Can-opener comes under investigation

Press, 21 April 1984, Page 12

Can-opener comes under investigation

A multi-purpose canopener has been criticised by the Accident Compensation Corporation, which has lodged a complaint about the product to its Product Safety Council.

The opener under criticism combines a can-opener and bottle-opener with a corkscrew, which the corporation asserts in many cases is only “dimpled” into place rather than being held by a pin or rivet. “These are imported multi-purpose openers which have been in common use in most households for many years,” according to the corporation’s safety controller, Mr Jack Harrop. “They combine a canopener and_ bottle-opener with a corkscrew and retail from 45c to $1.99. But the price does not include gashed fingers and lacerated knuckles,” he said. The corporation’s attention had been drawn to recent injury-producing incidents involving the

devices, prompting the referral to the Product Safety Council. Mr Harrop said the problem occurred when the device was screwed into a cork and the operator pulled on the body to remove the cork. “The chances are the corkscrew will remain embedded in the cork while the rest of the device whips up in your hand towards your face and eyes. The possibilities are not pleasant,” he said. Mr Harrop also said that the sharp edge of the corkscrew, which remained in the cork, presented a hazard over which fingers could be dragged and sliced open. He recommended that anyone with one of the openers should check to see that the corkscrew was riveted into place. “If it is dimpled, don’t take the risk. Pull out the corkscrew part and throw it away,” Mr Harrop said. Another unsafe feature of

this type of device, Mr Harrop said, was that the can was torn open, leaving very sharp edges.