Omnidirectional CB base station antennas

CPSC Recall #86-042 - July 8, 1986

Recall Summary

Recall Number86-042
Recall DateJuly 8, 1986
Remedy TypeRefund

Product

Omnidirectional CB base station antennas

Description

Washington, D.C. -- In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Jo Gunn Enterprises, Ethelsville, Alabama is voluntarily recalling five models of its omnidirectional CB base station antennas. These are Model 100, Model 200, Son of A Gunn, Hillbilly and Pistol. If contact is made by the antennas with an electrical power line while being installed or taken down, the antennas have the potential for severe or fatal shock. The CPSC is not aware of any injuries or deaths involving the Jo Gunn Omnidirectional CB Antennas. About 500 antenna-related electrocutions have been estimated to have occurred since 1976 as a result of CB antennas are being put up or taken down. The CPSC investigation revealed that the five models of omnidirectional CB antennas fail to comply with the agency's mandatory safety standard and labeling requirements. The standard is intended to reduce the electrocution hazard if the antenna should accidentally contact a power line while being removed or installed. The standard requires labeling on the product and its packaging warning about the electrocution hazard and further requires instructions for safe installation. Jo Gunn Enterprises distributed approximately 92 of the affected antennas nationwide. Model and company name appear on the shipping carton and instruction sheet. No labeling appears on the antenna. Retailers who still have these antennas in stock should return them to Jo Gunn Enterprises immediately for refund. Consumers owning any of these antennas which have not been installed should return them to the dealer for a full refund. Consumers who have already installed the antennas should leave them alone. These persons can obtain a warning sticker label/hang tag to be placed in a conspicuous location on the product to warn future users about the potential hazard. The sticker label/hang tag can be obtained by calling Jo Gunn Enterprises at 205-658-2595 or writing the firm at Route 1, Box 383, Ethelsville, AL 35461. As a normal practice, individuals planning to install or take down a CB antenna should first contact their local power company for advice if overhead wires pass through the neighborhood.

Hazard

If contact is made by the antennas with an electrical power line while being installed or taken down, the antennas have the potential for severe or fatal shock.

Incidents & Injuries

The CPSC is not aware of any injuries or deaths involving the Jo Gunn Omnidirectional CB Antennas.

Remedy Instructions

Retailers who still have these antennas in stock should return them to Jo Gunn Enterprises immediately for refund. Consumers owning any of these antennas which have not been installed should return them to the dealer for a full refund.

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.

No, you should stop using the product entirely, not just unplug it. Electric shock and fire hazards in recalled electrical products often involve internal wiring defects, faulty components, or insulation failures that can cause harm even after the product has been off for a period of time. Do not attempt to repair the product yourself. Keep it unplugged and stored safely until you receive the manufacturer's remedy. If the product has already shown signs of overheating, sparking, or discoloration, handle it carefully and consider contacting your local fire department for guidance on safe disposal.

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.