A large recall of about 206,000 Step Stools with Storage has just been announced by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
The wooden step stools can break apart or collapse under the weight of the user, posing a fall hazard. To date, Target has received 26 reports of the stools breaking or collapsing; 14 incidents involved children and 7 involved adults. Five incidents took place where the user’s age was unknown. Two adults fractured their wrists and, of those victims, one also fractured her hip and pelvis. Additionally, six children and one adult suffered scrapes and bruising.
The Step Stools with Storage were manufactured in China, Vietnam, Taiwan, and Thailand; imported by Target Corporation, of Minneapolis, Minnesota; and sold exclusively at Target stores nationwide and online at Target.com from January 2007 through October 2010 for between $25 and $30.
The wooden step stool has two steps and comes in various colors, including natural, natural and red, white, and honey. The Circo step stool has a lid on the bottom step that lifts to provide storage. The Do Your Room (DYR) step stool has a lid on the top step that lifts to provide storage. The step stools measure approximately 13 inches in height by 13 5/8 inches in width by 14 1/8 inches in depth.
The Circo brand name or DYR brand name and UPC numbers are printed on a label found underneath the step stool. The following step stools are included in this recall:
Circo
• White Step Stool with Storage: UPC 490970403046; selling period June 2009 through February 2010 or UPC 180970208597; selling period February 2010 through October 2010.
• Natural Step Stool with Storage: UPC 490970403053; selling period June 2009 through February 2010 or UPC 180970208610; selling period February 2010 through October 2010.
• Natural and Red Step Stool with Storage: UPC 490970403060; selling period June 2009 through February 2010 or UPC 180970208665; selling period February 2010 through October 2010.
Do Your Room (DYR)
• Natural Step Stool with Storage: UPC 097168014338; selling period January 2007 through August 2009.
• Honey Step Stool with Storage: UPC 390970402622; selling period January 2007 through August 2009.
Consumers should immediately stop using the step stools and return them to any Target store to receive a full refund. Target can be reached, toll-free, at 1.800.440.0680, from 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Central Time (CT), Monday through Friday, or at the firm’s website at www.target.com.
