|
|
NEWS
RECALLS
COMPLAINT FORM
SCAM ALERTS
RESOURCES
Small Claims Guide Class Actions Lemon Laws FAQ Newsletters |
Share |
| Automotive Education Employment Electronics Family Finance Health Homeowners Insurance Pets Shopping Travel |
|
|
|
![]() |
Noxious Tile Sealer Stayed on Home Depot ShelvesAt least two consumers died from inhaling Stand 'n Seal fumes |
|||||||||||||
|
By Joseph S. Enoch October 8, 2007
Stand 'n Seal seriously injured at least 80 people, killing at least two. The substance often would result in dizziness, wooziness, foam at the mouth, loss of consciousness and extensive lung damage. The Home Depot and the manufacturer, BRTT, originally recalled the product in August 2005. BRTT reformulated Stand 'n Seal and without doing any comprehensive testing, and the Consumer Product Safety Commission took the manufacturer's word that the new product was safe. But all BRTT did was give the product a pungent chemical smell, hoping to more effectively warn consumers to use the product only in a well-ventilated area. But even the company's own tester nearly passed out while using the product in a properly ventilated atmosphere and one boy damaged 80 percent of his lungs as he stood in the doorway of the bathroom where is father was sealing tile, the Times reported. Even after continued complaints, BRTT focused more on averting an expensive PR disaster rather than making the product safe for consumers, documents uncovered by the Times revealed. After the recall, consumers continued to fall ill from both the original lot, which The Home Depot and BRTT failed to remove from shelves, and the new formula. Ineffective recallsThe story highlights the CPSC's outdated testing facilities and the ineffectiveness of recalls, which critics say do little to ensure the products are actually taken off shelves. The CPSC was unable to do substantial tests on Stand 'n Seal, agency spokeswoman Julie Vallese told the Times. The agency's lab, which is a 1950s missile tracking site, does not have the ability to perform rigorous chemical tests, Vallese said. Chinese manufactured toys are often found in vending machines and at dollar stores years after a recall. Therefore, the CPSC relies on consumers to read about their recalls through the media and to be educated shoppers. While ConsumerAffairs.com reports on every recall and makes its reports available indefinitely, newspapers and broadcasters cover recalls only sporadically. What to doAlan Korn, director of public policy at Kids Safe, a nonprofit that aims to protect children from harmful products, said that stores should follow the procedure established by Toys 'R' Us. When a product is recalled, Toys 'R' Us raises its price to $9,999.00, ensuring that no one inadvertently buys it. Korn also said the CPSC needs to broaden its field inspector office to perform more spot checks at stores and he suggested consumers should subscribe to the CPSC's email recall warnings. Report Your Experience
|
|||||||||||||
Advertisement
|
|
Custom Search
|
||||
|
AUTOMOTIVE Dealers Manufacturers Service Extended Warranties Lemon Laws Recalls Tires Transporters FAMILY Aging Children, Parenting Recalls Dating Education Entertainment Pets Weddings |
FINANCE Annuities Banks Credit Cards Debt Collection Debt Counseling Insurance Investing Loans Mortgages Payday Loans Student Loans Tax Prep HEALTH Doctors Drugs, Pharmacies Health Clubs Hearing Care Hospitals Nursing Homes Nutrition, Diets Vision Care Weight Loss |
HOUSE & HOME Appliances Cookware Furniture Home Improvements Lawn & Garden Movers Pools & Spas Realtors, Rental Agents Recalls Utilities ELECTRONICS Cable TV/DBS Cameras Cell Phones Computers Home Electronics Internet Access Local Phone Service Long Distance VoIP |
SHOPPING In-Home Online Retail Stores Sporting Goods Supermarkets Telemarketers TRAVEL Airlines Bus Lines Car Rental Cruises Hotels Travel Agents Trains RESOURCES Class Actions Complaint Form Small Claims Guide Lemon Laws |
CONSUMER NEWS Latest News Automotive Telecom Financial Health Homeowners Scams Seniors Travel More ... RECALLS Automotive Children's Products Drugs Food Household Products Sporting Goods ABOUT US FAQ Privacy Policy Advertise With Us Newsroom Syndication Terms of Use |
Terms of Use Your use of this site constitutes acceptance of the Terms of Use
Copyright © 2003-2009 ConsumerAffairs.com Inc. All Rights Reserved. The contents of this site may not be republished, reprinted, rewritten or recirculated without written permission. |
|