Blount International Recalls Replacement Blades Used with Ariens Lawnmowers Due to Laceration Hazard

WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with the firm named below, today announced a voluntary recall of the following consumer product. Consumers should stop using recalled products immediately unless otherwise instructed. It is illegal to resell or attempt to resell a recalled consumer product.

Name of Product: Oregon® Replacement Lawnmower Blades

Units: About 950

Manufacturer: Blount International Inc., of Kansas City, Mo.

Hazard: The replacement lawnmower blades can break during normal use, posing a laceration hazard to the user and bystanders.

Incidents/Injuries: Blount has received seven reports of replacement blades breaking during use. No injuries have been reported.

Description: This recall involves Blount lawnmower replacement blades for Ariens 48-inch lawnmowers. The replacement blades are sold under the Oregon® brand name. “Oregon®,” part number “91-003” and “PA” or “PJ” are printed on the surface of the recalled blades.

Sold at: Independent lawn and garden sales and service stores nationwide from January 2010 through September 2011 for about $20.

Manufactured in: United States

Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using lawnmowers with the recalled blades and return the blades to the store where purchased or directly to Blount for a free replacement.

Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact (866) 685-5449 between 6 a.m. and 4 p.m. CT Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s website at www.blount.com

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The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is still interested in receiving incident or injury reports that are either directly related to this product recall or involve a different hazard with the same product. Please tell us about your experience with the product on www.saferproducts.gov

CPSC is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of the thousands of consumer products under the agency’s jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $900 billion annually. CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard. CPSC’s work to ensure the safety of consumer products – such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals – contributed to a decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.

Under federal law, it is illegal to attempt to sell or resell this or any other recalled product.

To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, go online to: www.saferproducts.gov, call CPSC’s Hotline at (800) 638-2772 or teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270 for the hearing impaired. Consumers can obtain this news release and product safety information at www.cpsc.gov. To join a free e-mail subscription list, please go to https://www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx.