A line of Canon cameras with a rubber viewfinder that can cause skin irritations are among this week’s recalled consumer products. Others include electric heaters and grass trimmers that pose a fire hazard. ADVERTISING A line of Canon cameras with
A line of Canon cameras with a rubber viewfinder that can cause skin irritations are among this week’s recalled consumer products. Others include electric heaters and grass trimmers that pose a fire hazard.
Here’s a more detailed look:
CAMERAS
DETAILS: Canon PowerShot SX50 HS Digital Cameras. The words “PowerShot SX50 HS” are printed on the top of the camera. The affected cameras have serial numbers beginning with “69”, “70” or “71” and have “1” as the sixth digit of the serial number. The serial number is on the side or bottom of the camera housing,
WHY: A chemical used in the rubber part of the viewfinders on the camera can cause skin or eye irritation or an allergic reaction to the user.
INCIDENTS: One report of itching and two reports of eye redness and pain.
HOW MANY: About 14,000.
FOR MORE: Call Canon Customer Support Center at 855-226-3277 or visit www.usa.canon.com and click on “Recalled for Repair” for more information.
GRASS TRIMMERS
DETAILS: Hitachi Koki and Tanaka-brand hand-held grass trimmers sold from March 2010 through November 2013. Model and serial numbers are also located on the circular plate. Trimmers included in the recall have one of the following model numbers and have a serial number that begins with J, P or a number. They include Hitachi with model numbers CG22EAB(SLP), CG22EAD(SLP), CG22EAS(SLP), CG24EASP(SL), and CG27EASP(SL). They also include Tanaka with model numbers TCG22EAB(SLP), TCG22EAD(SLP), TCG22EAS(SLP), TCG24EASP(SL), TCG27EASP(SL), TCG40EAS(LP) , and TCG40EAS(P).
WHY: The grass trimmers can overheat, posing fire and burn hazards to the consumer.
INCIDENTS: None reported.
HOW MANY: About 115,000 units in the U.S. and 12,400 in Canada.
FOR MORE: Call Hitachi Koki U.S.A. Ltd. at 855-880-6638 from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or online at www.hitachipowertools.com and click on “Safety Notice Recall” for more information.
AIR BLOWERS
DETAILS: Air movers/blowers distributed by Packaging Tape Inc. They are used to dry floors in commercial and residential buildings. Models OPS-2500-CF and OPS-2500-CFR are black and model OPS-2200Y-CF is yellow. The model number is available on the sales invoice. The CleanFreak.com logo and phone number are printed on a white label with green lettering on the front of the unit and on a silver or yellow label on the back of the unit. They were sold at Packaging Tape warehouses in Wisconsin and online at www.CleanFreak.com, www.AirMovers.com, www.FloorBuffers.com and www.PTIPackaging.com from February 2008 through December 2010.
WHY: The air mover/blower’s thermal switch can fail and cause the motor to overheat, posing a fire hazard
INCIDENTS: Eight reports of incidents, including four reports of fire, one of which was associated with about $225,000 reported in property damage.
HOW MANY: About 2,800.
FOR MORE: Call Packaging Tape at 855-800-1091 or visit www.CleanFreak.com and click on the “Recall Alert!” button for more information.
DISK BRAKE CALIPERS
DETAILS: Spyre and Spyre SLC dual-piston mechanical disc brake calipers sold as original and aftermarket equipment in 2013. Spyre calipers have a black anodized caliper body and a silver actuator arm with “Spyre” on it. Spyre SLC calipers have a polished aluminum caliper body and a black composite actuator arm with “Spyre SLC” on it. Recalled calipers have a fastening screw with a hollow six-pointed star-shaped head with no markings on it and a 3-millimeter pad adjust screw on the outward side. The recalled calipers were also sold as original equipment on bicycles manufactured or distributed by BTI, Diamond Back Bicycles, Giant Bicycles, Hans Johnson Co (HJC), Kona, Marin Bikes, Quality Bicycle Products and Raleigh America. They were sold at retail bicycle shops nationwide and online at universalcycles.com, tektro-usa.com and trpbrakes.com from April 2013 to December.
WHY: The brake cable actuator arm can over-rotate, dislocating parts, causing the brake calipers to fail.
INCIDENTS: One report of a brake caliper failing in this manner. There have been no reports of injuries or property damage.
HOW MANY: About 2,000.
FOR MORE: Call Tektro USA or TRP customer service at 877-807-4162 or send email to infotrpbrakes.com, or visit www.tektro-usa.com or www.trpbrakes.com and click on “View All” in the “Latest News” box, then click on the “Spyre Recall” for more information.
MAGNETS
DETAILS: Design Ideas and Neatlife Rubber Ducky Magnets, and Design Ideas Blowfish and Splat Magnets. A small magnet is affixed to the underside of the brightly colored plastic objects which were sold in sets of four or six. Model number 3205121 (duck), 993205114 (duck), 3205122 (blowfish) or 3205078 (splat) is printed on the bottom of the packaging. “Magnets” and the Design Ideas’ logo are printed on the front of the package. Rubber ducky magnets were sold at Nordstrom’s Rack stores, novelty and gift stores, book stores and art stores nationwide from March 2007 through September 2013. Blowfish magnets were sold at novelty and gift stores, book stores and art stores nationwide from March 2007 through March 2011. Splat magnets were sold at CB2 stores, novelty and gift stores, office supply stores and art stores nationwide from November 2012 to February 2014.
WHY: The small magnets can easily detach from the product. If swallowed, magnets can link together inside a child’s intestines and clamp onto body tissues, causing intestinal obstructions, perforations, sepsis and death. Internal injury from magnets can pose serious lifelong health effects.
INCIDENTS: None reported.
HOW MANY: About 21,700 Rubber Ducky Magnets, 3,200 Blowfish Magnets and 2,000 Splat Magnets.
FOR MORE: Call Design Ideas at 800-426-6394 or visit www.designideas.net and click on “Safety Notices and Patents” for more information.
ELECTRIC SPACE HEATERS
DETAILS: Duraflame electric space heaters, model DFS-220, sold in three colors: black, red and white. The heaters’ flame effect resembles a fireplace and works with or without heat. The Duraflame logo appears on the front of the unit. The model number can be found on a white label located on the heater’s back panel. They were sold from August 2013 through January 2014.
WHY: The heater can overheat and cause the units to melt, catch fire and ignite nearby items, posing a fire and burn hazard to consumers.
INCIDENTS: 32 reports of heaters burning or melting, including eight reports of the units catching fire, one of which resulted in minor property damage. No injuries have been reported.
HOW MANY: About 31,000.
FOR MORE: Call Twin-Star at 855-884-9651 or visit www.twinstarhome.com and click on “Product Recall” in red at the bottom of the page under the Support column for more information.
