Petzl Belaying Products Recalled in Europe
The GRIGRI 2 belaying device, which has an assisted brake for climbing ropes of 8.9 to 11 mm, has been recalled. Excessive force exerted on the handle when it is fully open may cause it to stick in the open position, disabling the braking action.
Petzl has voluntarily recalled Models D14 2O, D14 2G, and D14 2B of its GRIGRI 2 belaying device with an assisted brake for climbing ropes of 8.9 to 11 mm in Europe, as the Aug. 5 Rapid Alert System for Non-Food Products (RAPEX) report on dangerous products announced. Reference numbers indicated above with the first five digits of the serial number between 10326 and 11136 are affected.
The report says this product "poses a risk of injuries because, exerting excessive force on the handle of the device when it is fully open may damage it and causes it to remain stuck in the open position. When the handle is blocked in this position, the assisted braking effect of the device is disabled. This causes the device to operate in the same way as a traditional belaying device. When the device is used with the handle blocked in the open position, failure to control the braking side of the rope will increase the risk of an uncontrolled descent."
RAPEX is the EU rapid alert system for dangerous consumer products, except for food, pharmaceutical, and medical devices. The European Commission publishes a weekly overview of the dangerous products reported by national authorities. The Aug. 5 report also includes Bright Elf W-2591 and W-8013 faucets, made in China and reported by Italian authorities because the alloy used to manufacture them contains excessive lead. Test of liquids passed through the taps showed high concentrations of carcinogenic heavy materials and also metal splinters, according to the report, which indicates these products were seized.
Another product listed in the report as recalled is a Bullit V200 motorcycle helmet, models BS4022V GRADIENT 3 509 031 009961. This product, also manufactured in China, does not have sufficient shock-absorbing material and does not comply with UNECE Regulation No. 22, the report states.
Under a Memorandum of Understanding signed in 2006, an online RAPEX-CHINA system allows EU authorities to send information about Chinese-made products identified as dangerous, and thus banned or withdrawn from the European market, to China's General Administration of Quality Supervision, Inspection and Quarantine of China (AQSIQ). That agency investigates and provides quarterly reports on the results to the Commission.