An outdoor playset may be a wise investment for a family. This is provided that you will get it from the best manufacturers in town. Apparently, several companies whose lifeblood depends upon even just a single sale of an outdoor playset wants to reassure consumers that safety issues are addressed. If recalls of products are needed, they will definitely adhere to guidelines.
The US Consumer Product Safety Commission or the USCPSC oversees all transactions that are geared to consumer safety. One of the scopes of the commission s work is to check on toy products sold in the market. Included in the list is the sale of different types of outdoor playset. Whenever they receive reports on defective items in the market, the first thing they will do is ask for a recall of these items.
Most recent recalls made on outdoor playset pieces
Just this year, the USCPSC had ordered recalls of some types of outdoor playset sold in the market. The details of these recalls are as follows:
1. May 27, 2009. As per report made by the business section of the Los Angeles Times, there were 4,300 outdoor playset pieces recalled by the USCPSC. These ones were sold by Toys R Us and the recall was made just after 60,000 trampolines sold by the same company were pulled out from the market.
The report that led to the recall was established by Step2 Company of Ohio – manufacturers of the Step2 Play Up Gym sold by Toys R Us. The said company reported that 17 of the outdoor playset pieces had breaking hangers. The hangers were used to connect the swing to the upper rail of the playset. These items were both made in the US and in China and sold at a price of $400 from January to April of 2009.
2. June 4, 2009. As per Alert #09 745 issued by the USCPSC via the Office of Information and Public Affairs in Washington D.C., around 1,800 outdoor playset gliders manufactured by Backyard Play Systems were recalled from the market. The reason for doing so is the hazard brought about by the retainer rings in the outdoor playset. These ones were either detached or lose and may cause falling accidents to children.
Although these products were manufactured in China, Backyard Play Systems cooperated with USCPSC and provided immediate solution to the problem. Those who have the outdoor playset gliders in their backyards were advised not to play in these items any longer. Some customers were sent free repair kits and replacement hardware together with a written instruction about the replacement process.
Why do recall of outdoor playset pieces happen?
The recall is made out of the USCPSC s concern about child safety while playing in an outdoor playset. Luckily, manufacturers were keen enough to report incidents and cooperate with the recall as per instruction of the commission.
However, in order to get rid of such cases, manufacturers should always assure that the outdoor playset gliders and other products they sell in the market are safe for children s consumption. These should undergo the quality control procedures of the company before they sell it out to the public.
You are therefore allowed to scrutinize the outdoor playset purchase you make. Since your children s safety is a concern, be open enough to raise questions to your chosen providers. Purchase outdoor playset pieces not only on the basis of cheap cost and beautiful designs. Materials should be checked before you install the playground set in your backyards.