Little Giant is recalling about 3.66 million ladders in the United States after reports of the height-adjustment mechanism malfunctioning and causing falls — including traumatic brain injuries and skull fractures.
The US Consumer Product Safety Commission announced the recall on November 5, and it was reported on November 7. The recall covers about 3,662,000 ladders, and targets the Rapid Locks height-adjustment mechanism, which can malfunction or unexpectedly retract, causing the ladder to collapse under the user.
Little Giant has received 39 reports of the mechanism malfunctioning, including 25 retractions and 19 injury reports, according to the safety commission and Fox Business. The injuries include traumatic brain injuries and skull fractures.
Which ladders are affected
The recall covers 11 makes and more than 130 models of Little Giant ladders. Only models without an orange QC sticker on the rail above a Rapid Lock are included — so owners should check for the sticker before deciding whether their ladder is affected.
Owners should stop using an affected ladder immediately and follow the remedy instructions in the safety commission’s recall notice. The recall is one of the largest of the year by unit count, and it comes in the same November 5 batch of safety commission recalls as the Bose speaker batteries, the Bodum French presses and the Gourmia air fryers covered in earlier posts.
A reminder to check model numbers
The batch is a reminder to check model numbers — not just brand names — before using a product that has been in the home for years. Little Giant ladders are a common sight in American garages and on job sites, and many of the recalled models will have been bought years ago.
The safety commission’s advice is consistent across all its recalls: stop using the product, check the model number against the recall notice, and follow the remedy set out there. For the Little Giant ladders, the hazard is the classic height-adjustment failure regulators watch for: a lock that looks engaged but gives way under load. With the holiday season approaching, anyone planning to use a ladder to hang lights or decorations should check first — a fall from a ladder is one of the most common serious home accidents, and this recall shows why the mechanism matters as much as the rungs.
