Safety 1st Cabinet and Drawer Spring Latches
CPSC Recall #01-211 — July 30, 2001
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 01-211 |
| Recall Date | July 30, 2001 |
| Remedy Type | Replace |
| Units Affected | About 1.7 million |
Where It Was Sold
| Toy |
| hardware and department stores nationwide sold the set of three or four latches from January 1993 through December 1999 for about $7. |
Product
Safety 1st Cabinet and Drawer Spring Latches
Description
WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Safety 1st of Canton, Mass., is voluntarily recalling about 1.7 million packages of safety latches used to prevent children from opening cabinets and drawers. If the safety latch breaks, a small spring could be released. Young children could choke on the small spring or gain access to a cabinet or drawer where dangerous items are stored.CPSC and Safety 1st are aware of 27 incidents with these latches breaking. There have been two injuries reported. A 13-month-old girl placed the broken spring from one of these latches in her mouth and suffered a minor abrasion inside her mouth. Also, a 2-year-old girl was able to open a cabinet protected by a safety latch, gained access to a bathroom cabinet and sprayed tile cleaner into her mouth. She received chemical burns to her throat.The latches are made of white plastic with a spring which holds the latch closed. "SAFETY 1 st" is written on the top of the latches. Their packaging reads, in part, "SAFETY 1ST" and "CABINET & DRAWER SPRING LATCHES." They were sold in a package of three or four latches. The straight ends of the metal springs are uncovered on the recalled latches. The replacement latches have a plastic tab over the short, straight end of the metal spring.Toy, hardware and department stores nationwide sold the set of three or four latches from January 1993 through December 1999 for about $7.Consumers should contact Safety 1st for free replacement latches immediately. For more information, call Safety 1st at (800) 366-1282 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or go to the firm's website at www.safety1st.com.
Hazard
If the safety latch breaks, a small spring could be released. Young children could choke on the small spring or gain access to a cabinet or drawer where dangerous items are stored.
Incidents & Injuries
CPSC and Safety 1st are aware of 27 incidents with these latches breaking. There have been two injuries reported. A 13-month-old girl placed the broken spring from one of these latches in her mouth and suffered a minor abrasion inside her mouth. Also, a 2-year-old girl was able to open a cabinet protected by a safety latch, gained access to a bathroom cabinet and sprayed tile cleaner into her mouth. She received chemical burns to her throat.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should contact Safety 1st for free replacement latches immediately.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Replace at no charge. If you experienced an injury, report it at SaferProducts.gov.
Frequently Asked Questions
Follow the consumer action instructions in the recall notice above. Most recalls require you to stop using the product and contact the manufacturer directly — either by calling the toll-free number listed in the official CPSC notice or by visiting the manufacturer's website. You generally do not need a receipt or original packaging to claim a remedy. The manufacturer is legally required to provide the remedy (Replace) at no cost to you.
Federal law prohibits the sale of toys with small parts for children under age 3. CPSC uses a standardized small parts cylinder to test whether pieces from a toy can fit entirely inside — if they can, they are considered a choking hazard. Products marketed for children under 3 must not contain any small parts. Beyond the legal requirements, the CPSC and pediatricians recommend keeping all small objects away from children under 4, as the risk of choking extends beyond the formal legal age threshold.
In most cases, no. CPSC-coordinated recall remedies are designed to be accessible without proof of purchase. Manufacturers typically ask consumers to self-certify ownership and may ask for photos of the product or its serial number. Some manufacturers request that you mail in a portion of the product (such as a cut cord or removed component) as proof of disposal. Check the specific remedy instructions for this recall for exact requirements. If you registered your product at the time of purchase, the process is usually even simpler.
If the original manufacturer has gone out of business, the recall remedy may no longer be available through them. In this case, contact CPSC directly at 1-800-638-2772 or cpsc.gov for guidance. If the brand was acquired by another company, the acquiring company may have assumed recall obligations. In some cases where a remedy is unavailable, CPSC advises consumers to safely dispose of the product. If you were injured by the product of a defunct company, consult a product liability attorney — parent companies, distributors, and retailers may still bear liability in some circumstances.