Ceramic Oil Torch Lamps
CPSC Recall #07-572 — August 28, 2007
Recall Summary
| Recall Number | 07-572 |
| Recall Date | August 28, 2007 |
| Remedy Type | Refund |
| Units Affected | About 138,000 |
| Importer | Wal-Mart Stores Inc., of Bentonville, Ark. |
| Manufactured In | China |
Where It Was Sold
| Sam's Clubs nationwide from February 2007 through July 2007 for about $60. |
Product
Ceramic Oil Torch Lamps
Description
In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Wal-Mart Stores Inc., of Bentonville, Ark., is voluntarily recalling about 138,000 Ceramic Oil Torch Lamps. The ceramic torch head can come loose or be dislodged during use, allowing it to break and spill torch fuel. This poses a risk of cuts, fire or burn injuries and property damage.Name of Product: Ceramic Oil Torch LampsUnits: About 138,000Importer: Wal-Mart Stores Inc., of Bentonville, Ark.Hazard: The ceramic torch head can come loose or be dislodged during use, allowing it to break and spill torch fuel. This poses a risk of cuts, fire or burn injuries and property damage.Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received 107 reports of the ceramic torch head separating from its base. There are two reports of injuries including cuts to the hands of a consumer who was picking up broken pieces, and a child who received a cut to the scalp from a falling torch head and a skin rash from the spilled oil.Description: The recalled oil torch lamp is 6 feet tall with a green, bowl-shaped, ceramic open-flame lamp that is attached to a brown cast iron pole and stand. A flame snuffer is attached to the lamp by a chain. The lamp and pole can be disconnected from the base and the pole placed directly in the ground. The product was sold as a set of four torches.Sold at: Sam's Clubs nationwide from February 2007 through July 2007 for about $60.Manufactured in: ChinaRemedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled torch lamps and return them to Sam's Club for a full refund. Sam's Club is contacting consumers who purchased the torch lamps directly.Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact the firm's recall hotline at (800) 828-9316 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm's website at www.walmart.com.
Hazard
The ceramic torch head can come loose or be dislodged during use, allowing it to break and spill torch fuel. This poses a risk of cuts, fire or burn injuries and property damage.
Incidents & Injuries
The firm has received 107 reports of the ceramic torch head separating from its base. There are two reports of injuries including cuts to the hands of a consumer who was picking up broken pieces, and a child who received a cut to the scalp from a falling torch head and a skin rash from the spilled oil.
Remedy Instructions
Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled torch lamps and return them to Sam's Club for a full refund. Sam's Club is contacting consumers who purchased the torch lamps directly.
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.