Petzl carabiner recall

News from CPSC - U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Office of Information and Public Affairs Washington, D.C. 20207

For Immediate Release Firm’s Recall Hotline: (877) 807-3805
October 18, 2006 CPSC Recall Hotline: (800) 638-2772
Release #06-DRAFT FOR CLEARANCE CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908

Petzl America Recalls Climbing Equipment Due to Fall Hazard

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm 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 Product: Carabiners used for climbing
Units: About 8,000
Importer/Distributor: Petzl America, of Clearfield, Utah
Hazard: These carabiners have a green button that acts as a safety mechanism to prevent unlocking. The recalled carabiners can unlock unexpectedly without pressing the green button, posing a fall hazard.
Incidents/Injuries: None reported.
Description: The recall involves the M34 BL Am’D Ball-Lock and M36 BL William Ball Lock carabiners with metal locking sleeves. Carabiners with batch number between 06076 and 06178 are included in the recall. The batch number is engraved on the spine of the carabiner. The recall does not include Ball Lock carabiners having a plastic locking sleeve.
Sold at: Petzl dealers nationwide from March 2006 through July 2006 for about $13 for the Am’D model and about $17 for the William model.
Manufactured in: United States
Remedy: Consumers should stop using the recalled carabiners immediately, and contact Petzl America to have their carabiners inspected and to receive a free replacement, if necessary.
Consumer Contact: For more information, consumers can contact Petzl America at (877) 807-3805 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. MT Monday through Friday, or log on to the firm’s Web site at www.petzl.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.