The Electrical Safety Authority, Health Canada and Underwriters Laboratories Warn Consumers about Possible Laceration Hazard Associated with Dishwashers

Starting date:

April 21, 2010

Posting date:

April 21, 2010

Type of communication:

Advisory

Subcategory:

Household Items

Source of recall:

Health Canada

Issue:

Product Safety, Physical Hazard, Usage

Audience:

General Public

Identification number:

RA-110004236

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The Electrical Safety Authority (ESA), Health Canada and Underwriters Laboratories (UL) have received two separate reports of very young children being injured while playing adjacent to a dishwasher in the family kitchen. In each case, the children sustained cuts to the foot and ankle on a sharp metal edge located under the dishwasher door that required stitches at a hospital emergency department.

The applicable appliance manufacturers were alerted of the reported incidents.

ESA, Health Canada and UL are urging consumers with dishwashers to be aware of the potential laceration hazard and to consider the following safeguards:

• Do not let children sit, stand, crawl, lie or play on or around a dishwasher.
• Take care to anticipate and avoid sharp edges while performing cleaning or wiping or other types of cosmetic maintenance in the identified area shown in the attached picture.
• Also take precautions when servicing dishwashers, as this often requires removal of an access panel that can expose additional hazards. Always ensure the access panel is securely put back into position to avoid the possibility of a child or animal having access to hot or moving parts.
• Read and follow the owner's manual, user's guide and other product information pertaining to your dishwasher as they may contain additional safety information. These documents can typically be requested from the retailer or manufacturer or in some cases, be downloaded from the Internet.

Electric appliances, including dishwashers, are regulated by provincial and territorial electrical safety authorities. In Ontario, this authority is the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA). To report similar incidents or other concerns with these appliances contact ESA at www.esasafe.com or contact 1-877-ESA-SAFE (1-877-372-7233). [NJS_FILE:d46d09f4-f707-4c9c-8956-83b8d6c6be7b:70c7c795-949f-4fb1-87a4-6054a69e146a].

For further information, or to report a consumer product complaint, consumers may contact Health Canada's Consumer Product Safety Directorate by calling toll-free, 1-866-662-0666, or by emailing cps-spc@hc-sc.gc.ca (if contacting via e-mail, please indicate the province or territory from which you are corresponding).

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