FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 23, 2006 Release #06-242 |
Firm's Recall Hotline: (866) 685-5449 CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772 CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908
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Blount International Inc. Recalls Replacement Blades for Use with Snapper Riding Lawnmowers Due to Laceration Hazard
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.
Name of Product: Oregon® and Silver Streak® Replacement Snapper Lawnmower Blades
Units: About 94,000
Manufacturer: Blount International Inc., of Kansas City, Mo.
Hazard: When the lawnmower is operated, the replacement blade can crack and pieces can break away, posing a serious laceration hazard to consumers and bystanders.
Incidents/Injuries: Blount has received six reports of replacement blades either cracking or breaking. No injuries have been reported.
Description and Models: The recalled replacement lawnmower blades are intended for use on Snapper riding lawnmowers. The recalled blades are sold for use as replacement parts under the Oregon® and Silver Streak® brands only. Original equipment blades on Snapper lawnmowers and "Snapper" brand replacement blades are not included in this recall. The recalled blades are red and marked "MADE IN USA," "GRASS SIDE CX", "Oregon" or "SILVER STREAK." The part number and date code are engraved on one side of the blade. The recalled blades are part numbers: 99-111, 99-112, 99-113, 99-114, 99-117, 99-118, 99-926, 99-930 and date codes: BL, BM, BN, BP, BQ, BR, BS, BT, BU, BV, BW, BX, BY, BZ, CA, CB, CC, CD, CE, CF, CG, CH, CJ, CK, CL, CM, CN, CP.
Sold at: Power or yard equipment dealers and hardware stores nationwide from November 2002 through August 2006 for between $16 and $28.
Manufactured In: United States
Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the replacement blades and return them to the store where purchased or any other retailer that carries Oregon® or Silver Streak® replacement parts for a free replacement.
Consumer Contact: For more information, consumers can contact Blount at (866) 685-5449 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit Blount's Web sites at www.blount.com or www.Oregonchain.com(pdf)
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is still interested in receiving incident or injury reports that are either directly related to this product recall or involve a different hazard with the same product. Please tell us about your experience with the product on SaferProducts.gov
CPSC is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of the thousands of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $900 billion annually. CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical or mechanical hazard. CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters and household chemicals - contributed to a decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.
Federal law bars any person from selling products subject to a publicly-announced voluntary recall by a manufacturer or a mandatory recall ordered by the Commission.
To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury go online to www.SaferProducts.gov or call CPSC's Hotline at (800) 638-2772 or teletypewriter at (301) 595-7054 for the hearing impaired. Consumers can obtain news release and recall information at www.cpsc.gov, on Twitter @OnSafety or by subscribing to CPSC's free e-mail newsletters.