Unfortunately, accidents do happen. Whether it is through negligence or not paying attention, many people have been injured while using heavy equipment. But in extreme cases, injuries occur due to a design flaw. This could in turn lead to the product being recalled. Most recently, Peloton equipment faced a massive recall over injuries and deaths sustained from an incorrect design. Now, certain generators are being recalled as serious health risks.
Here’s the backstory
Joining a rather unfortunate club, backup power generation maker Generac is the latest company to recall a product. The equipment in question is the Generac and DR 6500 Watt and 8000 Watt portable generators. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) said, “An unlocked handle can pinch consumers’ fingers against the generator frame when the generator is moved, posing finger amputation and crushing hazards.” Around 320,000 of these generators have been sold in the U.S., with another 4,500 in Canada. Generac has received seven reports of finger amputations, and one report of a crushed finger.
What you should do about it
CPSC says consumers should immediately stop using the recalled portable generators, unless the locking pin has been inserted to secure the handle in place before and after moving the generator, and contact Generac for a free repair kit. The affected models, sold from June 2013 through June 2021, include:
XT8000EXT8000EFIGP6500GP6500EGP8000EPRO 6500MPRO 6500EHomeLink 6500E
Users should contact their nearest Generac branch, which will send you a free repair kit. If you are unsure whether your unit is part of the recall, you can check on the Generac Online Product Lookup system. The model and serial number are printed on a label on the generator.
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