U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) Recall Analysis
A total of 66 consumer product recall notices were issued by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) in Q3 (Jul -Sep) 2022. Notably, 21 recalls from Health Canada were done jointly with the CPSC.
Sports & Recreation accounted for 13 recall notices and all-terrain vehicles accounted for 7 recalls. Appliances accounted for 2 notices, for hazard categories fire and/or burn, and laceration. Toys accounted for 7 recall notices, for chemical exposure, fire and/or burn, injury, crash and/or fall, laceration, entrapment and choking hazards. Furniture accounted for 5 recall notices for hazards such as impact injury, injury, crash and/or fall, entrapment and tip over.
Notably, there were 4 recall notices for pool accessories for risk of entrapment hazards to swimmers and bathers, and 4 notices issued to elevators for the risk of severe bodily harm, particularly for young children.
Highlighted below are some of the recalls relevant to Hardlines and Softlines products:
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Q3 2022 – CPSC
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Product
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Reason(s)
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Childcare Article
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The markings on the outside of the baby bottles contain levels of lead that exceeds the federal lead content ban. Lead is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health issues.
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Children’s Product
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- The crystals on the hairclip contain levels of lead that exceed the federal lead content ban. Lead is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health issues.
- The AAA alkaline batteries included in the recalled earmuffs can rupture, posing hearing, projectile and/or burn injury.
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Clothing
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The children's sweatshirts have a drawstring in the hood that can become entangled or caught on objects, posing a strangulation hazard to children.
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Durable Nursery Product
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- The parking brake on the strollers can fail, posing fall and injury hazards to children.
- The stroller’s rear disc brakes have openings that can cause amputation or laceration if a non-occupant child’s fingertip gets caught in the openings while the stroller is in use.
- The bath seats fail to meet the federal safety standard for infant bath seats, including requirements for stability and leg openings, and can tip over while in use, posing a drowning hazard to babies.
- When the swing or rocker is not in use, their restraint straps can dangle below the seat and non-occupant crawling infants can become entangled in the straps, posing a strangulation hazard.
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Footwear
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The inner layer of the recalled sandals contains levels of lead that exceed the federal lead content ban. Lead is toxic if ingested by young children and can cause adverse health issues.
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Furniture
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- The space between the second rung of the bed’s ladder and the lower bunk frame is wider than 3.5 inches, posing an entrapment hazard to children, when the mattress is removed
- The space between the fourth ladder step and the cross-member of the hutch of the bunk bed is wider than 3.5 inches, posing entrapment and strangulation hazards.
- The wall beds can break or detach from the wall and fall onto those nearby, posing serious impact and crush hazards.
- The hanging chair can tip or fall over or the metal hook or chain suspending the chair can break when a consumer is seated in the chair, posing a fall hazard.
- The recalled chests are unstable if they are not anchored to the wall, posing tip-over and entrapment hazards that can result in death or serious injuries to consumers.
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Toys
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- The fabric playhouses and play tents fail to meet an industry flammability standard for these products, posing a risk of burn injuries to children.
- The mirror can come out of the silicone bear cover if pushed, exposing sharp edges of the mirror, posing a laceration hazard to children.
- The ride-on toy can tip forward when a young child is riding it, posing fall and injury hazards to children.
- A component of the play kitchen contains levels of lead that exceed the federal lead content ban
- When attached to a crib, a protruding knob on the activity desks can become entangled with clothing on a child, posing an entanglement hazard. The opening in the handle on the desks can also pose a jaw entrapment hazard to children under 18 months.
- A small dowel can become exposed and detach from the toy box, posing a choking hazard to young children.
- The pom poms on the book can detach, posing a choking hazard to young children.
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Health Canada Recalls Analysis
Health Canada reported 47 consumer product recall notices issued in Q3 (Jul – Sep) 2022.
An analysis of the product categories shows 5 recalls in the category of Sports & Recreation, for various hazards, such as drowning, impact, severe bodily harm, and fall and/or injury. Toys had 5 recall notices, for risk of entrapment, choking, fire or burn and laceration. The category of window coverings had 9 recalls, for posing the risk of choking and strangulation. Chemicals had 6 recalls, most of which were for not meeting the requirements of labeling and child-resistant packaging.
Based on hazard categorization, there were 6 recall notices for fire or burn, 7 recall notices for fall and/or injury, and 5 recall notices for choking, and 7 notices for strangulation.
Highlighted below are some recalls relevant to Hardlines and Softlines products:
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Q3 2022 – Health Canada
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Product
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Reason(s)
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Carpets
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The recalled rug does not meet the flammability requirements for textile floor coverings posing a fire risk.
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Childcare Article
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- The markings on the outside of the bottle contain lead in excess of the allowable limit established by the Consumer Products Containing Lead Regulations.
- Under the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act, teether fillings must not contain any living micro-organisms. Health Canada’s sampling and evaluation program has determined that the liquid filling is contaminated with the bacteria, which can affect children with weakened immune systems causing stomach pain, vomiting and diarrhea if the teether is punctured and liquid filling is ingested.
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Toys
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- The Play Tents do not meet the Flammability requirements of the Canada Consumer Product Safety Act’s Tents Regulations.
- Small parts may break away from the wooden blocks, which can pose a choking hazard to young children.
- The pom poms attached to the book with strings could become detached from the book, releasing small parts and posing a choking hazard.
- The recalled product may pose a jaw entrapment and protrusion hazard when used as a crib toy. When a child’s jaw becomes entrapped in a product, there is potential for damage to teeth and gums.
- The mirror can come out of the silicone bear cover if pushed, exposing sharp edges of the mirror, posing a laceration hazard to children.
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Window Coverings
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The design of the product does not properly address the hazards of exposed operating cords, which can create loops. Young children may pull looped cords around their neck, or become entangled in the cords, causing a strangulation hazard. The product can also release small parts that present a choking hazard to young children.
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For questions, please contact Harini Ramaswamy (harini.ramaswamy@intertek.com, +1 224-318-0220), or Dr. Pratik Ichhaporia (pratik.ichhaporia@intertek.com, +1 847 212 8273).