Consumer Products Recalls

Clacker Ball Toys Seized By Marshal NEWS from CPSC U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE December 10, 1985 Release # 85-065 Dangerous Toys Seized By U.S. Marshal In Phoenix The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission announced that on December 6, the United States Marshal's Office in Phoenix, Arizona seized almost 4,600 banned "clacker ball" toys. The toys, labeled "KER-BANGERS," are a hand-held novelty item consisting of two plastic balls connected by a cord to a plastic handle. When the hand is raised and lowered, the balls "clack" or bang against each other in an arc. Despite the claim on the package that the "KER-BANGERS" are "SHATTERPROOF," when the Consumer Product Safety Commission tested these toys, the balls either shattered or cracked. In addition, many of the handles broke. Consumers who have "KER-BANGERS" should promptly throw them away. The toys were the seized at the premises of a wholesaler, Empire Novelty & Concession Supply, Inc. 2213 East Indian School Road, Phoenix, Arizona. Empire Novelty is voluntarily recalling the toys from its customers, who are retailers. The "KER-BANGERS" were shipped from California and, according to the label, were manufactured by Chuck Howard Toy Co. of Inglewood, California. The manufacturer is no longer in business. Clacker balls were a popular toy in the early 1970's. To prevent injuries from fragmentation of the balls or from propulsion of the parts upon sudden disassembly during use, they are subject to a regulation enforced by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, which requires them to pass specific durability tests.

Lead

Suffocation

December 3, 1985 Release # 85-061 Garbage Hauler Repairs Large Bins To Meet Federal Safety Standard The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has announced that a commercial refuse hauler in Florida has brought into compliance seven large unstable slant-sided metal refuse bins of the type that are banned by federal law because they have tipped over and crushed children. In 1977, the Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a ban to address the risk of tip-over of large unstable metal refuse bins that crushed children climbing or hanging on the bins. The federal ban outlaws metal bins with a volume of more than one cubic yard if they tip over during testing. The Commission test, designed to simulate the climbing and hanging activities of children, requires that bins sustain a horizontal force of 70 pounds and a vertical force of 191 pounds. Before the ban was issued, the Consumer Product Safety Commission had investigated 19 incidents of refuse bin tip-over, involving 21 victims, 20 of them children younger than ten years old. At the time, thirteen children had died from being crushed by unstable refuse bins. Since the 1977 ban, the Commission has investigated an additional 41 incidents of refuse bin tip-over, involving 41 victims, 39 of them children younger than age ten. There have been 16 more deaths. As part of the Commission's continuing surveillance to find all banned unstable refuse bins, investigators from Commission offices in Atlanta, Georgia and Orlando, Florida discovered bins owned by ABC Disposal, Inc. in Port Richey, Florida that failed the federal safety standard. The Commission and ABC Disposal entered into a written agreement giving the firm fourteen days to repair or remove from public areas seven remaining unstable bins. In mid-November, the firm completed the repairs by welding extensions to keep the bins from tipping over

Vehicle Accident

Strangulation

Suffocation

Choking

Suffocation

Fall

High-Chairs Repaired by Sassy NEWS from CPSC U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, DC 20207 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 23, 1985 Release # 85-028 Sassy Inc. Announces Voluntary Repair Program For Model 021 And 023 Portable High-Chairs WASHINGTON, D.C. -- In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Sassy, Inc. of Northfield, Illinois, today announced a voluntary repair program affecting approximately 40,000 Folding Sassy Seats, Models 021 and 023 manufactured between July 1984 and December 1984. The firm has received approximately 100 reports from consumers stating that their chair's plastic material developed cracks around the restraint horn and locking pin tabs (see drawing) prior to the product's removal from retail shelves in December 1984. If the cracks are present and the seat continues to be used, a laceration, falling hazard, or a pinching condition may be present to a user of the chair. There have been no reported injuries. The Folding Sassy Seat is used as a portable high-chair that is easily transported for convenient use in restaurants and when traveling in place of a conventional high-chair. The product consists of round aluminum tubing rails and bright yellow plastic seat and end caps. Other models of Sassy Seats are not affected (Deluxe Sassy Seat and the Original Sassy Seat). To eliminate the possibility of the Seat developing stress cracks, Sassy, Inc. will provide free replacement parts to all owners of their Model 021 and 023 portable high-chair. Retailers who received the chairs manufactured between July and December 1984 have already received notice of the repair program and have received replacement parts. It is believed that 30,000 of the affected chairs may remain in the possession of consumers. Consumers can identify affected chairs by the round aluminum tubing (an earlier Model 020 used square aluminum tubing and is not affected by this action). Consumers owning a Folding Sassy Seat Model 021 or 023 should send their name, address, telephone number, and store where purchased, to Sassy, Inc., 191 Waukegan Road, Northfield, Illinois to obtain a free repair kit. Proof of purchase and/or receipt is not necessary. Until the kit is received, consumers owning the affected models should inspect the Seat for cracks before each use and if cracks are present discontinue use altogether. Consumers who need further information may call the Consumer Product Safety Commission toll free Hotline for information at 800-638-CPSC. A teletypewriter number for the hearing-impaired is (301) 595-7054.,

Choking