WASHINGTON, May 2, 2024
/PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
is warning consumers about the risk of fingertip amputation and
crushing injuries associated with the use of Floatstep dock
ladders. The dock ladders have pinch points which can cause
fingertip crushes and amputations. Two people have suffered
fingertip amputations while using the ladders in incidents in
Kentucky in 2022 and Florida in 2018.
The manufacturer, Atlantic Aluminum and Marine Products Inc., of
Lantana, Florida, has not agreed
to an acceptable recall of the dock ladders at this time.
The Floatstep dock ladders are designed to rise out of the water
when not in use. The main components of the ladders are a base with
bushings that is attached directly to the dock and a hollow ladder
that slides up and down the bushings. The pinch points are located
on the rear of the ladder in between the bushings and the inside of
the hollow ladder. There are four pinch points. The first set of
pinch points is between the top of the bushing and the top of the
hollow ladder. The other set of pinch points is between the bottom
of the bushing and the bottom of the hollow ladder. These pinch
points are located on both the right and left side of the
ladder.
The dock ladders are made of aluminum, with a black plastic
float at the bottom of the sliding ladder. "FLOATSTEP" is printed
on the top of the float. The ladders have a hollow sliding ladder
rail which can have three to 10 steps. The ladders continue to be
sold online at DockGear.com, Havendock.com, TMPmarine.com and
boatliftanddock.com.
CPSC urges consumers not to purchase or sell these dock
ladders. Stop using and dispose of the dock
ladders immediately.
Report a dangerous product or a product-related injury on
www.SaferProducts.gov.
Under section 6(b) of the Consumer Product Safety Act, the CPSC
is required to include with this press release any comments from
the manufacturer or a summary thereof. The company objects to this
press release. The company states that in the two incidents
resulting in injury, the ladder was not installed per Atlantic
Aluminum's instructions. The company states that specifically, the
ladders were installed and utilized without the instructed rubber
stoppers being installed at the pinch points. Atlantic Aluminum
states that it has manufactured hundreds of the FloatStep ladders
and the FloatStep ladders have been safely utilized on thousands of
occasions. Atlantic Aluminum states that the rubber stoppers either
eliminate or significantly reduce the significance of an injury if
a finger inadvertently reaches the pinch point. Atlantic Aluminum
maintains that the FloatStep ladders are safe when installed and
utilized as instructed.
Individual Commissioners may have statements related to this
topic. Please visit www.cpsc.gov/commissioners to search for
statements related to this or other topics.
About the U.S. CPSC
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is charged with
protecting the public from unreasonable risk of injury or death
associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products.
Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product-related
incidents cost the nation more than $1
trillion annually. CPSC's work to ensure the safety of
consumer products has contributed to a decline in the rate of
injuries associated with consumer products over the past 50
years.
Federal law prohibits any person from selling products subject
to a Commission ordered recall or a voluntary recall undertaken in
consultation with the CPSC.
For lifesaving information:
- Visit
CPSC.gov.
- Sign up to receive our
e-mail alerts.
- Follow us on
Facebook, Instagram @USCPSC and
Twitter @USCPSC.
- Report a dangerous
product or a product-related injury on
www.SaferProducts.gov.
-
Call CPSC's Hotline at 800-638-2772 (TTY
301-595-7054).
- Contact a media
specialist.
Release Number: 24-214
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SOURCE U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission