Ikea urgently recalls potentially deadly household item
Ikea has issued an urgent recall for a household item over concerns it could cause serious injury or death.
Ikea has issued an urgent recall for a USB charger over concerns it could cause serious injury or death.
The company has warned the power cable of the ÅSKSTORM 40W USB charger in dark grey could become damaged from excessive use and expose live wires in the cable.
“There is a risk of burn injuries or death from electric shock if a user touches a damaged cable that is live with electricity,” Product Safety Australia said in the recall.
Ikea warned the power cables could be damaged after prolonged use or excessive bending, which could lead to thermal burns or electric shock.
“Safety is a top priority for Ikea and therefore ÅSKSTORM 40W USB charger dark grey is recalled,” the company said.
The affected USB chargers can be identified by the model number ICPSW5-40-1 and article number 304.611.94.
A spokesperson for IKEA confirmed the recalled chargers have been sold in Australia since April 2020.
No other items in the ÅSKSTORM is affected by the issue, which has triggered a global recall.
The spokesperson said the company implements a “rigorous risk assessment and testing program” to ensure products meet applicable standards.
The company said it took “prompt action” as soon as it was made aware of the power cable issue and the possible risks.
“We stopped sales of the product and conducted a thorough investigation,” a spokesperson for IKEA said.
Despite the danger of burns or electric shocks, the spokesperson said IKEA has not received any reports of people seeking medical attention for charger-related injuries.
The company has urged users to stop using the chargers immediately and return the items to any store for a full refund.
Ikea has been contacted for comment about the number of affected products sold in Australia.
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