Super Cheap Auto Pty Ltd has withdrawn some jacks from sale after they failed to meet mandatory product safety standards, Australian Competition and Consumer Commission Chairman, Mr Graeme Samuel, announced today.
Super Cheap has provided a court-enforceable undertaking to the ACCC after acknowledging that hydraulic trolley jacks Super Cheap had sold in Australia and New Zealand did not comply with the product safety standards.
"Super Cheap must now undertake more rigorous product testing and implement a trade practices compliance program that will reduce the possibility of future breaches", Mr Samuel said.
Today's announcement is part of an ACCC and Department of Health and Ageing campaign to alert home mechanics to the hazards of working under a car. This includes an important message to not rely on a car or trolley jack to support a car when working beneath it. The jack could fail or slip and crush the person underneath.
The campaign includes a new brochure on how to stay safe working under a vehicle.
"Most recently, the ACCC found that Super Cheap's Super Works (2500kg) hydraulic trolley jacks (models TT643 and TT649Q) did not comply with the consumer product safety standard for trolley jacks, which is based on AS/NZS 2615:1995.
"Alarmingly, during testing, one model collapsed and the other lost cap height which is considered a sign of instability and increases the risk of failure with further loading or shock movement.
"After the ACCC raised its concerns, Super Cheap withdrew the trolley jacks from sale and initiated a recall of the 21,112 jacks already sold.
"I urge purchasers to return the product immediately to their nearest Super Cheap retail store for a refund.
"Super Cheap has also undertaken to implement an education program for the safe use of vehicle and trolley jacks. Super Cheap sales staff will be trained in vehicle jack safety and provide the educative brochures to consumers at the point of sale.
"The ACCC takes very seriously breaches of consumer product safety standards such as these that apply in respect of hydraulic trolley jacks and will not hesitate to take prompt action to ensure consumer safety".
Over the past few years, the ACCC has taken court action against three companies for supplying jacks which either were not up to the job required or failed to comply with the mandatory product safety standard labelling.
"Further it has accepted court-enforceable undertakings from other suppliers and retailers over non-compliant jacks".
Vehicle and trolley jack suppliers can obtain more information on mandatory standards or the Safety Alert Working under a Vehicle brochure by calling the ACCC Infocentre on 1300 302 502 or visiting the ACCC website.