Paper Shredder Safety Alert

Consumer model paper shredders are growing in

popularity. The

U.S. Consumer Product Safety

Commission (CPSC) wants you and your family to

be safe if you have a paper shredder. From January

2000 through September 2005, CPSC received 50

reports of incidents involving finger amputations,

lacerations, and other finger injuries from paper

shredders. The majority of injuries were to young

children under age 5.

Young children are interested in imitating adult

activities, and children may try to activate the

shredder when an adult is not present. This puts

children at risk of injury.

Injuries can occur even when an adult is supervising

a child. Children’s fingers can be pulled into the

paper shredding mechanism if they don’t let the

paper go.

CPSC offers the following safety tips when

using a paper shredder:

•

Never allow children to operate paper shredders, even under adult supervision.

Paper shredders can pull children’s fingers into the shredder mechanism.

•

Place the paper shredder in an area less accessible to children.

•

Unplug the paper shredder power cord when the shredder is not in use.

•

Do not place hands or fingers in the shredder opening.

•

Do not operate a paper shredder while wearing loose fitting clothing that may enter

the shredder opening.

•

Keep hair and items, such as a tie or a long necklace, away from the shredder

opening.

5127-0511

Never allow children to operate a paper

shredder, even under adult supervision.

Injuries can still occur. The pull force of

the shredder can draw a child’s fingers

into the shredding mechanism.