Lasko Products Pays $500,000 Penalty for Failure to Report Defective Fans
The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recently announced that Lasko Products Inc., of West Chester, Pa., has agreed to pay a $500,000 civil penalty. The penalty, which has been provisionally accepted by the Commission, settles allegations that the company failed to immediately report incidents about its defective portable fans.
These box and floor fans were sold between 2000 and 2004. In February 2006, CPSC and Lasko announced the recall of about 5.6 million fans. CPSC alleged that Lasko failed to report to the government in a timely manner that fans sold by the firm could overheat, smoke, or catch fire, and pose fire and burn hazards to consumers.
Between November 2002 and September 2005, Lasko received about 42 reports of fans overheating, smoking, melting, or catching fire, which resulted in nine personal injuries and property damage. Lasko did not fully report the incidents to CPSC until September 2005.
Consumers who have the recalled fans can still receive a free fan cord adaptor, designed to shut off the fan motor if overheating occurs. Contact Lasko at (800) 984-3311, or visit the firm's Web site at www.laskoproducts.com/recall/recall_fans.html In agreeing to settle the matter, Lasko denies that it knowingly violated the law. To view the settlement in full, go to www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml09/09080.pdf.