Kansas Firm Fined $100,000 for Failing to Report Fire Hazard With Air Compressors
WASHINGTON, D.C. - The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced today that TAP Enterprises Inc., of Springhill, Kan., has agreed to pay a $100,000 civil penalty for failing to report to the government in a timely manner about defective air compressors. In October 2004, TAP first learned of an incident involving a fire caused by the Mini 2-Gallon Pancake air compressor, which resulted in $30,000 in property damage. By September 2005, TAP Enterprises had received another report of smoke coming out of the air compressor and a number of warranty claims. TAP, doing business as Cummins Industrial Tools, did not report any of these incidents to CPSC in a timely and thorough manner. Federal law requires firms to report to CPSC immediately (within 24 hours) after obtaining information reasonably supporting the conclusion that a product contains a defect which could create a substantial risk of injury to the public, presents an unreasonable risk of serious injury or death, or violates a federal safety standard. In April 2006, CPSC and Tap Enterprises announced the recall of 11,300 Mini 2-Gallon Pancake Compressors and recommended that consumers stop using the product immediately. Consumers can still contact Cummins at (800) 445-0089 for a refund of the purchase price including shipping, or consumers can log on to www.cumminstools.com
