The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has announced a voluntary recall by BSH Home Appliances Corporation, a subsidiary of Bosch Appliances, of two models of its Thermador ceramic cooktops, which turn on by themselves. Consumers are urged to turn off these affected units at the circuit breaker between uses, and immediately contact the manufacturer to arrange a free in-home repair. BSH’s Recall Hotline is 1-800-758-1001.
June is also National Home Safety Month, and to heighten awareness of home safety issues like those posed by defective appliances, the Home Safety Council offers these kitchen and burn safety tips:
“Cooking Safety:
- Always stay in the kitchen while cooking.
- Keep things that can burn, such as dishtowels, paper or plastic bags, and curtains at least three feet away from the range top.
- Keep the range top and oven clean.
- Before cooking, roll up sleeves and use oven mitts. Loose-fitting clothes can touch a hot burner and catch on fire. If clothes do catch fire, “Stop, Drop and Roll” by dropping immediately to the ground and rolling over and over or back and forth to put out the flames. Cool the burned area with cool water and seek medical attention for serious burns.
- Always turn pot handles inward to prevent small children from reaching and pulling down a hot pan.
- Keep hot items, such as hot beverages and trays that have just come out of the oven away from the edge of counters, so that children are not able to reach them.
- Hot liquid and food burns often occur when children pull hanging tablecloths or placemats. Use tablecloths and decorations with care.
- Food cooked in a microwave can be dangerously hot. Remove the lids or other coverings from microwaved food carefully to prevent steam burns.
- For extra care with toddlers and infants, use travel mugs with a tight lid for coffee, tea or other hot beverages.
- Keep children and pets away from the range when anyone is cooking and keep a close eye on them at all times.
- Every kitchen should be protected by Ground-Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs). If you don’t have them, hire an electrician to install these devices to protect electrical receptacles in the kitchen.
- For safer water temperatures to prevent scalds from hot tap water, keep your hot water heater set 120 degrees Fahrenheit or below.
- Store knives and other sharp objects out of the reach of children and make sure children are a safe distance away when you are using knives to avoid injuries.
- Never leave barbecue grills unattended while in use.
- Keep grills at least three feet away from other objects including the house and any shrubs or bushes.
- Douse cigarette and cigar butts with water before dumping them in the trash.
- Post emergency numbers in visible areas.”
“Burn Prevention:
- Electrical receptacles (outlets) in kitchens, bathrooms and other wet areas should be protected by ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCI). GFCIs help reduce electrical shock injuries. An electrician can tell you if your home’s wiring needs to be updated for safety.
- Always stay in the kitchen when you have something cooking on the range and give it your full attention. If you must leave the range for a moment, turn down the heat first and return quickly.
- Teach older children who are learning to cook burn prevention tips.
- Roll up sleeves when cooking and avoid reaching over burners and other hot surfaces.
- Avoid storing items you frequently use directly over the range.
- Keep children well away from the cooking area and place hot pans and cookie sheets away from the edges of counters where children can reach them.
- Use heavy oven mitts and hot pads when cooking.
- Learn how to prevent and extinguish a small pan fire.
- Keep electrical appliances such as toasters, radios, and hairdryers, away from the sink and tub. If an appliance falls into water, un-plug it immediately. Never reach into water to retrieve it.
- Never touch an electrical appliance when you are bathing.
- Unplug these appliances when not in use.
- Wood stoves, fire places and other portable heaters get hot on the outside. Keep young children well away from these devices.
- Store matches, lighters and candles up high, ideally in a locked cabinet, so young children cannot reach them.”
As we reported in our earlier posting about kitchen safety during the holidays on the DC Metro Area Personal Injury Law Blog, cooking safety and burn prevention are important home safety issues.
If you or a family member believes that you have a case involving a defective product, please contact us on-line at Regan Zambri & Long or call us at (202) 463-3030 for a free consultation. If you would like to receive our complimentary electronic newsletter, please click here.
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