Play Brooms
CPSC Recall #86-054 - August 27, 1986
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 86-054 |
| Recall Date | August 27, 1986 |
| Remedy Type | Refund |
| Units Affected | 100,000 |
Product
Play Brooms
Description
Washington, DC -- In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Come Play Products Company of Worcester, Massachusetts today announced a voluntary recall of children's brooms because paint on the brooms' handles contains an excess of lead. Since 1960, Come Play has imported 100,000 of these brooms from Hungary and sold them nationwide for about $2.50 retail value through variety stores nationally. The brooms are approximately 28 inches long, with natural straw bristles. The handles are painted red. On the handle the word "HUNGARY" is stamped in gold-colored letters. This recall does not apply to Brooms with plastic handles and plastic bristles. The Consumer Product Safety Commission knows of one incident involving a child who had ingested paint from the broom's handle but was unable conclusively to attribute the child's elevated blood lead level to the toy. CPSC regulations limit paint on consumer products to .06%. The CPSC found that the paint on the brooms' handles contained an excess of lead many times the legal amount. The brooms are therefore banned. If a child gnaws or sucks on an article coated with lead-containing paint and ingests the paint, the lead will enter the child's bloodstream. The Commission and Come Play Products Company urge teachers and parents to remove these brooms from use immediately and either discard them or return them for a refund to the retailer where purchased. Retailers should remove the brooms from their shelves and return them to Come Play Products Company, 44 Suffolk Street, Worcester, Massachusettes, 01604.
Hazard
Paint on the brooms' handles contains an excess of lead.
Incidents & Injuries
The Consumer Product Safety Commission knows of one incident involving a child who had ingested paint from the broom's handle but was unable conclusively to attribute the child's elevated blood lead level to the toy.
Remedy Instructions
The Commission and Come Play Products Company urge teachers and parents to remove these brooms from use immediately and either discard them or return them for a refund to the retailer where purchased.
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.
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.