Aluminum Two-Step Ladder
CPSC Recall #92-139 - September 29, 1992
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 92-139 |
| Recall Date | September 29, 1992 |
| Remedy Type | Refund |
Where It Was Sold
| Ace Hardware |
| Channel and Builders Emporium |
Product
Aluminum Two-Step Ladder
Description
WASHINGTON, DC -- Super Young Industrial Co., Ltd. of Taiwan, in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), today announced the recall of its aluminum two-step ladder distributed by retailers in the United States prior to November 1989. This recall program is being undertaken after reports that the aluminum ladder's first step collapses or tears from its frame. The CPSC has information that falls from such ladders allegedly caused lacerations, broken bones, muscle strains and back injuries. Approximately one million of these ladders were imported into the United States from 1985 to 1989 and sold to stores such as Ace Hardware, Channel and Builders Emporium. In December 1989, Super Young began marketing a safer model ladder made of steel. Only Super Young aluminum ladders are involved in this recall. The aluminum ladder can be identified by an "SYC" mark located on the hinge of the ladder and by vertical grid lines that run across both steps of the ladder. CPSC urges consumers not to use this ladder. Consumers should mail their aluminum ladders (shipping costs will be refunded) to: Super Young, c/o Collins International Co., Ltd., 16-00 Route 208, Fair Lawn, New Jersey 07410. No proof of purchase is necessary. If a consumer has the original or a copy of the purchase receipt or other proof of the price paid, however, that should also be included. When the recalled ladder is received by Super Young, it will refund the postage and $5.00, representing one-half the average purchase price, or one-half the actual price paid (if more than $10.00) as shown by the purchase receipt. Consumers may call 1-800-288-9315 with any questions about this recall. Before returning the aluminum ladders, owners should be certain that they are the aluminum ladders involved in this recall. Super Young will not issue a refund unless the aluminum ladder has the "SYC" mark and the vertical grid lines across the steps. While Super Young does not believe any safety hazard exists from these ladders, the recall is being conducted to meet the concerns expressed by the CPSC. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is announcing this recall as part of its mission to protect the public from unreasonable risks of injury and death associated with consumer products. The Commission's objective is to reduce the estimated 28.5 million injuries and 21,600 deaths associated each year with the 15,000 different types of consumer products under CPSC's jurisdiction.
Hazard
CPSC has reports of the ladder's first step collapsing or tearing from its frame. Such incidents have allegedly resulted in lacerations, broken bones, muscle strains and back injuries.
Incidents & Injuries
While Super Young does not believe any safety hazard exists from these ladders, the recall is being conducted to meet the concerns expressed by the CPSC.
Remedy Instructions
Call 1-800-288-9315 for information on how to ship the ladder back to Super Young with prepaid shipping. Owners of affected ladders who ship back the ladders will receive a refund of the shipping cost and up to one-half of the purchase price, or $5.00 if owners have no proof of purchase.
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.