In May 28, 2011 a 14 year-old boy in Riverhead, N.Y. suffered severe third-degree burns from a fire pot that exploded as he poured fuel into it. Today he still struggles to recover. In June, Brent Miller, a 51-year-old property manager from Kissimmee, Florida, died after a 33-day hospitalization. Miller was pouring fuel into a fire pot, when it exploded, setting Miller, his wife, plants and other objects on the lanai aflame. Scenarios such as these have prompted the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission to regulate so-called fire pots, and the alcohol-based gel that fuels them. Fire pots are portable, decorative “lighting accents,” used both indoors and out. According to the CPSC, firepots were introduced into the marketplace in 2010, with 2.5 million units sold since then. They are often ceramic; some are partially [...] Read more »
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation withAmerican Tack & Hardware Co. Inc. (AmerTac), of Saddle River, N.J., today announced a voluntary recall of the LED Night Light. An electrical short circuit in the night light can cause it to overheat and smolder or melt, posing fire and burn hazards to consumers. AmerTac has received 25 reports of the night lights smoking, burning, melting and charring. No injuries have been reported. Three AmerTac night lights are being recalled. Each has a model name and two model numbers. The model name and a secondary model number appear only on the packaging. The basic model number appears on the back of the night light. The night lights are rectangular, about 2-3/16 inches high, 3-1/2 inches wide and 1-1/4 inches deep. The front housings for each are either [...] Read more »
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced today that Hewlett-Packard Company (HP), of Palo Alto, Calif., has agreed to pay a civil penalty of $425,000. Thesettlement agreement (pdf) has been provisionally accepted by the Commission (3-1). The settlement resolves staff allegations that HP knowingly failed to report immediately to CPSC, as required by federal law, that certain lithium-ion battery packs contained a defect or created an unreasonable risk of serious injury or death. The lithium-ion battery packs can overheat, posing a fire and burn hazard to consumers. The packs were shipped with new HP Notebook computers, sold as accessories or provided as spare parts for various HP models. CPSC staff alleges that by September 2007, HP knew of about 22 incidents associated with the lithium-ion battery packs. At least two of these incidents resulted in [...] Read more »
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Hamilton Beach Brands Inc., of Glen Allen, Va., today announced a voluntary recall of the Hamilton Beach® classic chrome 2-slice toasters. When the toasters are first plugged into the outlets, the heating element can be energized although the toaster lifter is in the up or off position, which can pose a fire hazard if the toaster is near flammable items. Hamilton Beach has received 5 reports of toasters being energized when first plugged into an outlet. There have been no reports of injuries or property damage. The Hamilton Beach recall involves model 22602 toasters. The model number is printed on the bottom of the toaster. The toaster has a chromed steel exterior, a front control panel with a rotary toast shade selector and function buttons arranged [...] Read more »
