Wal Mart Recalls Home Trends Footstools, Liability For Collapse Hazard

U.S. Consumer Protection and Safety, Oct 27, 2006

WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed.

Name of Product: Home Trends Wood Footstools

Units: About 165,000

Importer: Wal-Mart Stores Inc., of Bentonville, Ark.

Hazard: Due to improper construction, the stool can break and collapse, posing a fall hazard to consumers.

Incidents/Injuries: Wal-Mart has received nine reports of the footstools breaking. There have been seven reports of injuries, including a broken toe, neck and shoulder soreness, cuts, bruises, swelling, a slight concussion, and whiplash.

Description: The footstool is a natural-colored wood footstool. The standing surface is 11 1/2-inches by 11 1/2-inches with a 4-inch-long oval opening in the center. The stool is 11 1/2-inches tall. The recalled footstool can be identified by a white sticker underneath the step that contains the UPC number 87065900001.

Sold at: Wal-Mart stores exclusively nationwide from December 2005 through September 2006 for about $10.

Manufactured in: Malaysia