'IMMEDIATELY STOP USING': Major recall of generators sold by Costco, Home Depot, Lowe's, Amazon and other stores triggers Health Canada warning as amputations, other injuries reported

Several reports of finger amputations and a finger crushing injury have sparked a major recall of generators sold at numerous well-known stores, Health Canada says.

The recall was triggered by 'finger amputation and crush hazards" and involves Generac and DR 6500 watt and 8000 watt gasoline-powered portable generators, Health Canada said.

The portable generators have two-wheels and a single, U-shaped, two-grip, flip-up pin-lock handle to help move the generator.

"The folding handle on the generators can pinch the user's fingers, posing an amputation and crush hazard, unless the locking pin has been properly inserted to secure the handle in place before and after moving the generator," Health Canada said in its recall warning.

As of June 29, 2021, the company has received no reports of incidents or injuries in Canada. In the United States, the company has received 8 reports of finger injuries, including seven reports of finger amputation and one crush injury, Health Canada said.

The company reported that approximately 4,574 units of the affected product were sold in Canada and approximately 321,160 units were sold in the United States from June 2013 to June 2021.

The product recall is listed on the Costco Canada website with the item numbers, and Home Depot and Lowe's say the products were available online. Home Depot says the portable generators in question have been removed from the site while Lowe's says the products haven't been available since June 17.

The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (USPC), which has also recalled the products, said they were available at major home improvement and hardware stores nationwide and online, including Amazon.

"Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled portable generators, unless the locking pin has been properly inserted to secure the handle in place before and after moving the generator, and contact Generac for a free repair kit," Health Canada said.

For more information, consumers may contact Generac Power Systems, Inc. by telephone toll-free at 1-844-242-3493 from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CDT Monday to Friday, or accessing the Generac website.

Here are photos of the recalled products: