Basketball Chair Set Recall

On May 27, 2010, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Colleen Karis Designs of Los Angeles, Calif., announced a safety recall of approximately 380 All-Star Basketball Chair and Ottoman Sets, after black paint on product lettering was found to contain unsafe levels of lead which are in excess of federal lead paint standards.

The recall affects all basketball-shaped orange and brown chairs that were sold with a matching ottoman, available in HomeGoods stores nationwide from February 2009 through April 2010 for about $50. “All-Star” is printed on both sides of the chair in black ink, and a black stripes runs down the length of both the chair and the ottoman. A tag on the bottom of the chair reads “Colleen Karis Designs.”

Consumers are advised to immediately remove the chair and ottoman sets from children’s rooms and return the products to the manufacturer for a full refund. The company can be contacted at 866-278-7938 or online.

 

Candles

Candles were once used to generate light both indoors and out, but are now used primarily for decorative lighting and scenting of homes. They are sometimes used for heat and emergency lighting. Most candles are comprised of paraffin wax with an embedded wick, but may also be made of beeswax, soy and other plant waxes, tallow beef fat, or gel. For scented candles which emit pleasant odors during use, fragrance oils are added to the liquid wax during manufacturing. Dyes and other pigments are often added to create fashionably colored candles and sometimes decorative items such as flower petals, plants, seashells, or glitter are added to create visual interest. A typical candle will produce 13 lumens of visible light with 40 watts of heat, whereas a 40 watt light bulb will create 500 lumens of light.

Candle Defects

Candles are dangerous even when properly used by the consumer. Some defects and hazards of candles are:

• Fire
• Soot emission, causing health risks
• Skin burns from liquid wax
• Breakage of glass candle holders due to overheating, causing skin cuts and burns
• Lead based wicks in imported candles or those manufactured in the U.S. prior to 1970s and as recently as 2003 for candle-making kits.

Candle Recalls

Candles are inherently dangerous to operate due to the presence of an open flame during standard use. Responsibility during use is expected of the consumer when lighting candles, specifically to ensure candles are not left unattended or without adult supervision. In addition to the responsibility of the consumer, the manufacturer must ensure their products are safe. Some examples of defective candle manufacturing and product failure are:

• In 1999, 20,500 candles were recalled by one manufacturer due to the candles’ faulty tendency to burn with a very high flame. Eight homes were damaged prior to the recall.
• In 2001, 38,000 of another manufacturer’s candles were recalled for high flames.
• In 1999, 3,000 candles sold at a major bulk item retailer were found defective due to occurrences of the candles’ glass container breaking during standard operation, risking injury to consumers.
• In 2004, 92,000 candle holders were recalled by a manufacturer after nine reports of the resin candle holder igniting.
• In 2002, Island Soap & Candle Works of Honolulu recalled 29,000 candles after reports of the candles reigniting after being fully extinguished.

Some examples of candles recalled in cooperation with the Consumer Product Safety Commission due to documented injury, household property damage, and death through standard use by consumers are:

• In 2001, 2.8 million Xanadu brand candles sold as White Barn Candle Company and Bath and Body Works  were recalled due to high flame burning. Seven incidents of injuries were reported.
• In 2007, Old Williamsburgh Candle Company recalled 3.7 million candles after determination that the wicks were moving during operation toward the side of the Mason jar style container, thus heating the glass candle vessel and causing breakage and burn risk. Eleven consumers reported candle breakage from this cause and one laceration injury occurred prior to the recall.

Statistics

From 1999 to 2003, 74,800 home fires were caused by candle use. As a result of those fires, 740 deaths, 7,230 injuries and $1.581 billion in property damage was caused. In 1999, candles were the cause of 3.3 percent of all residential fire deaths. In 2001, candle-related deaths spiked to 7.8 percent of all residential fire fatalities, but returned to 5.7 percent of deaths in 2002, and 7.3 percent in 2003. In comparison, matches only resulted in an average annual percentage of 1.6 percent of deaths.

The National Fire Protection Association attributes almost 10 percent of civilian fire injuries and 6 percent of annual fire deaths to candles. Between July 1, 2002 and June 30, 2003, 1,165 fire department calls were executed because of candle related injuries. It’s estimated that there were still about 2,247 injuries not called into the fire department that same year.

According to the Office of Compliance, 12.7 million defective candles were a part of 118 manufacturer recalls for fire safety-related reasons between 1993 and 2006. Fifty-five of those recalls were due to igniting candle holders and the remainder was divided between secondary ignition and high flame height.

In 2000, 12,950 emergency room visits occurred in the U.S. due to candle-related injuries and 3.7 percent of those were hospitalized with 108 reported deaths. Physicians treated 26,960 patients in general clinical settings at a cost of $496 million. Candle-related deaths cost the U.S. $540 million in 2000.

Demographics

It is recommended that candles are used by adults or under adult supervision. Seventy percent of American homes have candles and utilize them for decoration, aesthetics, ornamentation, ambiance, aromatherapy, relaxation, meditation, religion/spiritual, and fragrance dissemination purposes, with increased use during holidays and in colder winter months.

The National Candle Association estimates that the candle industry in the U.S. results in over $2 billion of annual sales. Imports amount to approximately $435 million, primarily from Pacific Rim countries.

Coca-Cola Lamp Recall

On March 15, 2006, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Emess Design Group LLC announced a voluntary recall of approximately 21,300 Coca-Cola ElectroPlasma lamps, due to a potential electrical burn hazard. The electric arc produced when a finger is held about 1/8-inch away from the metal cap can cause an electrical burn.

The manufacturer has received two reports of incidents involving an electrical arc to the finger, with one burn injury noted.

The recall involves Coca-Cola bottle ElectroPlasma lamps that were sold in Rite Aid stores nationwide during January 2006. The bottle lamps are 13.5 inches high and feature light effects that simulate lightning bolts. The bottom of the black lamp base reads, “Model No. 23-103” and “Lipan Industrial Co., Ltd.”

Consumers are urged to stop using the lamps immediately and return the lamps to Rite Aid stores for a full refund.

Hammary Furniture Recall

On April 7, 2010, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Hammary Furniture Co. of Lenoir, N.C., announced a voluntary recall of approximately 7,000 pieces of furniture, citing a possible lead paint hazard after the surface paint used on the chests and tables was found to violate federal lead paint standards.

The list of recalled furniture products includes:

• Accent Table (model number T73069-00), $500 (average price)
• Bachelor’s Chest (T72858-00), $800
• Bar Cabinet (T73064-00), $700
• Black Bedside Chest (T73319-00), $260
• Bombe Chest (T73292-00), $700
• Box on Stand (T73174-00), $280
• CD Storage (T73070-00), $360
• Console Table (T72345-00), $880
• Door Chest (T73346-00), $900
• Entertainment Console (T72706-00), $900
• Nest of Tables (T73229-22), $460
• Octagonal Drum Table (T73294-00), $240
• Octagonal Drum Table Brown (T73293-00), $240
• Old Western Rifle Accent Table (T73112-00), $500
• Oval Game Cocktail Table (T71522-00), $900
• Roulette Accent Table (T71946-00), $640
• Round Accent Table (T73175-00), $200
• Vincent Rattan Entertainment Center (T71037-00), $700
• World Map Drum Table (T71274-00), $720

The recalled furniture was sold at major department stores and furniture retailers from November 2001 through November 2009.

Consumers are urged to stop using the recalled furniture immediately, keep children away from the products, and contact Hammary to receive a free replacement piece. The company’s website includes photographs of all furniture pieces included in the recall.

Home Depot Recalls Holiday Figurines for Lead Paint

On December 6, 2007, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Creative Design of Hong Kong announced a voluntary recall of approximately 64,000 holiday figurines that were sold in Home Depot stores from October 2007 through November 2007. The surface paint on the figurines was found to contain lead.

The recall affects painted plastic snowmen and bears with the following product names and SKU numbers:

• Holiday Bear Door Greeter (17” x 16”), SKU #894-825
• Snowman Votive Holder (7.5” x 7.5”), SKU #967-46
• Snowman with “Let it Snow” Sign (tabletop), SKU #894-893
• Three Snowmen with “Joy” Sign (13” x 17”), SKU #898-964

Consumers are advised to stop using the products immediately and return them to any Home Depot store for a full refund.

Lead-based paint has been shown to cause irreversible brain damage in children, as well as problems with blood pressure, impaired muscle coordination, and damage to nerves in adults.

Lounge Chairs/ Recliners

Recliners are popular upholstered chairs commonly found in middle class American homes, primarily in family rooms and areas where television is frequently viewed. These lounge chairs may be utilized in a typical chair position, that of upright seating. Or, through use of a lever or mechanism the chair may be reclined into a more horizontal position which lowers the chair back and raises a footrest, thus allowing the person sitting in the chair to vary seating from upright to supine. The occupant can often customize the degree of recline toward maximum personal comfort.

Lounge Chair/ Recliner Defects

Recent defects in manufacture and design of recliner chairs include:

• Defective parts or improper installation leading to tip over and injury associated with falls
• Heavily weighted footrest mechanism causing entrapment of head or other body parts between chair seat and closed footrest, inducing suffocation or strangulation
• Breaking or defective parts leading to collapse and causing lacerations, contusions, back injuries, head injuries, and other associated concerns
• Faulty hinges or lever mechanisms causing pinches, lacerations, and potential amputations
• Flammability due to failure to comply with fire safety standards for upholstered products

Statistics

Since 1980, there have been at least eight deaths and several serious brain injuries in children due to defective recliner chairs. All of these children were 5 years old or younger and were unsupervised when these incidents occurred. They were climbing or playing on the leg rest of the chair and became trapped when their body weight forced the leg rest into the closed position.

Although lounge and recliner chairs are primarily manufactured for adult use, children are frequently injured or killed during use. About 1/3 of the approximately 87 million households in America have at least one reclining lounge chair in use.

Lounge Chair/ Recliner Recalls

• In 1996, Golden Chair and Allen Manufacturing jointly recalled 142,000 recliners because of risk for child entanglement, suffocation, and strangulation. Two children died and two were injured when their heads were clamped in the footrest mechanism of the chairs.
• Dick’s Sporting Goods recalled about 125,000 outdoor lounge chairs and recliners in 2007 when they received 19 reports from consumers regarding breaking plastic supports on the chairs. Seventeen people suffered lacerations and back injuries.
• Eighteen injuries were caused by Lane high-leg recliners recalled in 2003, including lacerations and broken bones. Over 600,000 of the chair owners were notified to obtain a repair kit to fix the pinching footrest associated with the injuries.

Ross Recalls Marble Plant Stands

On August 4, 2009, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Ross Stores, Inc. announced a voluntary recall of approximately 1,800 marble top plant stands, due to a potential for the marble top to detach from the base and fall onto consumers. Ross Stores has already received two reports of incidents involving the marble top falling and bruising consumers.

The recall affects all plant stands with marble tops and black wrought iron bases that were sold in Ross stores nationwide from March 2009 through June 2009. The stands were available in small (24 inches tall), medium (28 in), and large (32 in).

Consumers are advised to stop using the products immediately and return them to any Ross store for a full refund.

 

Pier 1 Santa Tea Light Recall

On January 14, 2010, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Heath Canada, and Pier 1 Imports announced a voluntary recall of approximately 67,000 Ceramic Santa Tea Light Holders, due to a fire hazard.

The recall affects Pier 1 Imports’ red and white Santa Tea Light Holder that is designed in the image of Santa Claus. The holder is 7.5 inches tall and 3.5 inches wide with an opening in the back for a tea light candle. The SKU number 2417274 is printed on the bottom of the product.

Pier 1 Imports has received three reports of the tea light holders catching on fire. The defective products were sold at Pier 1 Imports stores in the U.S. and Canada from September 2009 through December 2009.

Customers are urged to stop using the recalled holders immediately and return the products to any Pier 1 Imports store for a full refund.

Precious Moments Tree Topper Recall

On December 17, 2009, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Precious Moments, Inc. announced a voluntary recall of approximately 4,300 Precious Moments Angel Tree Toppers due to a fire hazard. The tree topper has undersized wiring that can cause the switch assembly to overheat, melt, and potentially start a fire.

The recall affects Precious Moments Angel Tree Toppers vinyl angels that are 10 inches tall with LED lighted wings. The angels are white and holding either a star of a set of bells.

The company has received two reports of the tree toppers overheating. The products were sold at Menards, Shopko, and Blain’s Farm and Fleet store nationwide from August 2009 through December 2009.

Consumers should stop using the tree toppers immediately and return them to the store where purchased for a full refund.

 

Vertical Land Window Blind Recall

On August 26, 2009, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Vertical Land, Inc. issued a voluntary recall of approximately 15,400 horizontal blinds, 16,400 vertical blinds, and 800 cellular shades, due to a strangulation hazard. The horizontal blinds do not have an inner cord device to prevent the inner cords from being pulled out and forming a loop that can strangle a child. The vertical and cellular shades have a looped cord that can also strangle a child.

The CPSC has received one report of a 4-year-old girl who strangled in the loop of a vertical blind cord.

The recall affects all Vertical Land custom-made horizontal blinds without an inner cord stop device, as well as all vertical and cellular window coverings without a cord tensioning device. The company’s name, address, and telephone number can be found on a sticker identification label on the product.

The blinds were sold at Vertical Land stores in Panama City and Pensacola, Fla. from January 1992 through December 2006.

Consumers are urged to immediately stop using the window shades and contact Vertical Land at 800-423-8653 to receive a free repair kit.

* Update The CPSC now recommends a move towards cordless blinds *

Woven Storage Trunk Recall

On May 20, 2010, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and Target Corp. announced a safety recall of approximately 350,000 woven storage trunks, sold in Target stores nationwide and online from February 2009 through April 2010 for between $50 and $130.

The CPSC is recalling the storage trunks after receiving two reports of injuries that occurred when the lids of the trunks slammed closed on children. One 18-month-old girl reportedly suffered brain damage after the lid closed on the back of her neck and pinned her throat against the edge of the trunk.

The recall affects 14 different models of the storage trunks that measure more than 1.1 feet in length, width, and depth. Trunks made of woven rattan, abaca, or banana leaf with standard hinges have been recalled.

Consumers are advised to stop using the storage trunks immediately and return the item to any Target store for a full refund.