Published
NSW Commissioner for Fair Trading Rod Stowe is urging all recreational rock climbers to check their equipment, following a voluntary recall of curved nuts used for passive protection while climbing.
The Wild Country-branded “Classic Rocks” and “Anodised Rocks” Passive Protection for Climbers equipment with the batch codes AG, AH, BII and JBE have failed strength tests, prompting the voluntary recall.
The voluntary recall was initiated by the UK-based company Wild Country after a Classic Rock failed while in use. No injury resulted from the product safety failure.
Expedition Equipment, the Australian distributor of Wild Country products, has notified the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission of the voluntary recall.
Images of the affected products can be found on the ACCC’s product safety recall website.
The climbing nuts consist of a metal wedge threaded on wire that is inserted into a crack on the rock face. The products are designed as a passive form of protection to arrest a climber's fall.
The products have been sold through specialist rock climbing stores and outdoor stores throughout Australia, retailing for about $16.00.
“The failure of these products to perform at their rated strength may lead to serious injury for climbers,” Mr Stowe warned.
“I urge all climbers to cease using these products immediately and return the equipment to their retailer for a full refund.”
Mr Stowe also called on rock climbing specialist stores and indoor rock climbing gyms to check their equipment and remove all of the products captured by the recall.
“Any supplier that issues a voluntary recall on safety grounds must immediately stop the distribution of the identified products,” he said.
“The supplier must also notify the relevant regulators, the public and anyone else in the supply chain of the recall and the supplier store and destroy the affected products safely.”
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