Document wq6vkp1jmK2YEzQ1j47pwa3YJ

FILE NAME: Asbestos in Hair Dryers (HD) DATE: 1979 May 7 DOC#: HD046 DOCUMENT DESCRIPTION: General Electric Letter to CPSC with Summary of Apr 30 Discussion & Sample Recall Letter for Customers ELECTRIC G E N E R A L E L E C T R IC COM PANY ............................... 1285 BO STO N AVENUE . BRIDG EPO RT. CO N N ECTICU T 06602. Phone (203) 334-1012 HOUSEWARES AND AUDIO BUSINESS DIVISION May 7, 1979 Hon. Catherine C. Cook, Director Product Defect Correction Division _ U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Washington, D. C. 20207 ` . . Dear Ms. Cook: The following summarizes o u t discussion on April 30, 1979^ . concerning a proposed voluntary' program on General Electric hair dryers containing asbestos insulation manufactured ox-purchased^ by the Housewares and Audio Business Division of General Electric Company. We understand the staff has presented the program to the Consumer Product Safety Commission for its approval, and that the . Commission has deferred action pending receipt of the_written description ;of our program. This letter contains such a description. We would appreciate written confirmation of the Commission's approval of the elements of the program as set forth in this letter.. Upon receipt of this confirmation, we will complete those actions necessary to put the program fully in place. The submission of this program does not constitute an admission . by General Electric Company that either reportable information or a . substantial product hazard exists. General Electric Company does not believe our units present, or could present, a health hazard. We are instituting this voluntary program in response to the concern that _ some consumers may have over the continued use of hair dryers containing asbestos insulation. This concern is a result of the recent widespread publicity concerning the utilization of asbestos insulation in hair dryers. . The program as presented to you on April 30, 1979 is as follows: 1. A letter has been sent to General Electric distribution customers signed by Charles J. Fabso, General Manager-Housewares ' and Audio Sales and Distribution Department, dated April 24, 1979 urging such customers to return their stock to General Electric Company (Attachment I]. The letter also urged our distribution customers to insure that their customers are aware of the current controversy over using hair dryers which contain asbestos insulation. : This letter incorporates language of the Commission staff in the staff's letter to GE dated April 20, 1979. EXHIBIT M ' . AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER . GEGIE 00069 GENERAL ELECTRIC Hon. Catherine C. Cook May 7, 1979 Page 2 2. We have instituted and will continue a program to retrofit all units currently in General Electric's possession (including in transit units and merchandise returned from distribution customers]. The retrofit involves' replacing the asbestos insulating sleeve with a mica sleeve for those models indicated in Attachment II. It is anticipated that this program will take approximately- 3-4- months to complete. Such retrofitted units will be appropriately labeled stating that the unit does not contain asbestos insulation. Two samples of the mica sleeve insulation have been forwarded to Mr. Dale Wilder under separate cover. . 3. Commencing the week of April 16, 1979 instructions were issued to Company oiimed service centers and franchised independently owned service stations to institute a retrofit program on GE units returned by concerned consumers. Parts and materials to accomplish the retrofit have already been extensively distributed and in sufficient quantities to insure the program's proper implementation. At present, such retrofit can normally be accomplished while the customer waits. GE proposes that this retrofit program continue. If we are notified that certain service centers or service stations are overloaded because of an unexpected large return of products, we will use our best efforts to have such overloads transferred to a location where the retrofit can be made more quickly. There are approximately two hundred and fifty of such repair centers throughout the country. 4. An 800 number has been available to take calls from concerned consumers since April 5, 1979. On April 17 and 23, the 800 number capability was expanded to allow the handling of five and then ten phone calls at the same time. 800 number phone operators provide model identification information to consumers who call. If the designated model contains asbestos insulation, the consumer is referred to their nearest General Electric Company.service center or . service station. ' ' 5. Attachment III contains a list of products for which we propose to provide a suitable replacement because we cannot effect . a timely retrofit. Also, indicated is the suitable replacement, unit we plan to offer the consumer. Pictures of the various products have previously been provided to the Commission staff. The replacement product available to the consumer will be a serviced unit with a one year warranty. Such units will have been safety and performance tested. In addition to a suitable replacement, we are offering, at. the consumer's option, a depreciated value credit against the purchase price of any product available at the General Electric service location. GEGIE 00070 GENERAL |||- ELECTRIC Hon. Catherine C. Cooh May 7, 1979 Page 3 Depreciated value credit.will be based on the age of the product turned in; such, percentage -being applied against the estimated original purchase price of such turned in product. Refer to Attachment IV for additional details. . . 6. We propose to send out, first class mail, approximately 650,000 copies of the attached letter to consumers (Attachment V). The utilized addresses are on .owner registration cards received from consumers purchasing hair dryers containing asbestos liners over an approximate three year period. The envelope (Attachment VI) will_ . have printed on the outside of it "HAIR DRYER INFORMATION". We will .. . arrange to tell consumers through the 800 number who indicate a service center or service station of General Electric Company is not reasonably near them that such consumers can mail their product to four selected central locations where products can be retrofitted (Attachment VII) or units exchanged- It should be understood that, because of communications difficulty, the depreciated value credit option will not be available to this limited number of consumers whose units are exchanged. Those, consumers mailing in units to the designated central locations will be reimbursed postage costs. Postage cost for mailing the unit bach to the consumer wil.1 be borne also by General Electric Company. - 7. We plan to exchange only units in good operating condition with a suitable replacement unit. Further, the cost of any additional repairs needed on units in which we replace the insulating sleeve will be borne by the consumer. 8. Instructions have been sent to service centers and service stations for the disposing of replaced asbestos insulator liners in accordance with OHSA and other Federal regulations. 9. It is understood that any release covering details of this program will be cleared with us before the Commission or the staff so releases it. With regard to information contained in this letter prior to Commission approval, we claim exemption from disclosure for state ments and references under the Freedom of Information Act, 5 USC 5b I ) and 18 USC 1905 or regulations issued thereunder. This information is confidential, commercial information that would .cause substantial financial harm if released to our competitors. It has never been released in any manner to any person who is not an employee or in a confidential relationship with the Company and is not commonly Known GEGIE 00071 GENERAL m ELECTRIC Hpn. Catherine C. Cook May 7, 1979 Page 4 within the industry nor is it readily ascertainable by outside persons with a minimum of time and effort. 'Very truly yours, EWM:mst Robert W. Mazzacane Manager-Product Safety and Standards Housewares and Audio Business Division General Electric Company GEGIE 00072 General Electric Hair Dryers Models Containing Asbestos Insulation Name . Model # Pro Pistol . Pro Pistol . Pro Pistol Pro Pistol Pro Pistol Pro Pistol Pro Pistol Pro Pistol Power Brush Styling Dryer Styling Dryer Styling Comb Styling Comb Salon Dryer . ' ' . Salon Dryer - Salon Dryer Salon Salon Salon Salon Salon Salon Dryer Dryer Dryer Dryer Dryer Dryer Salon Dryer 3onnet Dryer Super Turbo Power Turbo Super Pro . Power Pro Pro Dryer Pistol Dryer Super Pro Power Pro Power Brush Styling Dryer Styling Dryer Mist Styling Comb Styling Comb Portable Pro fessional ' Portable Pro fessional ' Salon Style Speed Dryer Salon Style Salon Style Salon Style ` Salon Style ' Salon Style Mist Super-Speed Salon Style Mist ' Salon Style Mist Portable Bonnet PRO--11/5116-005 . PRO-10/5115-013 PRO-6/5112-- 005 PRO-5/5110-013 PRO-4/5109-- 001 PRO-3/5107-011 PRO-2/5108--005 PRO--1/5105--013 PB--1/5113-005 SD-4/5101-013 SD--1/2 STC-2 STC-1/1A . . UH-20 . ;` .' HD-55 ' ' ' HD-30/UH31 HD-55 HD-54. HD-52 HD-51 . . HD-63/63SS ' HD-63SS/5063-0Q8 HD-53 . HD-20 . The above' listing is on the reverse side of C. J. Fabso's letter dated April 24, 1979. Attachment I. GEGIE 00073 Suitable Replaant' Program Replaced Unit Model Number . Est,-Retail Price ' : Wattage ' Attacli. Hand Held * PRQ-1/5105-013 $21.59 . 1,000 2 PRO-2/5108-005 . 25.19 1,200 5 PRO-3/5107-011 11.51 700 1 PRO-4/5109-001 15.11 1,000 2 SD-1/2 10,79 . 400 .1 SD-4/5101-013 12,95 . '- 600 3 STC-1/1A 11.51" ' 230 2 STC-2 15.11 140 3 . Replacement Unit Service ' Subject to Individual Model Availability Est. Settings* : Model Number Retail FHce Wattage Attach. Settings* 4 PR0-5/5110-013 T5.11 1,200 2 6 6 . PR0-6/5112-005 21.59 1,400 5 6 2 PRO-5/5110-013 15.11 1,200 2 6 2 PR0-5/5UO-O13 15,11 1,200 2 6 2 SD-5/6106-005 17,99,. 1,000 3 2 3 SD-5/5106-005 7.99 1,000 3 . 2 1 PR0-10/5115-013 11,51 1,200 1 3 1 PRO-10/5115-013 n ,51 1,200 1 3 Non-Hand Held HD-53 28.79 1,000 - 4 SB-1 w/ 30.22 1,000 4 HD-63SS/5063 29,51 - 1,200 4 , ABtontnaecthment ' HD-53 32,39 900 - 4 HD-30 - 23,00 ' 1,000 - 4 UH-31 23,00 " 1,200 - 4 HD-51 .Iff.55 900 4 HD-52 27,35 900 * 4 HD-54 16,55 1,000 m 4 , HD-55 16,55 1,000 - 4 HD-56 . UH-20 ' 16.55 15,80 1,000 1,000 - . 4 - - .. 4 . ! V? Vf , HD-20 11.51 400 -' 4 HD-21 23,03 V* 400 . * Number of Heat/Air Flow Settings ' 3 , . 4 GEGIE 00075 DEPRECIATED VALUE i iU51 NUmDer Hand Held Years Usage/Allowance -a) 1 yr./ 2 yrs../ 3 yrs./ 4 yrs./ 5 yrs/ 6 yrs./ 7 Yrs. 60% 45% 35% . 25% 15% 10% 0% PRQ-I/5105-013 PRO-2/5108-005 . PRO-3/5107-011 PR0-4/5109-001 SD-1/2 SD-4/5101-013 STC-1/1A STC-2 Non-Hand Held 12.95 9.72 7.55 5.40 3.24 2.16 15.11 11.34 8.82 6.30 3.78 2.52 6.91. 5.18 4.03 2.88 1.73 1.15 9.07 6.80 5.29 3.78 2.27 1.51 6.47 4.86 3.78 2.70 1.62 1.08 7.77 5.83 4.53 '3.24 1.94 1.30 6.91 5.18 4.03 ' 2.88 1.73 1.15 9-07 - 6.80 5.29 3.78 2.27 1.51 -0- . -0-0--0-0-o- -0- HD-63/63SS (5063-008) *HD-53 . -VHD-30/UH-31 HD-51 HD-52 ' HD-54 HD-55 . HD-56 UH-20 HD-20 . 17.71 19.43 13.80 9.93 16.41 9.93 9.93 9.93 9.48 6.91 13.28 14.58 10.35 7.45 12.31 7.45 7.45 7.45 7.11 5.18 10.33 ' 11.34 8.05 5.79 9.57 5.79 5.79 5.79 5.53 4.03 7.38 8.10 5.75 .4.,14 6.84 4.14 . 4.14 4.14 3.95 2.88 4.43 2.95 4.85 3.24 3.45 2.30 2.48 1.66 4.10 2.74 2.48 1.66 2.48 1.65 2.98 1.66 2.37 1.58 1.73 1.15 -0-0- ' -0- - 0- -0-0-0- - 0- -0-0- (a - Years Usage Determined As Follows: Date Codes 739 or higher 639 through 738 539 through 638 439 through 538 339 through 438 239 through 338 .238 or lower Calendar Dates Oct. 1977 to present Oct. 1976 to Sept. 1977 Oct. 1975 to Sent. 1976 Oct. 1974 to Sept. 1975 Oct. 1973 to Sept. 1974 Oct. 1972 to Sept. 1973 Sept. 1972 or earlier Years Usage 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 % Allowance 60% 45 35 25 15 10 -0- CECIE 00076 Dear General Electric Customer: >- As a result of the Consumer Product Safety Commission's investigation into the potential health hazard due to the use of asbestos materials as "insulation in hair dryers, we have been requested by the CPSC to urge you to bring your hair dryer to the nearest GE Company Small Appliance Service location for repair or replacement, at our option. Although we do not agree ' Kith the Commission's position/ because of the recent publicity on hair dryers, the General Electric Company urges' that you-do the following: . 1 * MATCH THE MODEL NUMBER on your hair dryer with the number shown on the top of the mailing label on the envelope. ' - ` IP THE MOSEL NUMBER IS THE SAME., take your hair dryer to ' the General Electric service location nearest to your home for replacement of the asbestos insulation with a non-asbestos material. iHERE WILL BE HO CHARGE FOR THIS REPLACEMENT. In some instances^ at our option, we will furnish you a suitable replacement unit. . 5 - USB THE ENCLOSED GENERAL ELECTRIC SERVICE LOCATION listing to find the service location closest to your home. ' IP YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS concerning your hair dryer, call the nearest service, location or our toll free number (800-421-5S22) before going to th.e service location.- Folloxving the above suggestions will result in the best service for you. Please do not take your hair dryer back to . the store. ' ATTACHMENT V GEGIE 00077