Loading ...
It’s time again for a roundup of tools and appliances that manufacturers have recalled thanks to pressure from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). In rounding up this installment, I discovered that the CPSC actually has some muscle. In negotiations with the watchdog, Hewlett-Packard Company has agreed to pay a civil penalty of $425,000 for not reporting hazardous defects in lithium-ion battery packs.
According to the CPSC, HP released 32,000 lithium-ion battery packs (since recalled) knowing that there were defects that caused hospitalization. And now, onto recent recalls:
Trimmer tool with a vengeance
Photo by CPSC
American Honda has recalled more than 17,000 model number HHT35SUKAT gas trimmers after receiving consumer complaints of broken or cracked shafts. Once the shaft is broken, the CPSC says, all bets are off as to whether garden plants or human flesh gets trimmed. New license plate: Guns don’t kill people; garden tools kill people.
You’re fired
Photo by CPSC
The roofing industry has recognized the green building trends across the country and some products are truly welcome with consumers. Not so, however, with Suntech America’s SolarBlend roof tiles. The CPSC reports that connectors between the heat-gathering tiles and the wiring to the systems can come loose, creating fire hazards. The systems cost between 15,000 and $100,000, depending on the size of your home. Check with Suntech to see if your tiles are involved in the recall.
STIHL crazy after all these years
Photo by CPSC
Talk about garden tools on the warpath, Stihl’s MS 391 chain saws have been recalled after it was discovered the unit’s flywheels have a tendency to crack and go airborne. At that point it’s not necessary that they strike anyone, since their freedom was not part of the mechanical considerations in designing the saw. Check for your model’s serial number at the CPSC report page.
Whew. Home chores and improvements are hard enough without the tools turning on you!
