Toy Boxes

CPSC Recall #02-014 — October 10, 2001

Recall Summary

Recall Number02-014
Recall DateOctober 10, 2001
Remedy TypeRefund, Replace
Units AffectedAbout 4,500

Where It Was Sold

Furniture stores nationwide and in Canada sold these toy boxes from July 1999 through August 2001 for about $150 (about $200 CAD).

Product

Toy Boxes

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C.- In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Palliser Furniture Ltd., of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada, is voluntarily recalling about 4,500 toy boxes. The toy box's lid can fall suddenly, posing entrapment and strangulation hazards to young children. In addition, spaces at the end of the hinge on the lid can cause pinched, crushed and lacerated fingers.The toy chest voluntary standard requires toy boxes or chests with hinged lids to have lid supports that keep the lid from falling suddenly onto the head of a child, preventing an entrapment and strangulation hazard. The hinges also must minimize any spaces that could allow a child's finger to be pinched, crushed or lacerated.CPSC and Palliser Furniture Ltd. have not received any reports of injuries or incidents involving these toy boxes. This recall is being conducted to prevent the possibility of injuries.All the toy boxes have a manufacturer's label inside or on the back with "Palliser" and the model number written on it. The model numbers are: 580-283, 581-283, 582-283, 583-283, 584-283, 589-283 and 598-283. The toy boxes measure about 36 inches long by 19 inches wide and 21 inches high. They have the following finishes: white with small color inserts in the knobs or with large color inserts on the front panel; natural maple or natural maple with white, denim or green front panels; and natural cherry.Furniture stores nationwide and in Canada sold these toy boxes from July 1999 through August 2001 for about $150 (about $200 CAD). Consumers should stop children from using these toy boxes immediately, and contact Palliser for a free replacement toy box or a $50 refund. For more information, consumers should call Palliser at (204) 988-5600 anytime or visit Palliser's recall website at www.toyboxnews.com.

Hazard

The toy box's lid can fall suddenly, posing entrapment and strangulation hazards to young children. In addition, spaces at the end of the hinge on the lid can cause pinched, crushed and lacerated fingers.

Incidents & Injuries

CPSC and Palliser Furniture Ltd. have not received any reports of injuries or incidents involving these toy boxes.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should stop children from using these toy boxes immediately, and contact Palliser for a free replacement toy box or a $50 refund.

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Refund, Replace 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, Replace) at no cost to you.

Furniture tip-overs are a leading cause of pediatric injuries in the U.S., particularly dressers, bookcases, and television stands. CPSC data shows that a child dies approximately every two weeks from a furniture or TV tip-over. Unstable high chairs, baby swings, and bouncers are also frequent recall subjects due to fall risks. ASTM International standards now require that certain furniture must meet tip-over resistance standards, and CPSC has been actively pursuing mandatory requirements for dressers and chests. If you have furniture that was not recalled but feels unstable, wall-anchoring kits are widely available at hardware stores.

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.