Recalls in November 2000

WASHINGTON, Nov. 30, 2000 -- Lifetime Hoan Corp. is voluntarily recalling about 132,000 fondue sets to replace their burners. Some sets have alcohol burners that can produce high flames beyond the intended cooking surface of the fondue pot. Another set, which uses chafing fuel, is being recalled because the chafing fuel holder could tip as it burns down. Both problems present potential fire and burn hazards to consumers.

The recall is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

CPSC and Lifetime Hoan Corp. have received eight reports of burners producing high flames. No injuries or property damage has been reported.

The fondue sets were sold under the brand names Farberware® (model nos. 86600 (two styles), 86700, 86702 and 76743) and Roshco® (model no. 58903). The model number is on the box, not on the fondue set. The brand name is found on the box. The fondue sets are stainless steel and include various components, including a fondue pot, burner, and fondue forks. Only the burners sold with these fondue sets are being recalled, not the entire fondue sets. Lifetime Hoan Corp. will help consumers identify if their burner is recalled.

Department, kitchen and home stores nationwide sold the fondue sets from June 1999 through October 2000 for about $20.

Consumers should stop using the burners immediately and contact the company to find out how to dispose of the burners. Consumers with recalled alcohol burners will be sent a $4 coupon toward the purchase of Sterno® canned chafing fuel. Consumers with recalled chafing fuel holders (model 86702 only) will be sent a new chafing fuel holder. Consumers should contact Lifetime Hoan Corp. at (877) 523-7190.

Consumers also can visit the firm's web site write to Lifetime Hoan Corp., P.O. Box 1854, Westbury, NY 11590.

No other fondue set is involved in this recall.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 28, 2000 -- Stack-On Products Co. is recalling about 3,300 gun cabinets with the brand name "Stack-On" or "Sentinel". The gun cabinets have push button locks that can be opened without the use of a key allowing unauthorized access to firearms.

Stack-On Products has received two reports of consumers being able to open locks without using their keys. No injuries have been reported.

The recall is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

Only those Stack-On brand gun cabinets and Sentinel gun cabinets with push button locks are being recalled. The brand name is printed on the front of the cabinet door. The model numbers being recalled are GCP-910 or GCP-914 for the Stack-On brand gun cabinets, and GPW-14 for the Sentinel brand gun cabinets. The gun cabinets are a burgundy color and hold either 10 or 14 rifles or shotguns up to 54-inches tall.

The cabinets are made of heavy steel with a single key, chrome-finished handle that moves a locking bar into place. The 14-gun cabinet measures 21-inches wide by 18-inches deep by 55-inches high. The 10-gun cabinet measures 27-inches wide by 10-inches deep by 55-inches high. The cabinets were sold with adjustable storage bins that attach to the door for storing pistols, ammunition and cleaners.

Outdoor and sporting good stores nationwide sold the Stack-On brand cabinets and Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. nationwide exclusively sold Sentinel brand cabinets from May 2000 through September 2000. These gun cabinets sold for between $240 and $300.

Consumers with these gun cabinets should contact Stack-On Products for information on receiving a free push button replacement lock. Stack-On Products can be reached at (800) 323-9601 between 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or go to the firm's web site at www.stack-on.com.

Until consumers receive a replacement lock, make sure guns are unloaded and stored in a secured location.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 22, 2000 -- Cooper Lighting is recalling about 34,000 recessed lights. The glass ring exterior portion or trim of these lights can fall from the fixture, posing a risk of lacerations and impact injuries.

Cooper Lighting has received four reports of glass rings falling from these light fixtures. In two incidents, consumers were hit on the head causing lacerations and bumps.

These recessed lights were sold from catalogs under Halo Brand Metropolitan Ice Series #945 and #1945. They have blue, rose and frosted clear glass rings that are about 5 inches in diameter. The glass ring assembly snaps into an installed ceiling fixture recessed light housing. Once installed, only the glass is visible. Only model numbers 945, 945H, 945BLUE, 945BLH, 945ROSE, 945ROH, 1945, 1945H, 1945BLUE, 1945BLH, 1945ROSE, and 1945ROH are involved in this recall. The model number appears on a white stick-on label on the black trim ring. Consumers should turn off the power before checking their lights. Consumers that have recessed lights with 5-inch exterior glass rings should call Cooper Lighting. The firm will provide instructions on how to remove the glass ring assembly to check lights to see if they are part of this recall.

Home Depot catalogs, electricians, and electrical supply companies sold these lights nationwide from September 1996 through October 2000 for about $40.

Consumers with the recalled lights will receive free replacement trims. The firm will send consumers free shipping labels to return the trims. For more information, call Cooper Lighting at (800) 954-7145 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or write to: Cooper Lighting, 1121 Highway 74 South, Peachtree City, GA 30269.

Lights without bracing clips are not part of this recall. The recall is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

WASHINGTON, Nov. 14, 2000 -- Emerson Tool Co. is recalling about 3.7 million Craftsman radial arm saws for repair. These radial arm saws were sold without a guard that covers the entire blade. Consumers have come into contact with the blade or have been hit by pieces of wood kicked back by the saws, resulting in severe injuries.

The recall is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

CPSC and Emerson have received about 300 reports of injuries while using these saws. Injuries include hand and finger amputations; lacerated hands, arms and fingers; fractured hands and fingers; and facial injuries.

Emerson is offering a free repair kit that provides a complete blade guard. Consumers should stop using their Craftsman radial arm saws immediately and call Emerson Tool Co. to determine if their saw is recalled and to ensure that they have proper safety and use instructions. Consumers should have the model and serial numbers of their saw available when they call.

The recalled Craftsman 8-, 8-, 9- and 10-inch radial arm saws have a model number beginning with 113, usually located on the base of the saw. The brand name "Craftsman®" and store name "Sears" are written on the saws.

Sears stores and catalogs sold the 8-, 9- and 10-inch saws from 1958 through 1992. The 8-inch saws were sold from 1990 through 1995. The saws sold for between $100 and $700, depending on the model, year purchased and accessories.

For older model saws and others that cannot accept the new guard, Emerson will provide $100 for the return of the saw carriage. Consumers must contact Emerson to receive a free repair kit or to return their saw carriage. Saws should not be returned to Sears.

The new guarding system provides a substantial safety improvement over guarding systems manufactured before 1993. Even if consumers have purchased a lower guard for their saw, they should still replace it with the new guard system.

For more information, call Emerson at (800) 511-2628 anytime, or visit the firm's web site at www.radialarmsawrecall.com.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 13, 2000 -- American Honda Motor Co. is voluntarily recalling approximately 126,000 All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs). Two models of Honda ATVs are being recalled for separate problems, both of which could result in riders losing control of the ATVs, crashing and suffering severe injuries or death.

The recall is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).

A mounting bracket on the front suspension of the Honda Rancher TRX350 models could be welded improperly to the frame. If this mounting bracket breaks, the vehicle could lose steering control and crash. Honda has received 98 reports of improper welds. No injuries or incidents have been reported.

These ATVs are red, orange or olive green. "Honda Rancher" is written on the sides of the ATV's fuel tank. The following chart lists the Honda TRX350 models, years and Vehicle Identification Number ranges. The VIN can be found on a bracket behind the front bumper.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 13, 2000 -- AMSAFE Commercial Products is voluntarily recalling about 1,150 Murray go-karts to repair their seat belts.

The seatbelts on these go-karts can unintentionally unlatch, posing a risk of serious injury to riders.

AMSAFE has not received any reports of injuries relating to this problem. This recall is being conducted to prevent the possibility of injuries.

The recall is being conducted in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).



The recall involves blue Murray Outrage go-karts with model number GT60102x92A or GT60304A, and manufacturing date codes from 00082 to 00147. The model number and date code are located on a decal behind the seat. "MURRAY" is written on the headrest of these go-karts. These go- karts are blue with neon-green pads on the brush bars.

Wal-Mart and Army Air Force Exchange Services (AAFES) stores nationwide sold these go-karts from March 2000 through October 2000 for about $850. Consumers should stop riding these go-karts immediately. Call Murray for instructions on how to get your go-kart repaired free of charge. Call Murray at (800) 251-8007 between 7 a.m. and midnight ET any day.

Go-karts with a dot after the model number are not part of the recall.

WASHINGTON, Nov. 2, 2000 -- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the Window Covering Safety Council are announcing a recall to repair horizontal window blinds to prevent the risk of strangulation to young children. The recall involves millions of window blinds with pull cords and inner cords that can form a loop and cause strangulation. About 85 million window blinds are sold each year.

Since 1991, CPSC has received reports of 130 strangulations involving cords on window blinds. 114 strangulations involve the outer pull cords, and 16 involve the inner cords that hold the blind slats.

In 1995, CPSC worked with the window covering industry to redesign new window blinds to eliminate the outer loop on the end of pull cords and provide free repair kits so consumers could fix their existing blinds. CPSC issued a safety alert (pdf format) about this hazard and what consumers can do about it, including a detailed description of the free repair kits. Window blinds sold since 1995 no longer have pull cords ending in loops.

Last year, CPSC began a new investigation of window blind deaths. In an extensive review of incidents, CPSC found that children could also become entangled in the inner cords that are used to raise the slats of blinds. These entrapments occur when a young child pulls on an inner cord and it forms a loop that the child can hang in. All of these deaths involved children in cribs placed next to windows. In most cases, the outer pull cords were placed out of reach, but the children strangled when they pulled on the inner cords of the blinds. The strangulation victims ranged in age from 9 months to 17 months.

As a result of the new CPSC investigation, the industry has further redesigned window blinds. Newly manufactured blinds have attachments on the pull cords so that the inner cords can't form a loop if pulled by a young child. Consumers with existing blinds should have them repaired. The repair can be done in minutes without removing the blinds.

Consumers who have window blinds with cords in their homes should call the Window Covering Safety Council toll-free (800) 506-4636 to receive a free repair kit for each set of blinds in the home. You can also visit their web site -- www.windowcoverings.org -- to get more information on checking your window covering. The repair kit will include small plastic attachments to prevent the inner cords from being pulled loose.

The kit also includes safety tassels for pre-1995 window blinds with outer pull cords ending in loops. Consumers should cut the loops and install a safety tassel at the end of each pull cord. Consumers who have vertical blinds, draperies or pleated shades with continuous loop cords should request special tie-downs to prevent strangulation in those window coverings.

Parents should keep window covering cords and chains permanently out of the reach of children. Never place a child's crib within reach of a window blind. Unless the cords can be completely removed from the child's reach, including when the child climbs on furniture, CPSC recommends that parents never knot or tie the cords together because this creates a new loop in which a child could become entangled.

Consumers who have young children may wish to consider purchasing cordless window coverings. These are made by a number of firms.