Wooden Bunk Beds
CPSC Recall #99-018 - November 9, 1998
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 99-018 |
| Recall Date | November 9, 1998 |
| Remedy Type | New Instructions, Replace, Repair |
| Units Affected | More than 37,000 |
| Manufacturer | Fine Pine, of Vinemont, AL; New England Woodcraft, of Forest Dale, VT; J.I.M. Manufacturing, of Los Angeles, CA; I.E.M. Furniture City, of Commerce, CA; and Padilla's Furniture, of Los Angeles, CA |
Where It Was Sold
| The recalled beds were sold through flea markets and in specialty and furniture stores |
| including Workbench furniture store. |
Product
Wooden Bunk Beds
Description
WASHINGTON, DC - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), five bunk bed manufacturers are recalling more than 37,000 wooden bunk beds. The beds have spaces on the top bunk that present potential entrapment and strangulation hazards to young children. The spaces can be large enough for a child's body to pass through, but small enough to entrap a child's head. CPSC is not aware of any deaths associated with the beds being recalled by these five manufacturers. However, since 1990, 39 children have died from becoming entrapped in wooden or metal bunk beds with similar spaces on the top bunk. Thirty-seven of those children were 3 years old or younger. Since 1994, more than half a million hazardous bunk beds have been recalled. The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) voluntary standard for bunk beds requires that, in addition to having guardrails on both sides of the top bunk, any spaces between the guardrail and bed frame, and in the head and foot boards on the top bunk, be less than 3.5 inches. The manufacturers are participating in this recall to improve the safety of the beds and to meet the requirements of the voluntary standard. The manufacturers also will send consumers permanent labels to be placed on the beds to warn not to put children under the age of 6 on the upper bunk. CPSC and the manufacturers continue to urge parents and caregivers not to put children under the age of 6 on the top bunk. Consumers should stop using the recalled beds immediately and call the company for a replacement guardrail, retrofit kit or instructions that will eliminate the potential entrapment hazard. The recalled beds were sold through flea markets and in specialty and furniture stores, including Workbench furniture store. If consumers are not sure of the bunk bed manufacturer or have any questions about this recall, they should call CPSC's Hotline at (800) 638-2772. Manufacturer Models (Twin Beds) Distribution Locations Fine Pine Vinemont, AL (800) 874-5737 1010, 1030, 1180, 1130 (formerly 56) and 1060 (formerly 32) 1990-1998 Nationwide New England Woodcraft Forest Dale, VT (802) 247-8211 Bed NE 120, 1020, 1120; Ladder NE 144, and 1144 1994-1997 Nationwide J.I.M. Manufacturing Los Angeles, CA (800) 989-6141 Sprindle Oaxaca Solid 1986-1998 Southern California and Nevada I.E.M. Furniture City of Commerce, CA (800) 869-1688 2121D 2121N 1996-1998 Nationwide Padilla's Furniture Los Angeles, CA (323) 232-2310 03370 Literas 100 1996-1998 Southern California If any identification information is on the bed, it would be the manufacturer's name. If the manufacturer's name is on the bed, it would be on the inside top frame of the bunk bed, such as on the guardrail, head or footboard. It also could be underneath the bottom bunk.
Hazard
The beds have spaces on the top bunk that present potential entrapment and strangulation hazards to young children. The spaces can be large enough for a child's body to pass through, but small enough to entrap a child's head.
Incidents & Injuries
CPSC is not aware of any deaths associated with the beds being recalled by these five manufacturers. However, since 1990, 39 children have died from becoming entrapped in wooden or metal bunk beds with similar spaces on the top bunk. Thirty-seven of those children were 3 years old or younger. Since 1994, more than half a million hazardous bunk beds have been recalled.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should stop using the recalled beds immediately and call the company for a replacement guardrail, retrofit kit or instructions that will eliminate the potential entrapment hazard.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a New Instructions, Replace, Repair 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 (New Instructions, Replace, Repair) at no cost to you.
Yes. If you were injured by a defective consumer product, whether recalled or not, you may have grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer and potentially the retailer. A recall notice can serve as evidence that the manufacturer was aware of the defect. Injuries that may support a claim include burns, lacerations, fractures, electric shock, choking incidents, and chemical exposure. Most product liability attorneys work on a contingency fee basis, meaning you pay nothing unless you win. Consult an attorney promptly, as statutes of limitation vary by state.
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.