SaferProducts incident

Failure type

Electrical shock / short

Incident narrative

SaferProducts.gov consumer incident report 20180705-1702A-2147387004. Severity: Injury, No First Aid or Medical Attention Received. Product: Allen & Roth Linden wall plates , MULTIPLE MODEL NUMBERS (Multiple styles and model numbers: A&R Linden TRIPL Switch wall plate Model#W27281-SN-U, A&R Linden Duplex Wall Plate Model #W27274-SN-U, A&R LINDEN SINGLE WALL PLATE MODEL #W27275-SN-U, A&R LINDEND DBL WALL PLATE MODEL #79625-BN, A&R LINDEN SINGLE WALL PLATE MODEL #W27273-SN-U, ADDITIONALS ALSO). Incident: 3 outlet plate covers have had the magnets fail and the switch plates fall off causing damage to the outlet itself, the switch plate covers and whatever was plugged into or being plugged into the outlet at the time. The first instance was when I was plugging my vacuum in and it shorted out my new vacuum, the outlet and burned my wall. The third time was a baby monitor that was plugged in; the magnets failed and the plate fell onto the cord which burned out the outlet burned the outlet cover and the plug for the monitor as well as the wall. The third event was this past Thursday when I was plugging my can opener into the outlet and the same thing occurred with the same results. I have gone to Lowes where the 33 switch plate covers were purchased and they are going to work with me to get them replaced, however, being a Lowes customer, having purchased them all at Lowes and there being only four retailers of this product it should have been easier for consumers to be notified of this issue. I was never notified of this recall, found it myself via a google search on Thursday after this last incident. Two of the events caused me to feel a shock up my right arm as I was plugging items in at the time of the occurrence. The most recent occurrence was Thursday, June 28 2018. There are multiple model numbers included and the items were purchased over a period of time starting in 2014 through 12/2015. An example of damaged parts is attached from most recent incident.