Men's Cotton Fleece Shirts

CPSC Recall #96-067 — February 13, 1996

Recall Summary

Recall Number96-067
Recall DateFebruary 13, 1996
Remedy TypeRefund
Units AffectedRecalling 11,756

Product

Men's Cotton Fleece Shirts

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the Kmart Corporation of Troy, Mich., is recalling 11,756 men's cotton fleece shirts. The shirts violate the federal Flammable Fabrics Act and pose a serious risk of burn injuries. The men's long sleeve, button-down, 100 percent cotton shirts were available in four colors, burgundy, hunter green, dark blue and gray; and four sizes, small, medium, large, and extra-large. The shirts, which were made in Korea, have "RN 42000" and "NORTHWEST TERRITORY" printed on sewn-in labels at the neck. The shirts' hang tags read, "Rugged Sportswear ... Northwest Territory," along with style number 8025, item number 8311, and the size. Kmart stores sold the shirts nationwide from September to December 1995 for $19.99 each. Consumers should immediately stop wearing these shirts and return them to any Kmart store for a refund. For more information, consumers should call their local Kmart store. Kmart learned of the shirts' flammability from a customer and reported to CPSC following their laboratory testing.

Hazard

The shirts violate the federal Flammable Fabrics Act and pose a serious risk of burn injuries.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should immediately stop wearing these shirts and return them to any Kmart store for a refund. For more information, consumers should call their local Kmart store.

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Refund 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 (Refund) at no cost to you.

If the product caused a fire or burn injury, document the incident with photos and preserve the product if it is safe to do so. Report the incident to the CPSC at SaferProducts.gov and to your local fire department. Contact the manufacturer to inform them of the incident — they are required to track and report injuries to CPSC. You may also want to consult a personal injury attorney, as fire and burn injuries caused by defective products can be grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer.

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.