May 2007

Reassurance after code breached

Jayco issues pledge on supply of caravan jacks

AUSTRALIA'S biggest caravan manufacturer has promised to supply safe vehicle jacks.

This follows news that the giant Jayco company breached rules governing the distribution of the lifting devices.

But now it has given the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission a court-enforceable undertaking over the supply of certain vehicle jacks with its caravans.

Between July and September last year, Jayco supplied caravans with some jacks without notices giving their 'safe working load' or 'working load limit'. This breached the mandatory consumer product safety standard under the Trade Practices Act 1974.

The ACCC was concerned it could pose a serious safety risk and give the impression jacks complied with the 2007 standard when this may not have been the case.

The ACCC said it acknowledged Jayco's co-operation in resolving the matter by promptly not supplying the jacks, undertaking a voluntary national product safety recall and giving an undertaking which included an upgraded trade practices compliance program with a focus on prescribed consumer product safety standards.

"Each year around 160 accidents resulting in deaths and serious injuries are linked to the use of vehicle jacks," ACCC chairman Graeme Samuel said.

"The marking of vehicle jacks with all the information required by the mandatory standard, including a vehicle jack's safe working load or limit, is intended to reduce the likelihood of such injuries occurring.

"Business operators need to be aware of all mandatory consumer product safety standards which are relevant to the products they supply and must ensure their products comply with those standards."

BACK TO CARAVANNING NEWS MAIN PAGE

SEND YOUR COMMENTS OR
STORY IDEAS TO
CARAVANNING NEWS