Home improvement tools are a necessity for anyone who likes to take repairs into their own hands, but they each come with their own inherent risks. Whether it's through misuse or simply because you're not paying attention, the items in your toolkit can cause serious injuries. But in some cases, defective products can make using hardware potentially unsafe no matter how attentive you are. And now, 2.2 million hammers sold at Home Depot, Ace Hardware, and other stores are being recalled after multiple injuries were reported. Read on to see if you could be at risk.
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More than two million hammers sold at Home Depot and other stores were just recalled.
ShutterstockOn April 20, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced that Stanley Black & Decker had issued a recall for its DeWALT, Stanley, and Craftsman brand sledgehammers. The move affects roughly 2.2 million units sold at major retailers, including Home Depot, Ace Hardware, and other stores, as well as online at Amazon and the retailers' websites. The items were available from November 2013 through November 2022 and cost $18 to $26.
The affected items include 25 different model numbers of sledgehammers running from two to 12 pounds, each with the brand name printed on the handle. The complete list of products can be found on the CPSC's notice.
A product defect has led to multiple reported injuries.
ShutterstockAccording to the agency's notice, the companies pulled the tools from the market due to a potentially serious defect. They warn that the sledgehammers' heads can become loose and detach unexpectedly during use, "posing an impact injury hazard to the user."
So far, the company says there have been 192 reported cases of the hammers' heads breaking loose when used. It's also resulted in two reported injuries to customers, including one to a person's face and another to someone's head.
Here's what you should do if you have the recalled hammer in your toolbox.
ShutterstockThe CPSC notice advises anyone who has the recalled sledgehammers to stop using the tool immediately. They should then contact Stanley Black & Decker for instructions on how to receive a full refund.
Customers can reach the company by calling the hotline posted on the agency's notice. Information is also available on the recall's dedicated webpage.
Other safety-related recalls have occurred in recent months.
Enjoy The Life / ShutterstockThe latest safety alert isn't the only time recently officials have issued a recall warning for hardware. For example, in February, the CPSC announced that IKEA ODGER swivel chairs in anthracite posed a potential hazard. The move affected about 12,000 units of the gray-colored furniture, which was sold in stores and online at the company's website. The agency's notice said IKEA recalled the item after discovering that the swivel chairs' leg base could break, creating fall and injury hazards.
Two weeks later, the CPSC released a notice announcing two million Cosori air fryers had been recalled. The popular kitchen products were sold at Best Buy, Target, and Home Depot, as well as online via Lowe's, Walmart, Amazon, Bed Bath and Beyond, eBay, HomeGoods, Kohl's, Macy's, QVC, Staples, and Wayfair. The company says it made the move after discovering some components in the fryer's wiring could over "in extremely rare circumstances," creating a serious fire and burn hazard.
And on March 9, the agency issued an alert that U.S. distributor Fantasia Trading voluntarily recalled Anker 535 Power Banks (PowerCore 20k) remote chargers. The move affected roughly 42,000 units sold online via Anker, Amazon, and eBay, as well as in Target stores nationwide. In this case, the company said the products "may overheat and pose a fire safety risk," prompting the recall.
