The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) today announced a provisional settlement with one of the nation's largest children's product manufacturers for the largest civil penalty levied in CPSC history.
Graco Children's Products Inc. faces a $4 million fine for failing to inform the government in a timely manner about more than 12 million products that posed a danger to young children nationwide.
CPSC and Graco also are announcing the recall today of about 1.2 million toddler beds, sold between February 1994 and March 2001, because a child's arm or leg can become entrapped in the guard rails or footboard. The company's failure to report the toddler beds is one of the violations leading to today's penalty.
'CPSC is at the forefront of protecting children from products that can cause serious injuries,' stated CPSC Chairman Hal Stratton. 'Today's announcement demonstrates our commitment to protecting American families by holding companies accountable for keeping safety information from us.'
Graco, which acquired the Century brand name in 1998, is now owned by Newell Rubbermaid Inc.
From 1991 through 2002, Graco and Century failed to report defects in juvenile products that the Commission said could create substantial product hazards or unreasonable risks of injury or death to young children.
According to the CPSC, the company failed to report hundreds of incidents and injuries involving 16 different products. The products, all used by young children, include infant carriers, high chairs, infant swings, strollers and toddler beds. The injuries range from contusions and fractures to strangulation (including some fatalities).
The CPSC and Graco are also finalizing corrective action plans for two additional products that were manufactured between 1994 and 2001 and are addressed by today's penalty.
Stratton added, 'We want companies to take their reporting responsibilities very seriously. The action taken by Newell Rubbermaid to identify these critical safety failures by companies they purchased and take the necessary measures to improve product safety is a positive step that other companies should follow.'
Product | Hazard | Injuries | Years of Manufacture | CPSC Recall Link |
Century's 'Assura' Infant Car Seat/Carrier | Carrier's handle lock breaks. | Babies can fall from the carrier. | 1991 through 1997 | |
Century Stroller | Locking system failed, seat detached or stroller collapsed. | Babies can fall to the ground or suffer impact injuries. | 1996 through 2000 | |
Graco High Chair | Two-piece legs could come apart, unit could fall to the ground. | Babies can fall to the ground. | 1995 through 1997 | |
Graco Carrier/
Swing Seats | Carrier handles do not lock in place properly. | Babies can fall to the ground. | 1993 through 1997 | |
Graco Infant Swing | Restraint and tray lock failures. | Babies can fall to the ground or slide out of seat leg openings and become entrapped. | Before November 1997 | |
Graco Travel Lite Infant Swing | Seats and restraint system failures. | Babies pitch forward or to the side or fall to the ground. | 2003 | |
Graco Toddler Bed | Entrapment in side rails or footboard. | Toddlers' limbs can become entrapped. | 1994 through 2001 |
