Around 15,000 Ryobi battery-powered hedge trimmers have been recalled in Canada following reports of the blade unexpectedly activating, posing a laceration hazard, and causing one reported injury.
The hedge trimmer blade on the affected models can start without warning after pressing just one of the safety or trigger controls, which are supposed to be pressed simultaneously to activate the blade, says a recall notice published by Health Canada on June 12.
Ryobi branded 40V cordless 24-inch hedge trimmers that were manufactured between March 2021 and June 2024 were recalled by Health Canada, the United States Consumer Product Safety Commission, and TTI Outdoor Power Equipment Inc. in a joint recall. The tools have a green and black handle and an orange blade.
TTI Outdoor Power Equipment has received one reported incident and one report of a finger laceration injury in Canada as of May 27, the recall says.
The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission recall notice says that TTI Outdoor Power Equipment has received 27 incident reports in the United States so far, which include 16 reports of injuries such as minor and severe lacerations. Around 113,000 affected units were sold in the United States, the notice says.
The affected model numbers include RY40620VNM, RY40602VNM, and RY40602BTLVNM, and the serial numbers are within ranges LT21091D180001 to LT22365D060025 and RG23125N250001 to RG24252D101110. According to Health Canada, this information can be found on the bottom of the tool.
“Immediately stop using the recalled product and visit the company’s website to determine if your trimmer is included in this recall and to obtain instructions on how to receive a free replacement trimmer,” Health Canada says.
Ryobi’s website also lists notices for its other products that have been recalled, including certain models of battery-powered walk behind lawn mowers, electric leaf blowers, battery-powered snow blowers, an electric sheet sander, as well as a model of a battery and a charger sold for its tools.
In 2023, an EGO branded battery-powered hedge trimmer was recalled due a faulty trigger posing a potential laceration hazard, and in 2022, a battery-powered hedge trimmer made by Makita was recalled over a laceration hazard caused by a missing guard on the tool.
Consumers can also report health or safety incidents related to these hedge trimmers, or any other product, by using Health Canada’s Consumer Product Incident Report form.
