Bathroom Accessory Sold at Walmart, Lowe’s, and Other Major Retailers Recalled for Risk of Injury

It’s troubling any time a defective product causes injury or harm to the public. Yet perhaps most troubling is when the product in question is specifically designed to promote safety among the vulnerable.

On Thursday, September 26, 2024, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced that one such defective safety product had been sold at some of the nation’s top retailers, including Walmart, Home Depot, Lowe’s, Ace Hardware, and Amazon, as well as additional local plumbing and hardware stores. They reported that an estimated 174,500 units of Liberty Hardware Multi-Grip Tub Safety Bars were recalled for possible injury risk.

The safety bars, often used to reduce unexpected balance loss in seniors, individuals with mobility issues or disabilities, and children, are affixed to the walls of tubs as an added support. However, the CPSC warns that in the recalled models, “the plastic sticker grip pads can become dislodged after installation on tubs with tapered side walls, making the recalled Multi-Grip Tub Safety Bars unstable during use, posing a fall hazard.”

Made with white, powder-coated aluminum, the tub safety bars were sold under several brand names and model numbers, which can be found on the packaging:

• Peerless, model PL585
• Safety First, models SF585 and S1F585
• Delta, model DF585

The products are manufactured in China but distributed by Liberty Hardware Manufacturing Corp., of Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

At the time of the recall announcement, Liberty Hardware had received fourteen reports of the plastic sticker grip pads becoming disconnected from bathtubs. One person reported a minor fall injury as a result of the defective safety bars. National authorities have stated data suggesting that falls can lower the mortality age for individuals aged 65 and older.

Customers who have purchased the faulty products should cease using them and contact Liberty Hardware for a $35 refund. You can reach Liberty Hardware by phone at (844) 811-4541 from 9 AM to 5 PM ET from Monday through Friday, by email at [email protected], or online at www.libertyhardware.com/recall-notices/tub-safety-bar or www.libertyhardware.com.

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