">HomeOwnerNut

Not to appear more controversial than I usually do, but there is a government agency I actually admire. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) can bring a considerable amount of pressure to bear on manufacturers of house goods, tools, furniture and appliances that go boom, catch fire or collect fingers and toes. Yes, you can imagine if there were true government watchdogs when it came to polluters, toxic food makers and the creeps who sell toilet seats to the military for $250. But for today, I am delighted that every month, I can troll the CPSC website and find manufacturers and distributors who, under pressure, voluntarily pull dubious products off the shelves.

By the way, should you own any of these items, contact the CPSC or manufacturer to see if you get a substitute or repaired replacement. Here are some recent recalls:

Furniture with a vengeance

The CPSC has convinced Dorel Asia to recall and repair 445,000 Vietnam-manufactured bunkos with guard rails that so far have cracked or broken, causing injuries. I frequently tell my CPA that if he stretches things, I insist on having the top bunk in our new, government-owned quarters. Now, though, I’ll take the lower. Check the furniture recall notice to see if you need to return your beds and have the kids camp in the tub for a while.

Your own stealth bomber

Smells like fish for dinner! Some 1.2 million Marineland Stealth and Stealth Pro Aquarium Heaters have been recalled by United Pet Group of Cincinnati. One consumer reported an eye injury when the heater broke in his hands, 38 reported fires resulting in property damage and 45 reported broken aquarium glass. The units, apparently, can overheat while in use, causing shattered glass and slippery fish underfoot.

Sheet sander from Satan

Some 300,000 Ryobi Sheet Sanders – quite a lot, really – with the model number S651D are being summoned back to the industrial womb by the manufacturer after the CPSC received more than 30 reports that broken fan pieces came flying from the tool, lacerating several consumers. The units were sold for about $30 at Home Depot, Gardner, Inc., Tap Enterprises, Inc., Direct Tools Factory Outlets, Amazon.com  and ToolKing.com, June 2005-August 2010.

Splish splash

Please heed the CPSC’s annual spring warning about maintaining pool safety. It’s but May 5, and already there have been 37 drownings and 38 near-drowning incidents reported across America. Read more about pool safety.