[Recalls Page]

March 2002 Recalls and Product Safety News

Tristar Products Inc., of Parsippany, N.J., is voluntarily recalling about 3100 Steam Buggy™ Deluxe Steamers. The recalled steam cleaner is blue plastic and measures about 12 inches long and 8 inches high. It has a 5.5-foot black steam hose connected to the water reservoir and comes with various cleaning attachments. HSN LP (Home Shopping Network) sold the Steam Buggy Deluxe nationwide from December 2001 through January 2002 for about $129.

Tough Traveler Ltd. of Schenectady, N.Y., is voluntarily recalling 135 Kid Carrier™, Filly™ and Stallion™ child backpack carriers. These Tough Traveler® backpack carriers have metal contoured frames and were sold in color combinations of blue and teal, natural and teal, and slate and teal. A tag on the outside of the carrier reads "Tough Traveler® ." The carriers have a removable washable seat; a storage pocket; a loading stand; a padded hip belt; and other features. These carriers were sold through specialty baby products and outdoor products retail stores, and through the Tough Traveler web site and mail order 800 number from December 2000 through February 2002 for between $157 and $186. Only certain Kid Carrier™, Filly™ and Stallion™ carriers sold during this time are included in this recall.

Children nationwide are heading outdoors to practice their shots with portable basketball hoops. In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Lifetime Products Inc., of Clearfield, Utah, and Escalade Sports, of Evansville, Ind. are voluntarily recalling about 1.7 million portable basketball hoops. There are about 1.7 million Lifetime portable basketball hoops and about 16,000 Escalade Sports basketball hoops being recalled. The basketball hoops may have a sharp protruding bolt on the players' side of the pole that can cause serious leg or body lacerations to consumers when the bolt is exposed.

Invensys Climate Controls - OEM Products Group, of Long Beach Calif., a division of Invensys Control Systems, is recalling 18,200 TS11 Thermal Safety Control Valves, which are installed in commercial ovens, ranges, and warmer trays by OEM manufacturers and service organizations. The affected units were manufactured between June 2001 and August 2001 and have production dates beginning with codes 0124 through and including 0131. The date codes are marked on the backside of the upper housing, below the red button.

Childcraft Education Corp. of Lancaster, Pa., is voluntarily recalling about 700 wooden changing tables with steps. The overall size of the wooden changing table is 42 inches long by 26 3/4 inches wide by 36 inches high. The front of the unit has three doors, behind a door are toddler steps that slide out and in when not in use, while the other doors house a storage area with two sliding drawers. The top changing table has a quilted vinyl pad, built-in safety straps, and a wall shelf unit. The recalled changing tables with steps were manufactured prior to December 1, 2000. Childcraft Education Corp. sold the recalled changing tables with steps to daycare centers and pre-schools from January 1998 to May 2001 for about $700.

As the mountain snow melt begins and flood season approaches, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the Electrical Safety Foundation International (ESFI) are warning consumers to beware of the dangers that are present when water comes in contact with electricity. A flood can cause tragic losses to families, but to protect against the unexpected loss of life, CPSC and ESFI have some important safety advice.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) wants consumers to know that as of April 1, 2002, many state and local jurisdictions will require that all propane gas tanks being refilled for consumers to use with their barbecue grills must have a new safety device. The over-fill prevention device will help to avoid propane leaks that can cause fires and explosions. The new standard is published by the National Fire Protection Association.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Exmark Manufacturing, of Beatrice, Neb., is voluntarily recalling about 21,000 Exmark-brand commercial-grade riding mowers. The riding mower's exhaust system can ignite fuel vapors from spilled fuel if the engine backfires.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), The Toro Company, of Bloomington, Minn., is voluntarily recalling about 13,000 Toro-brand commercial-grade riding mowers. The riding mower's exhaust system can ignite fuel vapors from spilled fuel if the engine backfires.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, (CPSC), Dixon Industries Inc., of Coffeyville Kan., is recalling about 28,000 riding lawn mowers. The fuel tanks on these mowers can crack and leak fuel, posing a fire hazard and risk of burn injuries to consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Pascal Products Company Ltd., of Jackson, Miss., is voluntarily recalling about 600 two-paneled fireplace screens. The paint on the metal mesh can ignite when exposed to a direct flame, posing a serious fire hazard to consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Dollar Tree Stores Inc., of Chesapeake, Va., is voluntarily recalling about 165,000 paperweights. The paperweights can leak petroleum distillates, which can pose ingestion and flammability hazards to consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Rose Art Industries Inc., of Livingston, N.J., is voluntarily recalling about 124,400 Soap Making Kits. The soap may get too hot when heated in the microwave oven and leak from the plastic container posing a burn hazard to children.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), ICON Health & Fitness, of Logan, Utah, is voluntarily recalling about 7,500 hikers. Hikers are shortened-platform treadmills that operate at a speed of up to 6 mph. They can be set at an incline of up to 25 or 50 percent, depending on model, to simulate hiking up steep grades. An electrical component in the control system at the base of the unit can fail and cause overheating. This poses a risk of fire and burns to consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Jade Products Inc., of Commerce, Calif., is voluntarily recalling to repair about 7,200 Dynasty gas ranges. The ranges could tip-over if a heavy weight is placed on an open oven door, posing a risk of burn injuries from hot food or liquids in cooking containers.

GE Interlogix of Tualatin, Ore., is voluntarily announcing a recall to repair approximately 18,000 security control panels. The repair includes all ZX400, ZX410 and ZX440F security control panels experiencing "MEMORY ERROR" or "NO COM FROM CONTROL" errors and all ZX300 and ZX310 security control panels that are being monitored. The control panels are used mainly to guard against burglary but can be linked to smoke and fire alarms. The brand name "Moose" is printed on the front of the keypad. Authorized dealers and distributors sold the security control panels nationwide from November 1998 to March 2001 for between $40 and $260.

Viessmann Manufacturing Company (U.S.) of Warwick, R.I. is recalling 190 SR-RN2 or SR-RN2R controls, which are installed in Atola-RN Boilers. The recalled units were manufactured between December 1998 and December 2001. This is the entire production of these controls. (The controls do not have a date code that can be seen by consumers.) The boilers were sold nationwide by wholesalers and distributors.

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 reported on the performance of the new national toll-free telephone number for poison control centers. The new number, (800) 222-1222, was launched on January 30, 2002. For the first time, this new number provides everyone in the U.S. with free access - 24 hours a day, 7 days a week - to their regional poison center. In just the first full month of operation, the toll-free number received 44,000 calls about potential poisonings.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Leiner Health Products, of Carson, Calif. is voluntarily recalling about 14,000 bottles of dietary supplements containing iron. The supplements being recalled are not packaged in child-resistant packaging as required under the Poison Prevention Packaging Act. If ingested by children, these iron-containing supplements can cause serious injury or death.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Hunter Fan Co., of Memphis, Tenn., is voluntarily recalling about 100,000 humidifiers. The motors in these humidifiers can overheat, posing a fire hazard.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, (CPSC), Longwell Electronics, of Brea, Calif., is voluntarily recalling about 2.5 million power cord sets sold with inkjet printers from Hewlett-Packard Company. The connector can break, exposing electrical contacts and posing a shock hazard to consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Trudeau Corp., of Woodbridge, Ill., is voluntarily recalling about 20,000 fondue sets. The plastic ring with handles that is attached to the upper rim of the fondue pot can crack during normal heating or cooling, posing burn and fire hazards to consumers.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, (CPSC), Murray Inc. of Brentwood, Tenn., is voluntarily recalling about 89,500 rear-engine riding lawn mowers and about 6,200 mid-engine riding mowers. The fuel tank can crack and leak fuel, posing a burn or fire hazard to consumers.