Two kayakers make their way through glacial icebergs.
Chariot Child Bicycle Trailer Recall
Chariot Carriers has recalled selected models of their popular child bicycle trailers and conversion kits. The trailer's hitch mechanism can crack and break, causing the trailer to detach from the bicycle. Twenty-four incidents and no injuries have been reported. Chariot is offering a free upgrade kit that fixes the problem. The ability of the Chariot carriers to be used for running, walking, easy hiking, biking, and skiing makes them extremely popular, at least here in Bozeman, Montana.
Chariot Carriers Recalls Child Bicycle Trailers and Conversion Kits Due to Injury 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: Chariot bicycle trailers and bicycle trailer conversion kits
Units: About 44,000 bicycle trailers and 70,000 bicycle trailer conversion kits
Manufacturer: Thule Child Transport Systems Ltd., d/b/a Chariot Carriers, of Calgary, Canada
Hazard: The bicycle trailer’s hitch mechanisms can crack and break, causing the trailer to detach from the bicycle. This poses an injury hazard to children in the bicycle trailer.
Incidents/Injuries: The firm has received 24 incident reports worldwide, three of which occurred in the United States, involving the bicycle trailers and the conversion kits. No injuries have been reported.
Description: Chariot Carriers convert to strollers, jogging strollers and bike, hike or ski trailers. This recall involves Chariot bicycle trailers and bicycle trailer conversion kits. Recalled trailers have serial numbers from 1205-xxxx to 0710-xxxx (representing manufacture dates December 2005 through July 2010) located the left side on the frame. Recalled conversion kits have hitch arms that attach the carrier to the bicycle with model number “20100503” printed on a label attached to the aluminum tube next to the warning label. Older conversion kits without a label, but with a release push button located where the hitch arm inserts into the carrier, are also being recalled.
Sold at: Specialty bicycle stores nationwide and on various websites from December 2005 through August 2010 for between $400 and $925 for Chariot bicycle trailers and from October 2002 through August 2011 for between $40 and $70 for bicycle trailer conversion kits.
Manufactured in: Canada
Remedy: Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled bicycle trailers and bicycle trailer conversion kits and contact Chariot Carriers for a free repair kit which the consumer can install.
Consumer Contact: For more information, contact Chariot Carriers at (800) 262-8651 between 10 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. ET Monday through Friday, or visit the firm’s website at www.chariotcarriers.com
Recalled Trailer's Versa Wing
Upgraded Versa Wing
OSI is not responsibe for the content of this release. Please refer to the original release here for the complete information. Or visit Chariot Carrier's website product advisory or the more detailed customer letter.
Santa Claus has a rappelling incident at a Florida Shopping Mall. Warning: white beard and rappel device problem, may not be suitable for young viewers.
It appears that Santa goes hands-free, trusting his beard jammed in the rap device to keep him up. The video is a bit unclear, but it seems lucky that this incident did not have a worse outcome.
According to CBS news in Florida, Santa was eventually able to get himself down. He descended, told the traumatized children that he was really an elf and introduced the "real' Santa. He should have downloaded Petzl's classic Tech Tips for Saint Nick (PDF).
Sierra Trading Post in conjunction with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission have announced a recall of the Joss Rock Climbing Cam Units. The cams, which bear a "Cassin" label, may fail in an unspecified manner. One failure has occurred in Europe. Sold in the U.S. exclusively through Sierra Trading Post between 2003 and 2006, the cams were a product of Cassin, the Italian manufacturer. Cassin was subsequently acquired by CAMP USA and is now an entirely new company.
Additional background information and details on how to receive a refund for Joss Cam units you own is available on the Sierra Trading Post website.
Below is the press release from the U.S. CPSC, please refer to the original release for the latest and most complete information.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE November 10, 2011 Release #12-038
Joss Rock Climbing Cam Units Recalled by Sierra Trading Post Due to a Fall Hazard; Sold Exclusively by Sierra Trading Post
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: Joss rock climbing cam
Units: About 1,280
Importer: Sierra Trading Post, of Cheyenne, Wy.
Manufacturer: Cassin Sri, of Italy
Hazard: The recalled cams can fail unexpectedly after being set, posing a fall hazard.
Incidents: One incident reported in Europe. No deaths or injuries reported in the U.S.
Description: The Joss Cam is a mechanical device placed in the crack of a rock to support a climber's weight. The Cam is operated by a trigger that retracts the aluminum lobes, allowing the device to be placed and secured in the crack of a rock. A cable is attached to the device with a heavy duty nylon sling attached to the end of the cable. Joss Cams come in eight sizes and each Cam is marked with the size (.5 to 4). The sling on the end features solid horizontal blocks of color (yellow, orange, purple, red, green and blue) indicating size. The "Cassin" logo is also printed on a tag attached to the sling. The Sierra Trading Post item numbers associated with this recall are #69277 and #69278. These numbers can be found on the original packaging label or order invoice.
Sold at: Sierra Trading Post nationwide from August 2003 through March 2006 for $3 to $32.
Manufactured in: Italy
Remedy: Consumers should stop using the product and return it to Sierra Trading Post for a full refund including shipping.
Consumer Contact: For additional information contact Sierra Trading Post at (800) 713-4534 between 5 a.m. to 10 p.m. MT Monday through Friday, or email the company at customerservice@sierratradingpost.com
OSI is not responsible for the content of this release. Please refer to the original release here for the complete information.
This recall is for unmarked aluminum rappel rings that were shipped by KONG and potentially other distributors. The rings have fractured and, in one case, failed under (reportedly) loads as low as body weight. This recall seems to have been handled informally with various notices released by different entities in 2009 and 2010. It has received relatively little attention–thanks to Michigan Backcountry Search and Rescue for alerting OSI to this concern.
I (Alex Kosseff) personally own some very similar looking rings. These rings were purchased directly from a well-known climbing company (other than KONG) that sources their products in China. OSI will be looking into this situation. For now it is advisable not to use any unmarked rings and, as always, its a good practice never to rely on a single piece of equipment in an anchor.
KONG's response to this situation is disturbing. One ring failed and an injury occurred during a tree climbing competition. KONG’s defense is that “As anybody know (sic), unless specifically stated, standard equipment shall not be used in a competition . . .” Hopefully something was lost in the poor translation from Italian, at it is routine practice to use climbing equipment in climbing comps (read KONG’s release here).
It is disturbing to see life safety equipment being sold that is so poorly made, especially when it is being sold by well-known companies such as KONG. This instance and the counterfeit Petzl climbing gear detected earlier this year make it clear that end users must be vigilant. Please check any the rings at rappel stations you are using and replace any suspect ones if necessary (send us the suspect rings and OSI will send you strength rated replacements–please contact us before sending them in). Illustration from SherrillTree
There has been no recall of this product though official channels such as the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Four PDF’s from different sources provide additional information on this unusual recall:
Trek Bicycle Corporation in conjunction with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission have announced a recall of the 2012 FX and District bicycles. The recall is for Trek 7.2 FX, 7.3 FX, 7.4 FX, AND 7.5 FX; District, and 9th District bicycle models: WSD, Livestrong and Disc models. The bolt that secures the seat saddle clamp to the seat post can break posing a fall hazard. Trek has received four reports of failures and one report of injury. The recall covers 27,000 bicycles sold between May 2011 and September 2011. Consumers should stop riding the bicycles immediately and contact an authorized Trek dealer for a free replacement bolt.
The following is the complete text of the CPSC press release as of October 27th, 2011 (not all images are included):
Bicycles Recalled by Trek Due to Fall Hazard
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Health Canada, 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: Trek 2012 FX and District bicycles
Units: About 27,000
Importer: Trek Bicycle Corporation, of Waterloo, Wisc.
Hazard: The bolt that secures the seat saddle clamp to the seat post can break posing a fall hazard.
Incidents/Injuries: Trek has received four reports of incidents with one injury involving a broken tooth and lip injury.
Description: The bicycles affected by this recall include the following models:
Model Year 2012: Trek 7.2 FX, 7.3 FX, 7.4 FX, AND 7.5 FX; District, and 9th District bicycle models: WSD, Livestrong and Disc models. The model name is found on the bicycle's frame.
Consumers can determine the model year by looking at the SKU number stamped on the bottom bracket, which is found near the pedals. If the last two digits of the SKU are 12, the bicycle is a Model Year 2012 bicycle.
Sold at: Specialty bicycle retailers nationwide between May 2011 and September 2011 for between $550 and $1,100.
Manufactured in: China
Remedy: Consumers should stop riding the bicycles immediately and contact an authorized Trek dealer for a free replacement bolt.
Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Trek at 800-373-4594 between 8:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m. CT Monday through Friday or visit the company's website at www.trekbikes.com
The Outdoor Safety Institute will be at two important conferences this fall: the Wilderness Risk Management Conference (WRMC) near Boston and the Association of Outdoor Recreation and Education (AORE) national conference in San Antonio. We'll be offering workshops and have our booth setup at both conferences. These are incredibly valuable opportunities for sharing information within the outdoor education, outdoor recreation, conservation service, and related fields. We hope to see you at one of them!
At the Wilderness Risk Management Conference, OSI's Alex Kosseff will be leading a brand new session: Leading Risk Management Transformation. He is also part of an all-star team offering a full-day pre-conference session on Managing Risks with Volunteer Leaders (the 7th time Alex has presented on this topic at the WRMC).
At the AORE conference Alex will join OSI's Ryan Van Luit in presenting an innovative session: 5 Weeks to Improved Risk Management. Alex will also be reprising his Leading Risk Management Transformation workshop from the WRMC.
We can't make it because its at the same time as the AORE conference (hopefully this won't be the case next year), but some of you may also be interested in the Association for Experiential Education international conference. The conference is November 3-6 in Jacksonville, Florida.
The WRMC & OSI Staff Workshops
The 2011 WRMC is being held October 5-7 at the Westin Waltham-Boston in Massachusetts. Please visit the conference website for complete information.
Leading Risk Management Transformation
Many participants leave the WRMC with a vision and excitement for improving risk management practices within their organization. Unfortunately, this change can be challenging to implement and many well-intentioned efforts lose momentum. Learn how to establish clear priorities, build a sense of urgency, educate stakeholders and successfully transform your organization’s risk management practices. This lecture style session will include two brief case studies and a break out session to capture ideas from the audience.
OSI's Alex Kosseff will be leading this session, which is informed by his experience helping over fifty organizations with their outdoor safety practices.
Managing Risk With Volunteer Leaders - October 5th
Volunteer outdoor leaders are invaluable to many outdoor organizations, yet implementing an effective risk management system for volunteers can be challenging. Models of leader training, supervision, and established safety practices that function with professionals are not always an easy fit for volunteers. This session will explore successful strategies to help your organization’s volunteers become better risk managers. We will include interactive activities, theories, and opportunities to network with others working with volunteer outdoor leaders.
Alex Kosseff will be joining with Aaron Gorban (Appalachian Mountain Club), Sascha Paris and Karen Benton (Sierra Club), and Cathy Hansen-Stamp and Tony Clapp (attorneys specializing in outdoor programs) in presenting this special full-day program. This will be a great opportunity for mountain clubs, scouting, college and university outdoor programs, conservation service organizations and more to share risk management expertise. This pre-conference requires advance registration and we have minimum registration numbers for please signup soon if you are interested (it is possible to attend just this session and not the entire conference).
The AORE Conference & OSI Staff Workshops
The 2011 AORE Conference is being held November 3-5 at the Crowne Plaze in San Antonio, Texas (on the famous Riverwalk). Please visit the conference website for complete information.
5 Weeks to Improved Risk Management
Learn 5 critical safety hazards common to many outdoor programs and what you can do about them. This workshop presents an aggressive 5-week plan to tackle these readily resolvable issues in your organization. The hazards, identified through the Outdoor Safety Institute’s risk management review program, cover aspects of program management, staffing, crisis response, field safety, and transportation. Session attendees will receive a comprehensive, 12-page guide to the 5-week process (and, if you like, we’ll even check in with you after to the conference to see how its going). We’ll also present ideas on using this 5-week program to engage staff and/or volunteers and jumpstart a more comprehensive risk management program.
OSI's Ryan Van Luit and Alex Kosseff will be leading this interactive session. This is a great place to begin refining your program's risk managment approaches.
Leading Risk Management Transformation
Many managers have a vision and excitement for improving risk management practices within their outdoor program. Unfortunately, this change can be challenging to implement and many well-intentioned efforts lose momentum. Learn how to establish clear priorities, build a sense of urgency, educate stakeholders and successfully transform your organization’s risk management practices. Many outdoor programs only change after tragedy strikes—don’t allow this to be the situation in your program. This lecture style session will include two brief case studies and a break out session to capture ideas from the audience.
OSI's Alex Kosseff will be leading this session, which is informed by his experience helping over fifty organizations with their outdoor safety practices.
Please contact us at OSI if we can assist you with regards to these conferences. Let us know if you'll be attending and if you're interested in setting up a time to meet.
Uvex Sports and Swix Sport USA in conjunction with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission have announced the recall of the Funride Ski Helmet in various colors. The helmet provides insufficient shock absorption and resistance to penetration, posing a head injury hazard. There have been no injuries reported and the flaw was discovered through the manufacturer's testing. The helmets were sold at independent retail ski shops and ski rental stores nationwide from January 2009 to April 2011 for around $99.
July 21st, 2011: The recall notice from the CPSC appears below (please consult the manufacturer's website or CPSC website for the latest details):
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE July 21, 2011 Release #11-280
Ski Helmets Recalled by Swix Sport USA due to Head Injury 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: Uvex Funride Ski Helmets
Units: About 800
Importer: Uvex Sports, of Cranston, R.I. and Swix Sport USA, of Haverhill, Mass.
Hazard: The helmet provides insufficient shock absorption and resistance to penetration, posing a head injury hazard.
Incidents/Injuries: None reported.
Description: Uvex Funride ski helmets come in two adult sizes XS-M, and L-XL. Individual sizing is adjusted by a small dial located at the rear of the helmet. The helmets feature a chin strap, ear protection and the word "Uvex" printed toward the back of the helmet. The interior label on affected helmets bears the code "S-58B" or "S-58C". The helmet comes in the following colors and designs: solids in black, white, silver; carbon look matte in white or black; golden flower decal in white or black.
Sold at: Independent retail ski shops and ski rental stores nationwide from January 2009 to April 2011 for $99.
Manufactured in: China
Remedy: Consumers should stop using the product immediately and return it to the store where purchased for a full refund or store credit.
Consumer Contact: For additional information, contact Uvex at Swix Sport USA at (800) 343-8335 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET Monday through Friday or visit the firm's website at www.uvex-sports.de/en/recall
If you or your outdoor program believe you may possess one of the Funride helmets please refer to the CPSC or manufacturer's website for the most up-to-date information.
Sierra Trading Post in conjunction with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission have announced a recall of the Joss Rock Climbing Cam Units. The cams, which bear a "Cassin" label, may fail in an unspecified manner. One failure has occurred in Europe. Sold in the U.S. exclusively through Sierra Trading Post between 2003 and 2006, the cams were a product of Cassin, the Italian manufacturer. Cassin was subsequently acquired by CAMP USA and is now an entirely new company.
This recall is for unmarked aluminum rappel rings that were shipped by KONG and potentially other distributors. The rings have fractured and, in one case, failed under (reportedly) loads as low as body weight. This recall seems to have been handled informally with various notices released by different entities in 2009 and 2010. It has received relatively little attention–thanks to 
The 2011 WRMC is being held October 5-7 at the Westin Waltham-Boston in Massachusetts. Please visit the 
The 2011 AORE Conference is being held November 3-5 at the Crowne Plaze in San Antonio, Texas (on the famous Riverwalk). Please visit the 
