Don't get burned by these recalled countertop appliances

Three countertop appliances have been recalled over the past five days by the Consumer Product Safety Commission because the small appliances pose a fire hazard. The largest recall included 482,000 Hamilton Beach and Proctor-Silex toasters because they can remain "on" after popping up and cause nearby items to ignite. JCPenney recalled 27,000 deep fat fryers with faulty heating elements and QVC and Tristar pulled back 13,500 electric grills that can ignite if used with cooking oil or spray. At least three burns have been reported in connection with the fryer and grill. Owners of any of the recalled items are advised to stop using them and follow the remedy outlined in the CPSC's recall notices at the links below.

Hamilton Beach and Proctor-Silex toasters
How many: 482,000
Description: The recalled toasters are black, red, white, chrome or brushed chrome with 2-slice or 4-slice openings. Hamilton Beach or Proctor-Silex is printed on the side of the toasters. Only specific series codes of each model are included in this recall. The model number and series code are printed on the bottom of the toasters. (The non-sequential model numbers include: 22145B, 22145BC, 22450, 22559, 22625, 22627C, 22635, 22657, 22658, 22779, 22900, 22903, 22903H, 24450, 24559, 24657, 24779.)
Why: The toasters can remain “on” (energized) after popping up, and can ignite flammable items covering or in contact with the toaster.
Incidents: Hamilton Beach has received at least 63 reports of toasters that remained “on” despite being in the “up” position. There have been no reports of injuries or fires.
Sold: At department stores, mass merchandisers, grocery stores, home center stores, and other retail stores nationwide, and various online retailers from August 2007 through February 2008 for between $13 and $40.
What to do: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled toasters and contact Hamilton Beach for instructions on how receive a free replacement toaster at (800) 574-6800 anytime, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.hamiltonbeach.com for Hamilton Beach toasters, and www.proctorsilex.com for Proctor-Silex toasters.

Cooks deep fryers (JCPenney)
How many: 27,000
Description: The Cooks deep fryer has a brushed stainless steel exterior, a wire mesh basket with a handle, a lid with a window and black handles. The deep fryer has a 1/3-gallon capacity. “Cooks” is stamped on the side and model number 22016 is printed on the bottom.
Why: The deep fryer has a faulty heating element that can cause it to overheat, posing a fire and burn hazard to consumers.
Injuries: JCPenney is aware of five incidents involving the deep fryers, including one report of a minor burn and three reports of damaged countertops.
Sold: At JCPenney’s stores nationwide, in the catalog and at www.jcp.com from August 2007 through January 2008 for about $50.
What to do: Consumers should immediately stop using the deep fryer and return it to the nearest JCPenney store for a full refund. For additional information, contact JCPenney toll-free at (888) 333-6063 anytime, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.jcp.com.

QVC and Tristar electric contact grills
How many: 13,500
Description: This recall involves a dual surface electric contact grill sold under the “Hulk Hogan’s Ultimate Grill” brand. The grills are silver/gray in color, have removable cooking plates, a cassette to catch drippings, and fold for storage or transport. Model number PZ-3012 is printed on a silver label attached to the back of the grills.
Why: Cooking oils or sprays applied to the grill’s cooking plates before preheating can cause the oil to ignite and/or flare up. Cooking sprays can ignite and/or flare up if used on the grill at any time.
Injuries: QVC and Tristar have received five reports of the grill igniting or flaring up, including two reports of minor burns.
Sold: At QVC through its television station, Web page, toll-free number, and its employee, retail and Studio stores; and through Tristar’s Web site www.hulkhogangrill.com, and a direct response television commercial from May 2007 through August 2007 for about $100.
What to do: Consumers should immediately stop using cooking oils on the grill prior to preheating. Cooking sprays should not be used on the grill at anytime. Consumers will receive a revised instruction manual with a cooking spray/oil use warning. QVC has sent warning notices to consumers to whom it sold the product directly. Tristar will do the same. For additional information, contact QVC at (800) 367-9444 between 7 a.m. and 1 a.m. ET daily, or visit the company’s Web site at www.qvc.com. Consumers who purchased the grill from Tristar can call (800)718-5135 between 9 a.m. and 7 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday, or visit the company’s Web site at www.tristarproductsinc.com.

Time to spring ahead and into action

Here's a reminder for those of us who may not be paying close attention: daylight-saving time starts this Sunday, March 9th, at 2 a.m. Even though the old adage tells us we are springing ahead, it's still winter and therefore understandable that this one-time rite of spring may have caught many of us by surprise. While you're getting used to the new routine—this is the second year the time has shifted three weeks early—it's a good time to take stock. When you're resetting your watches and clocks (don't forget the one in your car), use this annual event as a reminder to perform some tasks that will enhance your family's safety year-round.

Clockwork
In addition to your timepieces, reset the clocks on appliances and electronics. Some newer appliances and electronics are equipped with a microchip that automatically resets clock displays at the beginning and end of DST; many of those may still need to be reset manually, due to the change in schedule (and you may need to reset them again in three weeks, when they "think" they're supposed to reset themselves). To facilitate the process, make a list of all devices that you need to reset manually: clocks, TVs, DVD players, VCRs, fax machines, cameras and thermostats. (It's especially important to reprogram your thermostat so that the heat in your home switches on and off at the right time.) Reset everything on the list in one session so that no appliance or electronic is forgotten.

Smoke and CO alarms
Replace batteries in all smoke and carbon-monoxide alarms. Always use fresh batteries, not those you "borrow" from other equipment. And follow manufacturer's instructions to ensure that these essential devices are working properly. Also, replace any smoke alarm that's 10 or more years old and any CO alarm five or more years old with a new model. You'll find the manufacture date on the alarm. See our report on carbon-monoxide alarms and our interactive on smoke alarms for more information.

On the road
Drive safely. Remember, an extra hour of light in the evening means dawn will break an hour later as well. So, if you have to get on the road before it gets light to take the kids to school or start your commute, be extra alert for children, animals and runners. I's also a good time to inspect vehicle lights. Take a look at the entire lighting system in your car to ensure that all lights are working properly. Clean the headlights and make sure they are correctly aligned according to the owner's manual.

In case of emergency
Update your family disaster plan. To respond properly to a natural disaster or other cataclysmic event, you need to have a plan in place and the necessary supplies on hand, and be prepared to act. See our free emergency guide to preparing for any storm or disaster. While you're making these preparations also check storage areas for any hazardous materials. Make sure to properly dispose of any materials that are outdated, no longer used, or in poor condition. Make sure those you keep are out of reach of kids or pets.

You can find some more information on preparing for daylight-saving time on our Home & Garden blog.

Sears to fix tippy ranges

Sears, the nation’s largest appliance retailer, has agreed to address a dangerous home hazard under a proposed settlement of a recent class-action lawsuit.

We first wrote about the hazard—stove tip-overs and cooking fires—last year. The problem: Over the past seven years when millions of Americans had freestanding gas or electric ranges installed in their homes, Sears representatives failed to secure the ranges with a bracket to keep the stoves from tipping over. This can happen when weight is applied to an open oven door.  Since 1991, brackets have been included with ranges that comply with the Underwriters Laboratories' safety standard for ranges.  But an internal memo from Sears said that the safety brackets were installed in only an estimated five percent of the ranges sold.  Public Citizen, a consumer advocacy group, says unsecured stoves have accounted for at least 33 deaths and 84 injuries since 1980.

Now, Sears is proposing to correct that problem—at least for its customers who paid for delivery and installation of freestanding or slide-in ranges between July 2, 2000 and  September 18, 2007.  According to the proposed settlement, Sears will offer free installation of antitip devices to eligible customers who do not have such a device already installed or pay up to $100 in reimbursement to those eligible customers who paid for (but never got) installation of an antitip device after Sears delivered the range. Alternatively, Sears will give consumers a $50 gift card good towards purchase of a new Sears range.

If all 4 million eligible consumers participate in this program, the corrective action could cost Sears $546 million, one economist estimates, plus up to $17 million in attorney fees.

We are pretty certain that the problem is not unique to ranges sold at Sears. The retailer's ranges are made by other manufacturers that also sell their own branded products. Those companies were not named in Public Citizen's lawsuit. Public Citizen said it will petition the Consumer Product Safety Commission to recall the millions of other stoves installed by other retailers—and ask for a stronger safety standard to prevent tip-overs as well as a  public alert.

For more information on the settlement, consumers can consult the settlement Web site.
 

Oscillating space heaters may pose an added risk

Using any heating appliance comes with a  certain level of risk, and electric space heaters are among the riskiest.  According to the U.S. Fire Administration, space-heater fires in U.S. residences are more deadly than other types of heating fires. They account for 40 percent of heating-related deaths and 30 percent of injuries associated with heating.  More than 25,000 residential fires every year are associated with the use of space, or room, heaters, according to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Each year, more than 300 people die in these fires, and another 6,000 people receive injuries severe enough to require hospital treatment.

In the past 10 years, the CPSC has issued recalls of 32 electric heaters of all different types.  Six of those were oscillating heaters—those with motors that move them side-to-side to distribute the heat. Most of the recalls for oscillating heaters were due to overheating, smoking and, in some cases, fires.  Those risks are present with all electric heaters but oscillating heaters may have additional risks.  We wonder if oscillating heaters are a good choice for supplemental heating.

Our concern is that the current safety standard for oscillating heaters, as written by Underwriters Laboratories, may not be strong enough.  As a result of fires and other electrical problems with oscillating fans, UL strengthened its fan standard to require all oscillating fans to pass a 750,000-cycle test to ensure the electrical cords and other connections can sustain long-term oscillation.  But oscillating electric heaters currently undergo only a 100,000-cycle test.  Given that heaters draw significantly more electric current than fans, the standard should be tougher  when it comes to durability associated with oscillation.

The standard for oscillating electrical heaters is in the process of being strengthened, according to John Drengenberg, consumer-affairs manager at UL. That’s good news, but it will take 12 to 24 months for the change to be implemented for new products.

In the meantime, if you own an oscillating heater, inspect the cord carefully, particularly at the point where it enters the unit.  If there’s any fraying or weakness in the cord, unplug it, cut the cord, and dispose of the heater properly.  If your heater checks out, use the oscillation mode only when necessary, and give it an occasional once-over to make sure there are no failures waiting to happen.

Related reading
To learn more about space heaters, read our recent report  including a video and Ratings (for subscribers). 

Winter warm-up: Home heating tips

Did you know that the peak time for home heating fires is between 6 and 9 p.m.? Or that space heaters account for nearly three-quarters of home-fire fatalities, two-thirds of the injuries and more than half of property damage?

Those are some of the intriguing and yes, disturbing findings of a new survey by the National Fire Protection Agency—findings that serve as a good reminder at the start of winter to take care in heating our homes, especially if we use space heaters.

According to the NFPA, heating equipment was involved in an estimated 62,200 reported home structure fires in 2005, resulting in 670 civilian deaths, 1,550 injuries and $909 million in direct property damage. Chimneys and chimney connectors accounted for the largest share of home heating fires, 36 percent in 2005, but resulted in no deaths. The chief reason for these fires was failure to clean chimneys and connectors.

But space heaters continue to be the most dangerous, at least in terms of injuries and fatalities. And the major reason for space heater blazes: The heater was too close to something that could catch fire.

Fire safety officials take heart in some of the report’s good news. There has been a steady decline in home heating fires since 1982 when there more than 235,000 fires resulting in 1,190 deaths and 3,480 injuries. NFPA attributes the decline to a variety of factors, including safer equipment, better building codes, wider use of smoke alarms, somewhat warmer winters and public education.

To continue the public education, we offer you these safe heating tips from NFPA and the Consumer Product Safety Commission:

• Inspect all heating equipment annually, and clean as necessary.
• When buying a space heater, make sure it carries the mark of an independent testing laboratory and is approved for use in your community (some communities may not allow kerosene heaters, for example).
• Space heaters need space. Keep all things that can burn, such as paper, bedding or furniture, at least three feet away from heating equipment.
• Use the proper grade of the proper fuel for your liquid-fueled space heater, and never use gasoline in any heater not approved for gasoline use.  Refuel only in a well-ventilated area and when the equipment is cool.
• Turn portable heaters off when you go to bed or leave the room.
• Plug power cords only into outlets with sufficient capacity and never into an extension cord.
• Inspect for cracked, frayed or broken plugs or loose connections. Replace before using.
• Have your chimney inspected each year and cleaned if necessary.
• Use a sturdy fireplace screen. Allow ashes to cool before disposing. Dispose of ashes in a metal container.
• Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area and on every level of the home. For the best protection interconnect all smoke alarms throughout the home—when one sounds, they all sound. Test smoke alarms at least once a month.
• Install and maintain a carbon monoxide alarm in a central location outside each sleeping area.
• Never use an oven to heat your home.
• Periodically check the CPSC's recall list to make sure a heater you own has not been the subject of a recall, such as the one pictured above that was recalled in June.

Buying advice
If you are considering buying a space heater this winter, read our full report on heaters including Ratings (for subscribers) and a video.

Kitchen appliances recalled because of fire hazards

A General Electric combination wall and microwave oven and a Black & Decker toaster were recalled by the Consumer Production Safety Commission today because they pose a fire hazard. GE recalled 92,000 of its built-in microwave-thermal wall ovens after getting reports of 35 incidents of minor property damage and one incident in which a fire damaged adjacent kitchen cabinets after a door switch in the microwave overheated and ignited plastic components in the control area. The ovens were sold under the brand names GE, GE Profile and Kenmore.

Black & Decker recalled 70,000 Infrawave toasters after getting two reports of the toasters igniting, including one report of fire that damaged a kitchen countertop and cabinets. The CPSC said an electrical component in the toaster can overheat and ignite the circuit board.

Find a full report on these recalls, including what to do if you own one of these appliances, in our Home & Garden blog.

Feast your eyes on these safe turkey-prep tips

A video from our testing labs shows how quickly Thanksgiving plans can go up in flames when things go awry with a propane-powered deep fryer. As we reported around this time last year, Underwriters Laboratories has refused to put its UL mark on any propane fryer to certify its safety—a rare move for the nonprofit safety testing organization that certifies almost every kind of electrical or gas-powered product sold in the U.S. "Based on our test findings, the fryers used to produce those great-tasting birds are not worth the risks," says John Drengenberg, UL consumer affairs manager.

The dangers are many. Units can easily tip over, spilling the hot oil. Oil that sometimes overflows when a turkey is placed in the pot can hit the burner and burst into flames. The units have no thermostat controls and the sides, lid and handles can get very hot posing burn hazards.

A few years ago, we tested one of the electric fryers on the market, and it proved safer than propane models. The deep-fryer—designed strictly for indoor use—cooks a turkey up to 14 pounds.  And it has some safety features including a built-in safety switch, a temperature sensor, an outer shield and six legs to  give it more stability.

While such Food Network favorites as Paula Deen and Alton Brown feature recipes for deep-fried turkey, if you are tempted to try it this year with a propane fryer, do so with extreme caution and constant vigilance.  Check out these safety tips from UL.

No matter how you plan to cook your turkey, take the time to review Let's Talk Turkey, safety tips from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.  Some of their advice has changed. For example, the USDA recommends against washing a turkey before cooking it and says doing so can actually spread bacteria to other foods and utensils and surfaces. Another change is in testing the turkey for doneness. The USDA says a turkey is safe when all of it is cooked to a minimum internal temperature of 165 degrees F. (Previously, the agency recommended different temperatures for various parts of the bird.) And don't rely on a pop-up thermometer—check the temperature yourself with a reliable meat thermometer. 

A lesson on hedge-trimmer safety you should skip

A few weeks ago, I bought a new power hedge trimmer from my local outdoor power equipment dealer. Of course, I chose a top-rated trimmer from our June 2006 report. What happened at the dealer is a story worth telling.

Stihl, the manufacturer of the gas-powered trimmer I chose, distinguishes itself from its competitors by explaining in its advertising why the company's products aren't sold at Lowe’s or Home Depot. Stihl's ads invite you to go to a Web site to read the company's "10 reasons to pick a Stihl servicing dealer." Reason #5: “We can provide operating and safety demonstrations.” That they did. In fact, they wouldn’t let me out of the shop until they showed me how to operate and “safely” use my new trimmer.

I was sent to a back-room shop for my lesson. I watched in horror as the “trained” technician completed fueling my new trimmer with a lit cigarette dangling from his lips. I guess he skipped the owner’s manual warning that states, “Do not smoke or bring any fire or flame near the fuel.” Fortunately, no fireballs erupted.

While still in the shop, just few feet form his fuel cans, he showed me how to start the trimmer. He didn’t follow the manufacturer’s directions to place the hedge trimmer on firm ground. Instead, he held it in his hands and used the “drop start” method. Once it started, that was it; lesson over.

I lightly scolded him for neglecting to talk about safety precautions. He said, with the cigarette still in his mouth, “Oh yeah, you’re not supposed to hold it in the air when starting. It’s supposed to be on the ground.” “Right," I replied, “and what about eye protection, hearing protection, gloves, and so forth?” “Yeah,” he said “I guess you should use safety glasses.”

The fact is he forgot to inform me about many safety precautions that must be heeded to reduce the risk of injury. We provide general safety tips in our June 2006 report.

It wasn’t until I read the owner’s manual that I discovered my new hedge trimmer had a great safety feature — a blade lock that prevents the blades from moving while starting. Unless I read the manual, I wouldn’t have learned about this feature. I don't always read manuals, but this experience punctuated its importance.

I know my experience is anecdotal and may not be representative of what happens at most outdoor power equipment dealers. I also know that it's highly unlikely that I would have gotten any lesson had I bought a different model at a big-box retailer. But I am concerned that safety is often an afterthought on the sales floor, even with products that pose a high risk to the operator. Call me a nerd, but I’ll read the owner’s manual in the future, and even warning labels on the products themselves ... and I will still happily be able to type with all ten fingers.

— Don Mays

Ladder-related injuries are climbing

According to one of our editors, whenever he uses a ladder his wife says a prayer. A recent study shows that appealing for a little help from above, in addition to taking all the right physical precautions, might make sense — at least until the industry can find ways to make ladders safer. 

The study, published in the May issue of the American Journal of Preventive Medicine, found that ladder-related injuries have steadily increased some 27 percent per 100,000 people over 1990 figures, based on data the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) tracked through 2005. The study estimates that nearly 162,000 people were treated in emergency rooms for ladder-related injuries that year. Some 10 percent of ladder injuries required hospitalization, a rate that’s about double the average for all consumer product-related injuries.   

From CPSC reports, the study's authors determined a number of notable factors and trends among ladder-related injuries. They're worth considering the next time you prepare to climb a ladder. 

• Men suffered 76% of the injuries.   
• Fractures were the most common injury. 
• Not surprisingly, severity of injury increased with age and height climbed. People age 76 or older were almost three times more likely to be hospitalized from a ladder-related injury. Climbs over six meters more than tripled the hospitalization rate.

The rise in ladder-related injuries probably results from a range of factors, among them: more DIY activity, little training on safe ladder use, more complicated designs, and more challenging ladder activities (such as reaching those high clerestory windows). Our own testing rated 13 models of taller multi-use ladders unacceptable because they posed some safety problem in their design, and several models have been recalled in recent years for manufacturing defects. 

Basic ladder design has changed little in hundreds of years, but a few new designs have created problems of their own. The telescoping model and some folding types, for example, depend on hinges and locks that can fail altogether and pinch or possibly even amputate fingers if you're not careful. Consumers Union is recommending changes to the voluntary ladder safety standards to make ladders safer. In the meantime, see our latest story on ladders for tips on safe use. 

Related: 

• Ladders: Some can extend your risk 
• Tips for safer ladder use

GE recalls 2.5 million dishwashers due to fire hazard

As we suspected, the defect that was responsible for the recent Maytag/Jenn-Air dishwasher recall was not limited to those brands. Today, General Electric announced a similar recall for 2.5 million dishwashers it manufactures under the brand names Eterna, GE, GE Profile, GE Monogram, Hotpoint and Sears-Kenmore. These models, sold between September 1997 through December 2001, all suffer the same type of leaks in the liquid rinse-aid compartment identified as the problem in the recently recalled Maytags and Jenn-Airs. The liquid rinse-aid can leak on to the internal wiring, causing an electrical short and overheating, posing a fire hazard. GE has received nearly 200 complaints of overheating, 56 cases of property damage and 12 fires that escaped the confines of the dishwasher itself. You can find the recall notice and specific models affected on the CPSC's Web site.

CPSC spokesperson Julie Vallese commended GE for doing the right thing and being well poised to address this recall. She also said the CPSC will be looking at the universe of dishwashers to see if short circuits due to leaking rinse-aid is an industry-wide problem. Based on reports from our readers and even from one of our own engineers, we think they should.  Our readers have reported at least one smoke and/or fire incident for each of several other brands including Bosch, Frigidaire, and Asko, though it's unclear whether these incidents were due to leaks in the rinse-aid compartment.

If you or someone you know has encountered smoke, flame or excessive heat from any of these or other dishwasher models, please report it to us immediately, as well as the manufacturer and the CPSC. We use reader information to help us focus our tests and work with government agencies and industry standards groups to reduce the likelihood of safety problems.

Stay safe when using gas grills

Each year people are burned using grills and injured in liquid-propane (LP) and natural-gas fires and explosions associated with gas grills. Many of these fires and explosions occur when consumers first use a grill that has been left idle for a period of time or just after refilling and reattaching the gas container to the grill. Defective grills can also pose a danger. See information on recalls at www.recalls.gov to see if your model been recalled.

All LP tanks must now comply with upgraded National Fire Protection Association standards for overfill protection. Noncompliant tanks have a circular or five-lobed valve and aren't refillable, although they can be retrofitted with a three-lobed valve or swapped for a new tank at a hardware store or other refilling facility.

To reduce the risk of fire or explosion, you should routinely perform the following safety checks:

• Replace cracked or brittle propane hoses.
• Check hoses for gas leaks by applying dishwashing soap and water; bubbles indicate a leak. Replace as needed.
• Regularly empty grease pans, trays, or receptacles to minimize fire hazards.
• Never start a charcoal fire with gasoline.
• Never add lighter fluid to a charcoal fire after the fire has started; the flame can follow the stream of fluid to its source.
• Never use an outdoor grill indoors or in a garage, breezeway, carport, porch, or under a surface that can catch fire. Also, keep the grill at least 10 feet away from your house or other structure.
• Do not attempt to repair the valve on a gas tank or the grill yourself. See an LP dealer or a qualified appliance-repair service.

If you're in the market for a new grill, keep these safety checks in mind when shopping:

Case the cart. Give the grill a gentle bump from several angles to see if it tips. The more stable the grill, the safer. Carts with a sliding drawer to hold the fuel tank make it easier to use and change the tank. Also inspect the cart, firebox, and shelves for sharp edges and corners.

Beware of burns. If the curve of a handle places fingers or knuckles too close to the lid, you can get burned. Also, keep in mind that metal handles usually get hotter than wooden or plastic ones.

Check grease-drainage design. Although some flaring is to be expected, the more distance the drainage design puts between the fire and collected grease, the less the chance of sustained flare-ups when you cook fatty foods.

Opt for free assembly. It's easy to cut yourself while assembling a grill. But, remember, an assembled grill is bulkier than one in a box. So unless you have a large vehicle, you'll also have to pay for delivery.

You can get additional information on buying and using grills at ConsumerReports.org. Our free feature includes shopping and maintenance tips, cooking advice and even recipes. Subscribers to ConsumerReports.org can access ratings on more than two dozen models from brands including Weber, Char-Broil and Kenmore.

Arm yourself with safety tips before you pick up that nail gun

Forty-five year old Patrick Scanlan never thought he would become an emergency-room statistic. The Nyack, N.Y. contractor was using a nail gun last June when it misfired, leading a nail to ricochet off the wall and bounce into his eye. Scanlan was hospitalized and then out of work for six weeks as his eye recovered. “To tell you the truth, I would never have imagined that would happen,” he said.

Now, he says, everyone who works with him has to wear safety glasses when they use a nail gun. “Everybody hates me for it. They get all covered with dust and slow you down. But it doesn’t matter, if you want to work with me, you have to wear them.”

Statistics show that Scanlan is not alone. The widespread availability of relatively inexpensive nail guns has coincided with a surge of injuries among consumers, according to a recently released study in the Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Consumer injuries from nail guns that prompted emergency-room visits more than tripled between 1991 and 2005, from an average 4,200 a year to 14,800, the study said.

In total, there were total 37,000 emergency-room nail gun related injuries, with consumers accounting for about 40 percent; construction workers like Scanlan accounted for the rest. (Injury rates among professionals have been largely flat, suggesting that training, experience and regular use of safety equipment have helped keep them out of emergency rooms.)

The study suggests that the increased number of injuries stems in part from the design of the dual-action firing mechanism — in which the manual trigger and nose contact element are both depressed for a nail to be discharged to allow for the rapid fire of nails and speedier production.

The study urges consumers to buy nail guns that use a sequential-trip trigger, which requires the nose contact to be depressed before the manual trigger, rather than simultaneously. Thus, it’s less likely for unintentional nails to be discharged.  If you already have a gun, the study suggests you buy a kit to convert the nail gun to the safer sequential mode.

Other important precautions include wearing sturdy clothing and heavy footwear. And, as Scanlan says, don't skimp on eye protection. Being blind in his eye for five weeks as he recovered “was definitely an eye opening experience.”

Get advice on buying and using power tools at ConsumerReports.org.

My first recall

We write a lot about recalls here. That's not surprising, since this blog is about product safety. Even so, we're always somewhat surprised when a recall affects us personally. But alas it did, when Maytag announced that 2.3 million of its dishwashers were being recalled due to a fire hazard. Here's a personal tale from CR's Carolyn Cairns.

It was bound to happen. I knew some day, one of the many recalls we write about would affect me. So when Maytag announced a dishwasher recall on February 1 I had to reluctantly accept that my beloved dishwasher would need a visit from the lonely repairman. Even so, I put off checking to see if my dishwasher was affected for a couple of days. The thing was full of dirty dishes and we don't even use liquid rinse, the cause of the fire hazard; Maytag said the liquid rinse could leak from its dispenser and come into contact with the dishwasher's internal wiring, causing a short-circuit and possible fire. So was this risk worth a few hours of my time to prevent my house from burning down? I can understand why more than half of owners of recalled items forego the remedy. The time it takes to figure it all out and having to part with a favorite item for even a day make for formidable emotional and physical barriers to overcome.

So it was a happy moment when the friendly but tired-sounding service agent answered the phone after only a short delay (I'd heard tales of jammed phone lines). She gave me her standard spiel: would I like to schedule the repair three weeks from now, or get a $75 certificate towards a new more energy efficient machine?

That was a tough call to make on the spot. I love my dishwasher, but I also love my planet and yearn for a lower power bill. Even so, a $75 certificate for an $800 dishwasher didn't quite add up. So I opted for the repair, even if that meant three whole weeks of washing dishes by hand, since the recall said consumers should stop using the dishwashers immediately until they were repaired.

On the appointed day, my husband stood a four-hour vigil for Mr. Maytag to come and replace the faulty part. When he did, he was understandably not a happy camper, having traipsed all over town to repair a hazard he found dubious on a machine that he doesn't even own. He told my envious husband that in his house, his wife does all the dishes by hand. 

At the end of the day, we loaded up our refurbished machine and went to bed with a little more confidence that we wouldn't awaken to smoke and flame. But I checked the smoke alarm just to be sure. 

— Carolyn Cairns

Melting lampshades spark concern on campus

Here’s a scary college tale from the Fredonia campus of the State University of New York (SUNY) involving a popular inexpensive floor lamp: 

“Early Sunday, Jan. 21, at 1 a.m. during a night fire walk, Schulz Hall Director Carrie Davenport traced a smell of something burning to a melting plastic shade on a lamp brought to campus by one of her residents. The heat from a light bulb of correct wattage in the ‘5-Light Multicolored Floor Lamp’ had begun melting its plastic shade, which was dripping onto the resident’s bedspread. The plastic was also releasing toxic fumes. Ms. Davenport took the lamp out of the room, and went looking for another one like it that she had seen in another room. She found it, turned it on, and within 15 minutes, the shade from that lamp also began to melt.”      

This discovery prompted the university to widen its investigation to all the residence halls. The result: three more similar lamps failed safety tests; their shades overheated and melted. “In some cases, the students who kept the lamps in their rooms weren’t aware the lampshades had begun to melt,” the university said, noting that several different brands of the five-bulb lamp were found but only those with plastic shades appeared to pose a hazard. The university said it considered a similar version made with glass shades to be safe. But since those cost considerably more, may not be as popular among the college set. 

SUNY Fredonia subsequently sent a notice to all students asking them to remove these lamps. It also sent emails to several listservs, which in turn prompted some other universities, including Harvard, to issue safety bulletins about the lamps. In addition, officials at Fredonia referred the lamp to the Consumer Product Safety Commission for investigation. Also studying the lamp is Underwriters Laboratories. John Drengenberg, consumer affairs manager, said the nonprofit safety testing organization is concerned because the incidents in question appear to involve lamps that are not the same configuration as models that UL tested and certified. Drengenberg said UL is withholding the UL mark on similar new lamps, which effectively shuts down production, until further study.   

According to SUNY Fredonia, the lamps are available at a number of nationwide retailers for less than $20. “Different models were found defective but all shared the common plastic shade although some required Type A 60 watt bulbs and other required Type B 25 watt bulbs. Damaged shades were found in lamps using both sizes of bulbs,” even when the proper watt bulbs were used, the university said.   

SUNY Fredonia has advised all students to stop using these lamps immediately, and has taken steps to ensure that the lamps have been removed. Until more is known about the scope of the hazards, we recommend all consumers do same

Microwave urban legend shouldn't obscure real risks

A reader recently forwarded us an email that he felt was important enough for us to publicize. Here it is: 

"A 26-year old decided to have a cup of coffee. He took a cup of water and put it in the microwave to heat it up. (Something that he had done numerous times before). I am not sure how long he set the timer for, but he told me he wanted to bring the water to a boil. When the timer shut the oven off, he removed the cup from the oven. As he looked into the cup, he noted that the water was not boiling, but instantly the water in the cup 'blew up' into his face. The cup remained intact until he threw it out of his hand but all the water had flown out into his face due to the build up of energy. His whole face is blistered and he has 1st and 2nd degree burns to his face, which may leave scarring. He also may have lost partial sight in his left eye. ..."

On investigation, we discovered that the reader had never met the 26-year-old burn victim. It was simply a story making the rounds on the Internet, almost identical to one that’s been around for several years, according to Snopes.com, the tracker of urban legends. 

However, that doesn’t mean that we should immediately discard this email as worthless. It does remind us about safe microwave use. According to Consumer Product Safety Commission data, about 4,000 Americans incur injuries from microwaves every year. Almost a third of these injuries are burns and scalds. So while it may seem like a no-brainer to boil that cup of water in the microwave, think again. According to the Food and Drug Administration and the Association of Home Appliance Manufacturers, over-heating water in a cup can result in superheated water -- or water heated past its boiling temperature. The water does not appear to be boiling, because the air bubbles that trigger boiling have been expelled. The liquid is just waiting to boil.  A speck of dust or a tiny air bubble caused by movement or a slight vibration can initiate vigorous boiling and occasionally cause a violent eruption. 

The AHAM says consumers need to be particularly careful with tall cups and containers because the energy that builds as the temperature rises is forceful enough to eject the liquid. This phenomenon seems more likely if water is heated in a clean cup. The risk is reduced if foreign materials such as instant coffee or sugar are added before heating. AHAM advises consumers to stir liquids before heating them in the microwave to help prevent sudden boil overs. Also, do not heat liquid for more than 2 minutes (and considerably less time if you have less than a cup). After heating, allow the liquid to stand in the microwave for 30 seconds before moving it or putting anything into it. 

More: Tips for safe microwave use from the FDA

Stay safe on Super Sunday

We've commented more than once on the tip-over risks posed by heavy furniture and televisions. And the danger from tipping televisions has only grown, as Americans have purchased ever larger TVs in recent years. Indeed, we can bet that a lot more big TVs will be purchased between now and Sunday in time for the Super Bowl, an event that draws in as many as 90 million viewers. Indeed, the smallest TV reviewed in our latest issue is 26 inches, while the biggest is over 60 inches.  And despite their svelte profiles, most flat-screen sets larger than 42 inches weigh more than 100 pounds, regardless of the technology used; that makes them as heavy as the 30-inch or smaller tube TVs they replace. While the modern, flatter sets don't have the low center of gravity that makes tube sets more tip-prone, they may suffer from another risk factor: old furniture that isn't designed to handle such a large set. The right furniture — and the right installation — can make the difference between a TV that can hold up to a linebacker's advances and one that collapses after the first place kick. So, do yourself — and your kids — a favor: Before you put out the chips and salsa, follow this advice to make sure that the only things flying in your living room this Sunday are those long snaps on the screen.

• If available, buy a stand specifically designed for your TV by the manufacturer, as well as any hardware to secure the TV to the stand or wall.
• If you put your TV on other furniture, make sure it’s sturdy before you put the TV on it, and that it can handle the TV’s weight. 
• Never put a large TV on a stand or entertainment center designed for a smaller set.
• Furniture holding a TV should be anchored to the floor or wall using brackets, screws, or braces.
• Do not put a TV on furniture with drawers -- such as dressers or chests -- that can be pulled out by young children and used to climb.

More tips from ConsumerReports.org are available here.

Get in the know about CO

The Carl W. Goetz Middle School in Jackson, N.J. proves that you’re never too young to teach others about safety.

The 1,300 students of Goetz have launched an ambitious educational campaign about the dangers of carbon-monoxide poisoning. Better still, the students are holding a series of fundraisers to provide free carbon-monoxide detectors to as many nearby homes as possible.

The initiative began last year, after a seventh grader died of carbon monoxide poisoning from a generator in his home. “We wanted to know why and why he didn’t have a detector,” said eighth grader Kassandra Brady. At the same time, she said, her fellow students wanted as many homes as possible to install CO detectors “so this won’t happen again.”

Under the tutelage of computer technology teacher Deborah Potter and several other teachers, Goetz students made brochures, banners, and video commercials to educate the community about CO poisoning with the catchy slogan “Get in the Know about CO”.

They’ve already held a student-faculty volleyball tournament (the teachers won) and a raffle for a prime parking spot. So far they’ve raised $1,700, but hope to get more money through donations and other planned fundraisers. In the spring, they plan to distribute CO detectors on a first-come, first-serve basis.

That’s a big goal, considering the town has about 20,000 households. But many homes — particularly those with Goetz students — already have detectors. Eighth grader Jillian Nicholl said she now checks her home’s CO detector “about every two to three months” to make sure it’s working. Before the Get in the Know campaign, Nicholl said she didn’t have “a clue" what CO was —  or what the detector was for.  

For this great endeavor, we want to make the Goetz Middle School students and teachers fellow safety crusaders:

• Ed Comeau - Campus fire fighter
• Bob & Judy Lambert - Making furniture safer

Do you have other crusaders to nominate? Let us know.

New CPSC generator label: a good first step

Here’s a disturbing statistic:  In the last three months of 2006, there were at least 32 deaths related to carbon monoxide poisoning from portable generators. That’s half the number of fatalities that occurred in all of 2005 from generator-related carbon-monoxide poisoning.

Clearly, the public is not getting the message about the dangers of this colorless and odorless — but poisonous — gas and the hazards of using portable generators.   

That’s what’s prompted the Consumer Product Safety Commission to approve a new danger label on all portable generators. While the new label does not go as far as Consumers Union, the publisher of Consumer Reports, has recommended, it is clearly a good first step to alert consumers about the hazards of using generators.    

The new label makes the danger clear, saying “using a generator indoors CAN KILL YOU IN MINUTES.” The label, which will be required on all new generators by this summer, must be placed clearly and conspicuously on the generator and on its packaging. The label also tells generator users to “never use inside a home or garage, EVEN IF doors and windows are open.” As the CPSC notes in its press release, the carbon monoxide produced by one generator is equal to the CO produced by hundreds of running cars.

Although Consumers Union recommended that the label advise consumers to place generators at least 15 feet from a house or garage, the new label only tells consumers to place them “outside and far away from windows, doors, and vents.” CPSC spokeswoman Julie Vallese said the agency didn’t want to specify a distance since there are a lot of environmental factors to consider, such as wind.    

The commission now is working on an even broader review of generators that could lead to redesigns to make the product safer to begin with, perhaps by requiring reduced CO emissions and/or automatic shut-off devices if the CO levels get too high. Good ideas, we think. But generators aren't the only source of CO poisoning. Based on the CPSC's latest data, even more deaths — nearly twice as many— result from heating appliances, such as furnaces and portable heaters fueled by liquid propane or natural gas. The same good ideas proposed for generators need to be just as urgently applied to heating products as well. 

Growing concerns over portable generators

The recent storm in the Pacific Northwest knocked out power to over a million homes and businesses, and left a hidden killer in its wake: something one doctor has dubbed the "carbon monoxide epidemic." As of earlier this week, at least 150 people in the region were reported to be suffering from carbon monoxide poisoning, many due to improper use of portable generators. Several deaths were also reported, including an elderly couple in Canada who were found in their home with a gasoline generator running -- and all the windows and doors closed.

These  recent tragedies should be a reminder that although portable generators are useful for providing temporary or remote power, especially during emergency situations, they pose a serious poisoning hazard. The reason: They emit large quantities of the odorless, colorless carbon monoxide (CO) gas. In fact, a single portable generator can release about as much CO as the exhaust of 100 idling cars, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. So it's no wonder that consumers can be killed quickly if the devices are used indoors or too close to homes or in other enclosed spaces. According to the CPSC, there were at least 222 deaths related to CO poisoning associated with portable generators between 2000 to 2005; 64 occurred last year. Deaths have been increasing yearly as demand for the devices has risen.

The CPSC has recently launched two different initiatives to try to stem this growing problem. It is seeking a better warning label on generators and on December 6, the agency announced it would begin considering new mandatory federal standards to make the generators themselves safer through redesign, perhaps by requiring reduced CO emissions and/or automatic shut-off devices if the CO levels get too high. The agency also said it would consider requiring weatherization, theft deterrence and noise reduction standards, to enable and encourage consumers to use generators outdoors and properly placed far away from homes. (We believe that distance should be at least 15 feet.)

Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports, applauds the CPSC's efforts, including the agency's proposed mandatory warning label that would require manufacturers to place a specific DANGER label on portable generators to warn consumers about the hazards of CO (below).  CU notes that the effectiveness of a label, no matter how well designed, depends on the consumer's ability to read and follow its directions. In most situations in which a portable generator is used, consumers are operating them in the dark, in the midst of a storm, under pressure to act quickly to make the unit work. That's why CU has called for several changes in the proposed label. For example. placement of the new CO DANGER label is extremely important.  The tops of most portable generators are already filled with warning labels that can distract from the primary message. So CU is recommending that the warning be placed in a prominent location, such as on the plug or next to the starter so that it is clearly visible to consumers before they start the device.

Requiring a safety action, such as pushing in and holding down a button next to label, before portable generators could be started would also reduce the chances of overlooking the DANGER label. Next, equipping warning labels with the same type of light-emitting diodes, or LEDs, often used to illuminate power outlets would ensure they would be visible in the dark. And finally, the labels should make it clear how far generators need to be placed from homes to protect consumers from CO exposure. It's so important, we'll reiterate it again: We recommend placing the generator at 15 feet from the house or garage. But even these changes, if accepted, may not be enough. That's why CU has also urged the CPSC to move quickly to require a built-in safety feature: a carbon-monoxide-sensing shutoff system. This safety device, whose concept has been proven in U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission labs, automatically shuts off the generator engine in the presence of carbon monoxide.  Portable generators already shut themselves off when their engine oil is too low, so a carbon monoxide shut off system is not unrealistic.   

You can read the comment  that CU submitted to the CPSC on their proposal here.

For more information on portable generators, visit:

• Weathering disaster
• Generator maintenance
• Recommendations (subscribers only)

Don't be a turkey: Gas fryers are unsafe

 

Many cooks -- including Emeril Lagasse and Martha Stewart -- have touted propane-powered turkey fryers as one of the best ways to cook the traditional Thanksgiving meal. 

But Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports, joins other safety organizations in sounding the alarm about fire and burn risks that can spoil a turkey dinner. Underwriters Laboratories has refused to put its UL mark on any propane fryer to certify its safety -- a rare move for the nonprofit safety testing organization that certifies almost every kind of product sold in the U.S.
    Here’s a rundown of the dangers:

• Many units easily tip over, spilling the hot oil.
• If the cooking pot is overfilled with oil, the oil may spill out of the unit when the turkey is placed into the cooking pot. Oil may hit the burner/flames causing a fire to engulf the entire unit.
• Partially frozen turkeys placed into the fryer can cause a spillover effect. This too, may result in an extensive fire.
• With no thermostat controls, the units also have the potential to overheat the oil to the point of combustion.
• The sides of the cooking pot, lid and pot handles get dangerously hot, posing severe burn hazards.

UL consumer affairs manager John Drengenberg said that although there have been improvements in gas fryers over the past few years -- some now come with stronger steel stands to make them sturdier -- UL still doesn’t believe they are safe enough to be certified. "The main problem is you don’t have a regulating control" to keep the oil at a set temperature, Drengenberg said. "If you turn it on, nothing will stop it from going to 600 degrees, which is the flashpoint of oil," when it will start to burn.

One exception is the Turk N' Surf, an electric fryer that includes a safety shut-off and UL-listed adjustable thermostat. We tested the Turk N' Surf (pictured above) and found it to be a safer alternative to propane fryers -- and also determined that the deep-fried turkey it produced was very moist, juicy and tender. And unlike gas fryers, the Turk N' Surf is designed to be used indoors.

If already own a propane fryer, be sure to follow these safety tips from UL:

• Turkey fryers should always be used outdoors a safe distance from buildings and any other material that can burn.
• Never use a turkey fryer on a wooden deck or in a garage.
• Make sure the fryer is used on a flat surface to reduce accidental tipping.
• Never leave the fryer unattended. Most units do not have thermostat controls. If you don't watch the fryer carefully, the oil will continue to heat until it catches fire.
• Never let children or pets near the fryer -- even after you've turned it off. The oil inside the cooking pot can remain dangerously hot for hours after use.
• To avoid oil spillover, do not overfill the fryer.
• Use well-insulated potholders or oven mitts when touching pot or lid handles. If possible, wear safety goggles to protect your eyes from oil splatter.
• Make sure the turkey is completely thawed and be careful with marinades. Oil and water don't mix, and water causes oil to spill over, which could cause a fire or even an explosion (the National Turkey Federation recommends refrigerator thawing and to allow approximately 24 hours for every five pounds of bird thawed in the refrigerator).
• Keep an all-purpose fire extinguisher nearby. Never use water to extinguish a grease fire. Remember to use your best judgment when attempting to fight a fire. If the fire is manageable, use an all-purpose fire extinguisher. If the fire increases, immediately call 911 for help.

Are microwave ovens dangerous?

Test your knowledge and learn the truth.

A Web search of urban-legend purveyors reveals a treasure trove of rumors and myths related to microwave ovens. Have you heard the one about the elderly woman nuking her just-bathed pet in order to dry it? But other stories go beyond the bizarre and probably have you questioning how healthy it is to cook with one of these omnipresent appliances. One oft-told tale, for instance, details the perils of microwaving food in plastic containers. Given the likelihood that you have a microwave in your home -- 14 million microwave ovens were shipped in 2005 alone, 15.5 million in 2004 -- and with the freak-out potential of all this Internet innuendo, it's understandable that you might have questions about the alleged impact that microwaves have on your health. We've cut through the clutter for you in our microwave safety quiz. After you get the lowdown, be sure to read our microwaves report. You'll get expert buying advice as well as Ratings (available to subscribers) of the latest models. And look for our upcoming report on microwaves in the February 2007 issue of Consumer Reports. Click here to take the quiz.