"Ti-dee Helper" children's broom

CPSC Recall #01-096c — February 28, 2001

Recall Summary

Recall Number01-096c
Recall DateFebruary 28, 2001
Remedy TypeRefund
Units AffectedAbout 2,200
Manufactured InMexico

Where It Was Sold

Toy
discount and grocery stores sold these brooms from April 2000 through February 2001 for about $9.

Product

"Ti-dee Helper" children's broom

Description

PRODUCT: Children's Toy Brooms - EMSCO Inc., of Girard, Pa., is voluntarily recalling about 2,200 children's toy brooms. The Ti-dee Helper brooms are about 37 inches long with a wood handle painted yellow and natural straw bristles. A silver label on the handle reads, "MADE IN MEXICO." The plastic packaging that covered the broom bristles reads, "Ti-dee Helper™ child's broom," and contains the model number "6089." Toy, discount and grocery stores sold these brooms from April 2000 through February 2001 for about $9.PROBLEM: The paint on the handles of these brooms contain high lead levels. CPSC standards ban toys and other children's products containing high levels of lead. Young children could ingest lead from the broom handles, presenting a lead poisoning hazard.INCIDENTS/INJURIES: None reported.WHAT TO DO: Consumers should take these brooms away from children immediately, and return the brooms to the store where purchased for a refund. For more information, call EMSCO Inc. at (800) 458-0839 between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit their web site at www.emscogroup.com.The Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection alerted CPSC to this product hazard.

Hazard

The paint on the handles of these brooms contain high lead levels. CPSC standards ban toys and other children's products containing high levels of lead. Young children could ingest lead from the broom handles, presenting a lead poisoning hazard.

Incidents & Injuries

None reported.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should take these brooms away from children immediately, and return the brooms to the store where purchased for a 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.

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.