Aluminum Two-Step Ladder Recalled By Super Young Industrial Co., Ltd.

PRODUCT: Super Young Industrial Co., Ltd. two-step aluminum ladder distributed by retailers before December 1989. The affected ladders can be identified by an "SYC" mark on their hinges and by vertical grid lines running across the ladders' steps.

PROBLEM: CPSC has reports of the ladder's first step collapsing or tearing from its frame. Such incidents have allegedly resulted in lacerations, broken bones, muscle strains and back injuries.

WHAT TO DO: Call 1-800-288-9315 for information on how to ship the ladder back to Super Young with prepaid shipping. Owners of affected ladders who ship back the ladders will receive a refund of the shipping cost and up to one-half of the purchase price, or $5.00 if owners have no proof of purchase.

WASHINGTON, DC -- Super Young Industrial Co., Ltd. of Taiwan, in cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), today announced the recall of its aluminum two-step ladder distributed by retailers in the United States prior to November 1989.

This recall program is being undertaken after reports that the aluminum ladder's first step collapses or tears from its frame. The CPSC has information that falls from such ladders allegedly caused lacerations, broken bones, muscle strains and back injuries.

Approximately one million of these ladders were imported into the United States from 1985 to 1989 and sold to stores such as Ace Hardware, Channel and Builders Emporium. In December 1989, Super Young began marketing a safer model ladder made of steel. Only Super Young aluminum ladders are involved in this recall.

The aluminum ladder can be identified by an "SYC" mark located on the hinge of the ladder and by vertical grid lines that run across both steps of the ladder. CPSC urges consumers not to use this ladder.

Consumers should mail their aluminum ladders (shipping costs will be refunded) to: Super Young, c/o Collins International Co., Ltd., 16-00 Route 208, Fair Lawn, New Jersey 07410. No proof of purchase is necessary. If a consumer has the original or a copy of the purchase receipt or other proof of the price paid, however, that should also be included. When the recalled ladder is received by Super Young, it will refund the postage and $5.00, representing one-half the average purchase price, or one-half the actual price paid (if more than $10.00) as shown by the purchase receipt. Consumers may call 1-800-288-9315 with any questions about this recall.

Before returning the aluminum ladders, owners should be certain that they are the aluminum ladders involved in this recall. Super Young will not issue a refund unless the aluminum ladder has the "SYC" mark and the vertical grid lines across the steps.

While Super Young does not believe any safety hazard exists from these ladders, the recall is being conducted to meet the concerns expressed by the CPSC.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is announcing this recall as part of its mission to protect the public from unreasonable risks of injury and death associated with consumer products. The Commission's objective is to reduce the estimated 28.5 million injuries and 21,600 deaths associated each year with the 15,000 different types of consumer products under CPSC's jurisdiction.