3M Issues Immediate Recall of Two Fall Protection Devices, Citing Safety Concerns
The corporation issued the recall and stop use before any serious incidents took place due to the faulty equipment.
The worker safety company 3M is asking customers to immediately stop using two devices designed for fall protection after the corporation discovered major issues that “could expose the worker to serious injury or death.”
3M Fall Protection announced the recall of the 3M™ DBI-SALA® Twin-Leg Nano-Lok™ edge and the Twin-Leg Nano-Lok™ Wrap Back Self-Retracting Lifeline last week. The products are part of a personal fall protection system that connects retracting lifelines to the ring of a worker’s harness.
Both products used an energy absorber that, in the event of a fall or other unspecified conditions, may not properly deploy, which could have led to tragic consequences for workers. So far, there have not been reports of accidents or incidents associated with the problem, 3M said in its announcement.
“This stop use/recall does not affect the single-leg versions of these models,” the company said. “As of the date of this notice, no 3M twin-leg SRL product is approved for use over sharp or abrasive edges.”
Customers who own the devices can return them to 3M to be repaired or replaced as soon as a solution is “identified, tested and certified,” the company said. Owners may also elect to receive cash payments as long as there is not a replacement solution available.
If the device was manufactured after January, 1, 2017, the owner will be paid $400. Customers with a manufacturing date before then will receive $200.
Users can start filing claims through 3M’s recall website. The site also provides a list of specific product numbers affected by the recall and contact information for customer service agents. If customers are not sure if they own the devices, they can ask the Fall Protection unit for a listing of all models sold to them.