200,000 Frigidaire and Kenmore ranges recalled that pose fire hazard

Frigidaire has recalled 200,000 Frigidaire and Kenmore smoothtop ranges after getting 126 reports of the units turning on spontaneously or failing to turn off, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The company has received four reports of minor burns and two of minor property damage.

Depending on the model, the surface heating elements can turn on spontaneously without being switched on; fail to turn off after being switched off; or heat to different temperatures than selected. This poses a fire and burn hazard. The recall involves Frigidaire, Frigidaire Gallery, Frigidaire Professional and Kenmore Elite smoothtop electric ranges with rotary knobs and digital displays. Check the recall notice for model and serial numbers.

Made in the U.S., the ranges were sold at Sears and other national chain and independent retailers nationwide from June 2001 through August 2009 for between $1,000 and $2,500.

The CPSC is advising consumers to stop using the ranges and contact Frigidaire or Sears to schedule a free repair. For more information, contact Frigidaire at (800) 449-9812 between 8 a.m. and midnight ET Monday through Saturday or visit the firm’s recall Web site at www.smoothtoprangerecall.com. Consumers who purchased their range at Sears should call Sears at (800) 449-9810 between 8 a.m. and 10 p.m. ET Monday through Saturday.

Maytag reissues refrigerator recall after more fires

After more reports of fires and property damage, Maytag has expanded an earlier recall of 1.6 million refrigerators by an additional 46,000 units because of an electrical failure. The recall includes six brands: Maytag, Jenn-Air, Amana, Admiral, Magic Chef, Performa by Maytag and Crosley.

When the recall was first announced in March, Maytag had received 41 reports of the relays catching fire, including 16 that resulted in property damage ranging from smoke damage to extensive kitchen damage. Since then the company has received 23 additional incident reports including four with property damage. The defect is in the relay, the component that turns on the refrigerator's compressor, which can overheat.

The recall involves both side-by-side and top-freezer refrigerators but not those with bottom freezers. (Check the first and second recall notices for serial and model numbers.) They were sold at department and appliance stores and by homebuilders nationwide from September 2000 through May 2004 for between $350 and $1,600.

Owners of the units should contact Maytag to determine if their refrigerator is included in the recall and if so, to schedule a free in-home repair. Consumers should not return the refrigerator to the retailer where it was purchased. For more information, contact Maytag toll-free at (866) 533-9817 anytime, or visit the Maytag Web site.

Frigidaire recalls 35,000 washers due to fire risk

Frigidaire has recalled 35,000 washing machines because a defect could lead to a fire. The washers were sold under the Crosley, Frigidaire, Kelvinator, Kenmore, Wascomat, and White-Westinghouse brand names. There are no reports of injuries.

These are new washers, made in the U.S. and sold by Sears and other retailers from February through May of this year. To determine whether your front loader, top loader, or laundry center has been recalled, check the serial numbers here. 

If you have a recalled model, unplug the machine and stop using it immediately. If you bought it at Sears, call them at (888) 549-5870 or log on to www.sears.com. Otherwise, call Frigidaire at (800) 734-4519 or log on to www.pumprecall.com to schedule a free repair.

Washers and dryers make unsafe hiding places

When we were kids, one of our favorite hide-and-seek hiding places was in the clothes dryer.  As this video shows, we weren't the only ones to find clever hiding spots in the laundry room.

But it's no game; hiding in a washer or dryer can be dangerous.  Earlier this month, a Greenville, PA, family went into a panic when their 2-year-old daughter disappeared while playing hide-and-seek.  The family dog discovered her alsleep in the drawer beneath a clothes dryer. Last February, a 4-year-old Mission Viejo, CA, girl wasn't so lucky.  When she climbed into the family's front-loading washing machine, her 15-month-old-brother managed to turn the machine on.  She died of sustained injuries.

Our own investigation of laundry-room hazards revealed a disturbing number of kids - more than 2,000 each year - get seriously hurt, and a few die, after reaching, climbing, or falling into washers and dryers, or toppling down from them. The now-popular front-loading washer design can be particularly dangerous to hiding kids since the controls are often located on the front panel within easy reach of a young child, and the doors lock when the machine is started.  What makes these easy hiding places is that the doors on these machines are often left open as a strategy to minimize mold growth around the rubber gasket, a common complaint for front-loaders. Plus, laundry machines are now being moved up to the living quarters, where young kids can have unrestricted access.

Manufacturers warn about allowing children to play on or climb in these appliances.  Miele has develop a child-entrapment sensing system to prevent such tragedies.  With any machine, even though the risk is low, it's worth taking precautions to keep little ones away from the washer and dryer, whether you're doing the laundry or just playing hide-and-seek.

- Carolyn Cairns and Don Mays

This week in safety: Mop recall may have owners steamed

If you're like most people, mopping the floor is one of your least favorite chores. But to add injury to insult, just imagine getting shocked or burned while doing it. That's what happened to at least 18 people using the H2O Mop Steam Cleaner made by Thane. This week 580,000 of the steam cleaners were recalled because the power cord can unexpectedly wear down and expose the wiring, posing a shock and burn hazard.

The recall involves a certain series of reference numbers, which you can find on the recall notice. The souped-up mops were sold directly to consumers by Thane through television infomercials; on the Web at www.thane.com; by QVC through its televised shopping program; and by retailers nationwide from June 2007 through December 2008 for about $100.

Everyone who bought a unit directly from Thane is being sent a repair kit. Those who bought it elsewhere should contact Thane at (800) 485-0017 or visit the firm's Web site. Of course, there's always the old reliable rag mop.

More safety news
Opinion: Chemicals and our health
The New York Times
However careful you are about your health, your body is almost certainly home to troubling chemicals called phthalates. These are ubiquitous in modern life, found in plastic bottles, cosmetics, some toys, hair conditioners, and fragrances -- and many scientists have linked them to everything from sexual deformities in babies to obesity and diabetes. Read more ...

Congress seeks CPSC funds above Obama's request but still below CPSIA figure
Product Safety Letter
Under appropriation bills that passed House and Senate committees last week, the CPSC is set to get more funding in fiscal 2010 than requested by President Obama. Nonetheless, those bills would fund the agency below the $118 million called for in the CPSIA. Read more ...

How safe are carnival amusement rides?
The Examiner.com
Summer is the season for amusement parks, fireman's carnivals, and county fairs.  Many children attend several such events each year.  Parents may never stop to think about the safety of amusement rides until they hear about an accident where a child is injured. Read more ...

Pool safety even more of a concern with foreclosures
The Sun Sentinel
The foreclosure crisis has pounded South Florida, leaving many neighborhoods dotted with abandoned homes. Not only are these vacant properties an eyesore, and a potential risk from debris in a hurricane, but many come with murky, unsupervised pools that prove irresistible for some curious little ones not under the watchful eye of adults. Read more ...

Bathtub accidents injure 43,000 kids each year
The Atlanta Journal Constitution
More than 43,000 children are injured in slips and falls in bathtubs each year in the U.S. researchers report. Earlier studies of bathtub injuries concentrated on burns from hot water and drowning and near-drowning. This is the first study that looked at injuries caused by slips and falls, according to the report published in the July nline edition of Pediatrics. Read more ...

Fire retardants and baby products: This isn't kid stuff
The Los Angeles Times
For decades, California has been the only state in the nation to require the use of highly toxic fire-retardant chemicals on cribs, infant carriers, strollers, nursing pillows, changing tables, high chairs and other baby products. But there is a complete lack of evidence that using the chemicals saves lives, and a growing body of research suggesting that exposure to fire retardants is dangerous. Read more ...

Safety news from the CR blogs

• Cars: Choose the right car for your student
• Cars: Test driving vehicle history reports
• Cars: Bad road conditions contribute to crashes
• Home&Garden: Don't drink and mow
• Babies&Kids: Video report on how to fit a bike helmet
• Babies&Kids: Can I skip a convertible car seat?
• Health: Are sunless tanning products safe?
• Health: Skinny jeans can have some unattractive side effects

Recalls
We really hate to make light of recalls because they are serious business. But this week two recalls, taken together, conjured up an image of a cool singles pad gone badly awry. The first was of 500 leather butterfly chairs with a tendency to collapse.  The second was something the chair occupants might collapse onto -- a leather shag rug. The problem with the 400 rugs is that they do not meet federal flammability standards. Enough said. Here are some other recalls made this week:

• 25,000 Evenflo Switch-A-Roo telephone toys (choking hazard) [See image above]
• 7,000 Propac Distributing youth hooded sweatshirts (strangulation hazard)
• 4,400 hooded jackets with drawstrings sold at Meijers Stores (strangulation hazard)
• 3,000 pairs Rossignol cross-country ski boots (fall hazard)
• 3,000 Energizer Light On Demand wallplate nightlights (fire hazard)

Haier fined $587,500 for failing to report defective fan

Haier America Trading of New York City has agreed to pay a civil penalty of $587,500 to settle allegations that the appliance manufacturer failed to inform the Consumer Product Safety Commission of a defect and fire hazard in one of its oscillating tower fans that led to a recall of 150,000 fans in 2005.

From May 2004 to October 2004, Haier received as many as 14 reports of incidents involving the fans (model FTM140GG), including some fires and one report of injuries. The fire hazard was caused by repeated bending of the fan's wires during oscillation resulting in broken wires. Haier finally reported the incidents to the CPSC in December 2004, but only after the CPSC asked the company for a report. In November 2005, Haier America and the CPSC announced a recall of the fans.

Federal law requires manufacturers, distributors, and retailers to report to the CPSC immediately (within 24 hours) after obtaining information reasonably supporting the conclusion that a product contains a defect that could create a substantial product hazard, creates an unreasonable risk of serious injury or death, or violates any consumer product safety rule or any other rule, regulation, standard, or ban enforced by the CPSC.

"Prompt reporting in this case could have prevented fires and injuries," said newly-installed CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum. "Companies have a responsibility to immediately let us know of potential hazards, and we will hold them to their duty."

Today's recalls: Faulty smoke alarms and tea kettles

The Consumer Product Safety Commission today announced recalls of two products found in many homes because they can pose burn or fire hazards. Recalled were 94,000 Kidde smoke alarms because they may fail to sound an alert and 142,000 Copco tea kettles with ill-fitting lids. A number of second-degree burn injuries have been associated with the tea kettles.

Copco Harmony tea kettles
Wilton, the distributor of the Copco kettles, has gotten reports of  25 incidents of lids coming loose, some which resulted in burns to hands and fingers. The recall includes stainless steel kettles with both brushed and polished finishes and enamel kettles in red, white, black, turquoise, orange, yellow and blue. The kettles were sold by retailers nationwide from March 2006 through June 2009 for about $30.

The company is offering two different remedies depending on which type of kettle a consumer has. Owners of the stainless kettles should contact Wilton for a free replacement lid that fits more snugly. Wilton is offering owners of the enamel tea kettles a free replacement tea kettle or a refund.

For more information, contact Wilton Industries at (800) 794-5866 or visit the firm’s Web site at www.copco.com.

Kidde dual sensor smoke alarms
Kidde is recalling its PI 2000 alarms because an electrostatic discharge can damage the unit, causing it to fail. Kidde has received two reports of smoke alarm malfunctions involving electrostatic discharge during installation. No injuries have been reported.

The recalled alarms can be identified by two buttons: “Hush” and “Push and hold to test weekly”  located on the front/center of the alarm. The model number and date code are on the back of the smoke alarm. Only date codes 2008 Aug. 01 through 2009 May 04 are included in this recall. The alarms were sold at retail, department, and hardware stores and through electrical distributors nationwide from August 2008 through May 2009 for between $30 and $40.

The CPSC is advising consumers to contact Kidde to receive a free replacement smoke alarm. For more information, contact Kidde at (877) 524-2086 or visit the firm’s Web site at www.kidde.com.

Black & Decker recalls 670,000 coffeemakers because of burn hazard

After getting at least 10 reports of second-degree burns, Black & Decker today recalled 670,000 "Spacemaker" coffeemakers in the U.S. and Canada because the brew basket can shift out of alignment causing hot water to overflow. The company has received 282 reports of hot water overflowing including the burn incidents, according to the U.S. and Canadian recall notices.

The Spacemaker coffeemaker has an under-cabinet mount, programmable digital clock/timer, removable water reservoir, and either a 12-cup glass carafe or an 8-cup thermal carafe. Only model numbers ODC440, ODC440B, ODC450 and ODC460 are included in the recall. The model number is on the back of the coffeemaker.

Made in China, the coffeemakers were sold at major retailers nationwide, including K-Mart, Kohl’s, Target, Walmart, Bed, Bath & Beyond and Amazon.com, from March 2006 through March 2009 for between $60 and $80. In Canada, they were also sold at Canadian Tire, Home Hardware, London Drugs, Sears Canada and Zellers.

The distributor, Applica Consumer Products of Miramar, Fla. is asking consumers to stop using the coffeemakers and contact the company for a free replacement brew basket. Call Applica toll-free at (866) 668-4442 between 8:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm's Web site at www.acprecall.com.

Viking recalls 45,000 built-in refrigerators

Imagine building your dream kitchen featuring a shiny built-in Viking refrigerator. Now imagine opening the door of that pricey appliance and having it fall off. That's what happened to at least 57 homeowners including four who suffered broken toes or fingers, bruises and strains. Others reported damage to their floors or countertops, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

As a result, Viking today recalled 45,000 built-in side-by-side (48-inches wide) and bottom freezer (36-inches wide) units sold between July 1999 and April 2006 for $4,725 to $6,400. The refrigerators came in stainless steel and various colors and wood finishes.

Specifically, the screws attaching the pivot plate of the top hinge on the door may shear causing the door to detach from the hinge pivot plate and fall. The recall includes 21 different model numbers, which can be found on the recall notice. Viking owners can also go to the company's Web site and type in their model and serial numbers to see if their refrigerator is included in the recall. The model and serial numbers are located either behind the produce drawer or on the ceiling of the interior.

Consumers who own the refrigerators should contact Viking to schedule a free in-home repair. Homeowners are advised not to use the recalled units if the door isn’t sealing properly, is sagging, or fails to open and close properly. If the door is functioning properly, consumers may continue to use the refrigerator until it has been repaired.

For more information, contact Viking toll-free at (888) 345-2650 from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit Viking's Web site at www.vikingrange.com.

Starbucks recalls 530,000 'Barista' coffee grinders

Starbucks today recalled 530,000 'Barista' blade coffee grinders because they can turn on unexpectedly or fail to turn off. Starbucks has gotten 176 reports of the grinders malfunctioning including three that resulted in hand lacerations when the grinders turned on unexpectedly during cleaning, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said.

The recall involves models in eight different colors from Starbucks and one brown metallic model branded Seattle's Best. Made by Tsann Kuen (Zhangzhou) Enterprises of China, the grinders were sold in Starbucks and Seattle’s Best coffee stores nationwide from March 2002 through March 2009 for about $30.

Starbucks is asking consumers to stop using the coffee grinders and to contact the company to receive a free replacement. Call Starbucks toll free at (866) 276-2950 between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. MT or visit the company’s Web site at www.starbucks.com for more information.