Exercise equipment maker Peloton has refuted claims by the US Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) that its Tread+ machine caused injuries to small children and pets.
The Commission over the weekend released an “urgent warning,” suggesting the Tread+ “poses serious risk to children for abrasions, fractures, and death.” Citing 39 known incidents (including one fatality), CPSC shared a video demonstrating possible hazards, and noted “at least one incident” that occurred while a parent was running on the treadmill.
“In light of multiple reports of children becoming entrapped, pinned, and pulled under the rear roller of the product, CPSC urges consumers with children at home to stop using the product immediately,” according to a Saturday announcement. If that’s not possible, owners should operate the treadmill in a locked room, away from objects like exercise balls and other equipment. When not in use, unplug the Tread+ and store the safety key out of reach of children.
Peloton, however, has other ideas. In response to the consumer warning, the firm called CPSC’s “unilateral” press release “inaccurate and misleading.” “There is no reason to stop using the Tread+, as long as all warnings and safety instructions are followed,” it said, adding that kids under 16 should never use the machine, and folks should keep children, pets, and objects away from it “at all times.”
Earlier this year, Peloton CEO John Foley reported a “tragic accident” involving the Tread+ that led to the death of a child. In a separate incident the same month, a three-year-old suffered “significant” brain injuries after getting trapped under one of the company’s treadmills. (They are expected to make a full recovery.)
From Kickstarter campaign to celebrity instructors, Peloton has come a long way since its first stationary bike was released in 2014. But, like most of the world, the New York-based business has been on a COVID-19 roller coaster, boasting significant sales increases that ultimately led to shipping delays and cancelled orders.
There’s no telling what the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s latest warning will mean for Peloton’s future. “[We] already urged members to follow all warnings and safety instructions,” the firm said, expressing its disappointment that, “despite its offers of collaboration, and despite the fact that the Tread+ complies with all applicable safety standards, CPSC was unwilling to engage in any meaningful discussions with Peloton before issuing its inaccurate and misleading press release.
“While Peloton knows that the Tread+ is safe for the home when used in accordance with warnings and safety instructions,” it continued, “the company is committed to taking whatever steps are necessary and appropriate to further inform members of potential risks and remind them of measures they need to take to safeguard themselves and others in their households.”
