Consumer Product Safety Commission

August 2001 Press Releases

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), The Discovery Channel Store, Inc., of Berkeley, Calif., is voluntarily recalling 16,000 glass and metal oil-burning lamps. The glass on these lamps can shatter when lit, posing a fire and laceration hazard to consumers.

WASHINGTON, D.C.- In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Wenzel Co., of St. Louis, Mo., is voluntarily recalling about 290,000 propane-fueled camping lanterns. An insufficient connection between the lantern and the propane cylinder can allow gas to escape and ignite unexpectedly, posing a potential fire and injury hazard to consumers. This hazard can occur during the lighting or normal use of the lantern.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) today reported 2,250 emergency room-treated injuries associated with motorized scooters in the first 7 months of this year. If injuries continue at this rate, the total estimate for 2001 is expected to show a marked increase over 2000. The first full year in which CPSC collected data on these injuries was 1999. In 2000, there were an estimated 4,390 hospital emergency room treated injuries associated with motorized scooters. This represents more than a 200-percent increase over the 1999 estimate of 1,330 injuries.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), STK International, of Los Angeles, Calif., is recalling about 110,000 children's toys. The toys can break causing small balls to be released, posing a choking hazard to young children.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), World Industries Inc., of Huntington Beach, Calif., is voluntarily recalling 10,000 skateboard helmets. These helmets failed impact testing required under CPSC's Safety Standard for Bicycle Helmets. Riders wearing these helmets are not adequately protected from falls and could suffer head injuries or death.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), XL Machine Ltd., of Eden Prairie, Minn., is voluntarily recalling about 10,000 sets of dollhouse bathroom furniture. The yellow paint on the furniture contains lead, which can present a risk of lead poisoning to young children.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced today that The Limited Inc., of Columbus, Ohio, and its subsidiary, Mast Industries, of Andover, Mass. have agreed to pay a civil penalty of $500,000. The penalty settles CPSC allegations that the companies violated the federal Flammable Fabrics Act by knowingly importing and selling flammable children's sleepwear including pajamas and bathrobes.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Kids "R" Us and Babies "R" Us, divisions of Toys "R" Us Inc., of Paramus, N.J., are voluntarily recalling about 7,000 children's cargo pants. The toggle on the pockets of the pants can break off, posing a choking hazard to young children.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), BikeE Corp., of Corvallis, Ore., is voluntarily recalling 1,400 suspension forks on FX and RX model recumbent bicycles. The link pins in the forks can fall out, causing the rider to lose control of the bicycle, fall, and possibly suffer serious injuries. BikeE Corp. has received two reports of pins falling out of forks, resulting in two minor injuries to riders.

In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Kolcraft Enterprises, Inc., of Chicago, IL, is voluntarily recalling about 115,000 strollers. Lock mechanisms, found on both sides of the stroller, can break and cause the stroller to suddenly collapse. When the strollers collapse, babies can fall and suffer injuries.

Ann Brown, Chairman of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), announced today her intention to resign as Chairman and as a Commissioner on November 1, 2001, unless another Chairman is nominated and confirmed by the Senate before that date.

A new report shows that over a ten-year period, more deaths to children occurred on backyard playgrounds than on public playgrounds. From 1990 to August 2000, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has reports of nearly 150 deaths to children under the age of 15 involving playground equipment; at least 90 of these occurred in a home setting. Almost three-fourths of the deaths in home locations resulted from hangings from ropes, cords, homemade rope swings, and other similar items. New safety standards, aimed at reducing the risk of strangulation, require that ropes be secured at both ends and that makers of home equipment warn against attaching additional ropes.