Blastrac BG 250 Series Concrete Grinders with round flexible couplers
CPSC Recall #08-514 — October 24, 2007
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 08-514 |
| Recall Date | October 24, 2007 |
| Remedy Type | Repair |
| Units Affected | About 185 concrete grinders and 45 replacement couplers |
| Manufacturer | Blastrac N.A., of Oklahoma City, Okla. |
| Manufactured In | United States |
Where It Was Sold
| Independent distributors nationwide who sell to professional users |
| and to equipment rental firms that rent to professional contractors and consumers |
| from November 2006 through July 2007 for between $2 |
| 700 and $5 |
| 000. The couplers sold separately for about $95. |
Product
Blastrac BG 250 Series Concrete Grinders with round flexible couplers
Description
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Blastrac N.A., of Oklahoma City, Okla., is voluntarily recalling about 185 Blastrac BG 250 Series Concrete Grinders with round flexible couplers and 45 replacement couplers. The flexible coupler on the concrete grinder can break during use allowing the internal parts, including the tooling plate and grinding disc, to be forcefully ejected from the grinder. This can pose a risk of injury from projectiles to the user and those nearby.Name of Product: Blastrac BG 250 Series Concrete Grinders with round flexible couplersUnits: About 185 concrete grinders and 45 replacement couplersManufacturer: Blastrac N.A., of Oklahoma City, Okla.Hazard: The flexible coupler on the concrete grinder can break during use allowing the internal parts, including the tooling plate and grinding disc, to be forcefully ejected from the grinder. This can pose a risk of injury from projectiles to the user and those nearby.Incidents/Injuries: Blastrac has received five reports of the concrete grinders breaking. No injuries or property damage have been reported.Description: The recalled gas or electric grinders are used to grind concrete surfaces for repair or removal. The grinders have two wheels, a handle and are blue or green in color. They are designed for operation by a single operator. The following concrete grinders are included in this recall. The serial number is located on a plate on the machine's handle.Sold by: Independent distributors nationwide who sell to professional users, and to equipment rental firms that rent to professional contractors and consumers, from November 2006 through July 2007 for between $2,700 and $5,000. The couplers sold separately for about $95.Manufactured in: United StatesRemedy: Renters should stop using the product immediately and return it to the rental company. Blastrac has directly contacted owners of these products. Product owners who have not received notice from Blastrac should contact the firm for a free repair kit.Consumer Contact: For additional information, please contact Blastrac at (800) 256-3440 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm's website at www.blastrac.com.
Hazard
The flexible coupler on the concrete grinder can break during use allowing the internal parts, including the tooling plate and grinding disc, to be forcefully ejected from the grinder. This can pose a risk of injury from projectiles to the user and those nearby.
Incidents & Injuries
Blastrac has received five reports of the concrete grinders breaking. No injuries or property damage have been reported.
Remedy Instructions
Renters should stop using the product immediately and return it to the rental company. Blastrac has directly contacted owners of these products. Product owners who have not received notice from Blastrac should contact the firm for a free repair kit.
What Should You Do?
Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a 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 (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.