News from CPSC
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, D.C. 20207
January 13, 2005 Firm’s Media Contact: (314) 982-7782
Release #00-000 Draft 1/11/05 3:19 CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908
CPSC, Emerson Tool Co. Announce Recall to Repair Wet/Dry Vacuums
WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the manufacturer named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. (To access color photos of the following recalled products, see CPSC’s Web site at www.cpsc.gov.)
Name of products: Ridgid® 16-Gallon, Model WD16650 2-In-1 Blower Vac
Units: About 6,500
Manufacturer: Emerson Tool Co., of St. Louis, Mo.
Hazard: The air intake shield
can be missing. Consumers can suffer lacerations if they come into contact with
the intake blower wheel.
Incidents/Injuries: Emerson Tool Co. has received two reports of consumers who suffered lacerations to finger tips while using these vacuums.
Description: The Ridgid® 16-gallon 2-In-1 Blower Vacs, Model WD16650, have light gray drums with orange lids, gray power heads, and black wheels. The recalled units have the model number and a serial number from 04104C through 04114C located on a label on the side of the power head. “Ridgid® 2 In 1 Blower Vac” is written on the front of the units.
Sold at: Home Depot stores and by RIDGE TOOL distributors nationwide from April 2004 through January 2005 for about $100.
Manufactured in: Canada
Remedy: If the air intake shield is missing, consumers should stop using their vacuum and contact the firm for a free repair kit.
Contact: Consumers should call Emerson Tool Co. at (800) 372-7759 between 8 a.m. and
6 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit their Web site at www.emersontoolcompany.com.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from more than 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency’s jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $700 billion annually. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard. The CPSC’s work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals – contributed significantly to the 30 percent decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.
To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC’s hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC’s teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270 or visit CPSC’s Web site at www.cpsc.gov/talk.html. Consumers can obtain this release and recall information at CPSC’s Web site at www.cpsc.gov.
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