recalling about 1,000 Wooden Toys. Small parts can detach and break from the toy, posing a choking hazard to young children. In addition, the size of the rattle handle violates voluntary rattle standards.

• CPSC Provides Safety Tips for a Safe "Trick or Treat"

As parents and caregivers prepare for Halloween, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) reminds them to keep safety in mind, so that no child is haunted by Halloween-related injuries. Hidden dangers associated with costumes, treats, and decorations can be easily prevented.

• Halloween Figurines Recalled by Coyne’s & Company for Lead Hazard

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Coyne’s & Company Inc., of Minneapolis, Minn., is voluntarily recalling about 14,000 Casper the Friendly Ghost® Halloween Mini-Figurines. The recalled Halloween figurines contain high levels of lead in the paint.

• Ghost Tealight Holders Recalled by Trade Associates Group and Crate & Barrel Due to Fire and Burn Hazard

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Trade Associates Group Ltd., of Chicago, Ill., and Crate & Barrel, of Northbrook, Ill., are voluntarily recalling about 30,000 Ghost Tealight Holders. The recalled tealight holder can ignite posing a fire and burn hazard to consumers.

• Cybex International Recalls Treadmills Due to Fall Hazard; Can Speed Up Unexpectedly

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Cybex International Inc., of Medway, Mass., is voluntarily recalling about 19,000 Cybex Treadmills. The treadmills can speed up unexpectedly while in use due to a malfunction with the lower control board, posing a fall hazard to consumers.

• Serta International Recalls Mattresses Due to Violation of Federal Mattress Flammability Standard

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Serta International Mattress Co., of Hoffman Estates, Ill., is voluntarily recalling about 6,100 Serta Zipper-Covered Foam Core Mattresses. The mattresses fail to meet the mandatory federal open flame standard for mattresses, posing a fire hazard to consumers.

• Power Adapters Used with Notebook Computers Recalled by Battery-Biz Due To Burn Hazard

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Battery-Biz Inc., of Camarillo, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 1,300 Duracell 130W Combo Power Adapters used with notebook computers. The adapters can fail and overheat. This can pose a burn hazard to consumers.

• Gaming System Batteries and Recharging Station Recalled by LeapFrog Due to Burn Hazard

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), LeapFrog Enterprises Inc., of Emeryville, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 35,500 Rechargeable Batteries and Recharging Station for Didj Custom Gaming System. The rechargeable batteries included with the Recharging Station can overheat if the gaming system is placed into the recharging base upside down, posing a burn hazard to consumers.

• CPSC and Carter’s Advise Parents of Rashes Associated with Heat Transferred, or “Tag-less,” Labels

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Carter’s, Inc., of Atlanta, Georgia, are advising parents and caregivers that they have received reports that a small percentage of babies and infants have developed rashes on the upper back after wearing Carter’s clothing with heat-transferred, or “tag-less,” labels.

• Shimano American Corp. Recalls Wheels for Bicycles; Flat Tire Can Pose Injury Risk to Riders

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Shimano American Corp., of Irving, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 275 Shimano Dura Ace Carbon Clincher Wheels for Bicycles. Rim surface and spoke hole plugs on the wheel can cause a puncture to the inner tube, resulting in a flat tire. This can cause the rider to lose control and fall.

•  YMCA Trading Recalls Lighters Due to Potential Burn Hazard to Children

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), YMCA Trading Inc., of Maspeth, N.Y., is voluntarily recalling about 24,000 “Gas Match” and “Ready, Aim...Fire” Multi-Purpose Lighters. The multi-purpose lighters fail to meet federal safety standards because they might not contain a child-resistant mechanism, posing a potential fire and burn hazard to young children.

• Murray Riding Lawn Mowers Recalled By Briggs & Stratton Power Products Group Due to Fire and Burn Hazards

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Briggs & Stratton Power Products Group LLC, of Wauwatosa, Wis., is voluntarily recalling about 2,100 Murray Front Engine Riding Lawn Mowers. The two-piece fuel tanks on the riding mowers can separate at the seam, causing fuel to leak. This can pose fire and burn hazards to consumers.

• Fiesta Recalls to Inspect and Repair Gas Grills Due to Fire and Burn Hazards

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Fiesta Gas Grills, of Dickson, Tenn., is voluntarily recalling about 47,000 Blue Ember Gas Grills. The gas grills can be assembled improperly exposing the gas burner hoses to excessive heat, posing fire and burn hazards to consumers.

• Rage Wireless Guitars Used with Popular Video Gaming System Recalled Due to Chemical Burn Risk

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Performance Designed Products LLC, of Sherman Oaks, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 57,000 Rage Wireless Guitars. A circuit board defect can cause AA batteries used in the guitar to leak if the batteries are installed incorrectly, posing a risk of chemical burns to consumers.

• Defects Identified by CPSC Early Warning System Prompt Crib Warning to Parents: CPSC to consider rulemaking to address crib defects

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is urging parents and caregivers to closely inspect the hardware and stability of their cribs to ensure all parts are in place and secure. The warning by the CPSC comes after the agency’s Early Warning System has identified concerns with the durability of cribs, especially those with drop sides that can disengage and lead to dangers of entrapment and strangulation.

• Infant Death Prompts Recall to Repair 985,000 Delta Enterprise Drop Side Cribs; Missing Safety Pegs Can Cause Entrapment and Suffocation Hazards

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), in cooperation with Delta Enterprise Corp., of New York, New York., is announcing the voluntary recall to replace missing safety pegs involving 985,000 drop side cribs. Failure to use or install safety pegs can cause an entrapment and suffocation risk to infants and toddlers.

• Infant Death Prompts Recall To Repair 600,000 Drop Side Cribs By Delta Enterprise; Spring Peg Failure Can Cause Entrapment and Suffocation Hazards

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), in cooperation with Delta Enterprise Corp., of New York, N.Y., is announcing the voluntary recall today of about 600,000 drop side cribs. The crib’s drop side can detach when the spring peg is not engaged, which can cause an entrapment and suffocation risk to infants and toddlers.