Finger Amputation Risk: Children’s Slides Recalled by Playworld Systems

LEWISBURG, PA — Parents of kids with a passion for playground slides might want to think twice about letting them go down, especially if the equipment happens to be a stainless steel design distributed by Playworld Systems. The company has issued a recall of an estimated 1,300 slides following 13 reported incidents of broken welds, two of which resulted in children having their fingers amputated.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the national recall Wednesday, Dec. 7. According to the agency, the slides have a weld between their bedway and sidewall that can crack and separate.

“A child’s fingers can get caught in the space, posing an amputation hazard,” CPSC explained in its recall announcement.

All of the recalled slides are made of stainless steel. The models have both single and double bedways with welds on both sides that run continuously from top to bottom. The slides, manufactured by Pennsylvania-based Horizon Industries, have no identifying marks on them, the agency noted.

The recalled slides were sold through independent distributors to schools, parks and government entities across the country between November 2000 and October 2016, CPSC noted. They cost between $1,500 and $4,000 each.

Organizations who purchased affected slides are urged to stop allowing their use immediately. Playworld is offering a free replacement slide and free installation.

“A temporary barrier will be shipped to consumers prior to shipment of a replacement slide to prevent children from using the slide,” CPSC’s notice said. Playworld can be reach at 800-233-8404 between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday. Consumers may also contact the company by email at info@playworld.com or by going online to Playworld’s website at www.Playworld.com.

Playworld is also contacting consumers who purchased the affected slides directly. The recall, CPSC noted, was voluntary on Playworld’s part under the agency’s “Fast Track Recall” process, which is meant to speed up recall announcements to protect consumer safety.

To read the full recall alert, visit CPSC’s website.

Photos courtesy of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission