WASHINGTON D.C.. – Black & Decker agreed to pay a $1.5 million fine to settle allegations that it didn’t report a safety hazard on its “spontaneous ignition” cordless electric lawnmowers in a timely manner, according to federal officials
Black & Decker has previously paid four civil penalties relating to Black & Decker’s untimely reporting of defects and risks presented by other Black & Decker products.
At last two consumers had complained that the lawnmowers’ blades started while they were cleaning the machines, officials said.
- The federal complaint states that in one case, the lawnmower continued to run, with the handle released and without the safety key, for several hours while the consumer sought treatment in a hospital emergency room for injury to the consumer’s hand, and after fire department personnel arrived and removed the blade.
The Department of Justice and the Consumer Product Safety Commission jointly made the announcement about the settlement on Wednesday.
“Not for the first time, Black & Decker held back critical information from the public about the safety of one of its products,” said Deputy Assistant Attorney General Benjamin C. Mizer of the Justice Department’s Civil Division. “The Department of Justice will continue to protect the public against companies that put profits over safety.”
The complaint relates to cordless lawnmowers manufactured and sold by Black & Decker from 1995 to 2006.
According to the complaint, these are the allegations:
- As early as November 1998, Black & Decker started receiving reports that its cordless electric lawnmowers continued to run even after a user released the lawnmower’s handle and removed the safety key, referred to as a continuous-run defect.
- A second defect involved lawnmowers that unexpectedly started even though the handle was released and the safety key removed, referred to as a spontaneous ignition defect.
- Between 1998 and 2009, Black & Decker received more than 100 complaints regarding the continuous-run or spontaneous ignition defects.
- Dozens of these complaints specifically reported that the lawnmower continued to run or exhibited spontaneous ignition after the lawnmower’s handle was released and the safety key was removed.
- After consulting an outside expert, the company knew in 2004 that the lawnmowers could continue to run even if a user released the handle and removed the safety key.
- Despite this information, Black & Decker failed to report to the Consumer Product Safety Commission until early 2009, even though federal law requires “immediate reporting.”
- The complaint further notes that at least two consumers informed Black & Decker that the lawnmower’s blades started unexpectedly while the consumer cleaned them, resulting in injury.
“Black & Decker’s persistent inability to follow these vital product safety reporting laws calls into question their commitment to the safety of their customers,” said Chairman Elliot F. Kaye of the Consumer Product Safety Commission. “They have a lot of work to do to earn back the public’s trust. Companies are required to report potential product hazards and risks to CPSC on a timely basis. That means within 24 hours, not months or years as in Black & Decker’s case.”
In addition to the civil penalty, Black & Decker agreed to stop violating the law and report defects in a timely and truthful manner.
Black & Decker faces fines for each day the company is not in compliance with the consent decree, federal officials stated.