Product Safety

News from CPSC - U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

For Immediate Release
October 4, 2011
Release #12-001
Firm’s Recall Hotline: (888) 606-2627
CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908

Ballard Designs Recalls Step Stools Due to Fall Hazard

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WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Name of Product: Ballard Designs “Stafford” step stools
Units: About 2,500

Distributor/Retailer: Ballard Designs, Inc. of Atlanta, Ga.

Hazard: Plastic tabs on the feet of the step stools can cause the stools to be unstable, posing a fall hazard to consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: Ballard Designs has received six reports that the stools were not stable, including two reports of falls resulting in minor injuries.

Description: This recall involves Ballard Designs “Stafford” step stools made of wood painted black or white. “Ballard Designs” is printed on a sticker under the bottom of the step. “Made in China” is printed on the underside bottom of the step stools. Also printed on the underside bottom of the step stools is one of the following five numbers: 100097963, 100099019, 100097230, 100100584 or 100102942. All recalled stools also have four plastic tabs affixed to the feet of the step stool.

Sold at: Ballard Design stores in Florida, Georgia and Ohio, through Ballard Designs catalogs, on Www.Ballarddesigns.Com and Www.Hsn.Com from July 2009 through May 2011 for about $80.

Manufactured in: China

Remedy: Consumers should immediately remove the four plastic tabs from the feet of their step stools. Instructions are available online at Www.Ballarddesigns.Com under the Product Safety Page or by contacting Ballard Designs at the number below. Ballard Designs is directly contacting all known purchasers.

Consumer Contact:For more information, contact Ballard Designs toll-free at (888) 606-2627 between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. ET Monday through Friday and between 9 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. ET Saturday and Sunday or visit the firm’s website at Www.Ballarddesigns.Com.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is still interested in receiving incident or injury reports that are either directly related to this product recall or involve a different hazard with the same product. Please tell us about your experience with the product on SaferProducts.Gov.

CPSC is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of the thousands of consumer products under the agency’s jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $900 billion annually. CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard. CPSC’s work to ensure the safety of consumer products—such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals—contributed to a decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.

Under federal law, it is illegal to attempt to sell or resell this or any other recalled product.

To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, go online to: SaferProducts.Gov, call CPSC’s Hotline at (800) 638-2772 or teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270 for the hearing impaired. Consumers can obtain this news release and product safety information at Www.Cpsc.Gov. To join a free e-mail subscription list, please go to www.Cpsc.Gov/Cpsclist.Aspx.