LMS
01-16-2007, 06:36 PM
Hoover Company Fined $750,000 for Failing to Report Fire Hazard with Vacuum Cleaners
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml07/07079.html
WASHINGTON , D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced today that Hoover Company Inc., of North Canton, Ohio, has agreed to pay a $750,000 civil penalty. The penalty, which the Commission has provisionally accepted (http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml07/07079.pdf), settles allegations that the company failed to report to CPSC the sale of vacuum cleaners with defective on-off switches that can overheat and cause the vacuum cleaner to catch fire.
In April 2005, Hoover conducted a recall (http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml05/05156.html) of 636,000 Hoover Self-Propelled Upright Vacuum Cleaners because of defective on-off switches.
In June 2004, after CPSC received notice of several vacuum cleaner incidents, the Commission staff requested Hoover provide a full report of incident information. In July 2004, when Hoover submitted a full report, it had notice of 260 consumer incidents, of which 141 involved reports of fire. Additionally, there was one report of a minor burn injury.
Hoover first learned of a vacuum cleaner switch on one of these units overheating and melting in April 1999.
Federal law (http://www.cpsc.gov/BUSINFO/8002.html) requires firms to report to CPSC immediately (within 24 hours) after obtaining information reasonably supporting the conclusion that a product contains a defect which could create a substantial risk of injury to the public, presents an unreasonable risk of serious injury or death, or violates a federal safety standard.
These Hoover Self-Propelled Upright Vacuum Cleaners are plastic, upright vacuums with the brand name “Hoover” and words “Self Propelled” printed on the front of the product. Only those Hoover Self-Propelled Upright Vacuum Cleaners manufactured between May 1998 and November 1999 are included in the recall that is the subject of this penalty.
For additional information, contact Hoover toll-free at (800) 250-6075 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.hoover.com (http://www.hoover.com/db/xq/Pop/qx/hvrProdInfo.asp)
In agreeing to settle the matter, Hoover Company Inc. denies CPSC’s allegations that the company knowingly violated the law.
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml07/07079.jpg
<script src="http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/boiler.js" language="JavaScript"></script>---
Send the link for this page to a friend! (javascript:send();) The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from more than 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $700 billion annually. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard or can injure children. The CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals - contributed significantly to the 30 percent decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.
To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC's hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270, or visit CPSC's web site at www.cpsc.gov/talk.html (http://www.cpsc.gov/talk.html). To join a CPSC email subscription list, please go to www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.asp (http://www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.asp). Consumers can obtain this release and recall information at CPSC's Web site at www.cpsc.gov (http://www.cpsc.gov/).
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml07/07079.html
WASHINGTON , D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced today that Hoover Company Inc., of North Canton, Ohio, has agreed to pay a $750,000 civil penalty. The penalty, which the Commission has provisionally accepted (http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml07/07079.pdf), settles allegations that the company failed to report to CPSC the sale of vacuum cleaners with defective on-off switches that can overheat and cause the vacuum cleaner to catch fire.
In April 2005, Hoover conducted a recall (http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml05/05156.html) of 636,000 Hoover Self-Propelled Upright Vacuum Cleaners because of defective on-off switches.
In June 2004, after CPSC received notice of several vacuum cleaner incidents, the Commission staff requested Hoover provide a full report of incident information. In July 2004, when Hoover submitted a full report, it had notice of 260 consumer incidents, of which 141 involved reports of fire. Additionally, there was one report of a minor burn injury.
Hoover first learned of a vacuum cleaner switch on one of these units overheating and melting in April 1999.
Federal law (http://www.cpsc.gov/BUSINFO/8002.html) requires firms to report to CPSC immediately (within 24 hours) after obtaining information reasonably supporting the conclusion that a product contains a defect which could create a substantial risk of injury to the public, presents an unreasonable risk of serious injury or death, or violates a federal safety standard.
These Hoover Self-Propelled Upright Vacuum Cleaners are plastic, upright vacuums with the brand name “Hoover” and words “Self Propelled” printed on the front of the product. Only those Hoover Self-Propelled Upright Vacuum Cleaners manufactured between May 1998 and November 1999 are included in the recall that is the subject of this penalty.
For additional information, contact Hoover toll-free at (800) 250-6075 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s Web site at www.hoover.com (http://www.hoover.com/db/xq/Pop/qx/hvrProdInfo.asp)
In agreeing to settle the matter, Hoover Company Inc. denies CPSC’s allegations that the company knowingly violated the law.
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml07/07079.jpg
<script src="http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/boiler.js" language="JavaScript"></script>---
Send the link for this page to a friend! (javascript:send();) The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from more than 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $700 billion annually. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard or can injure children. The CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals - contributed significantly to the 30 percent decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.
To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC's hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270, or visit CPSC's web site at www.cpsc.gov/talk.html (http://www.cpsc.gov/talk.html). To join a CPSC email subscription list, please go to www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.asp (http://www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.asp). Consumers can obtain this release and recall information at CPSC's Web site at www.cpsc.gov (http://www.cpsc.gov/).