RYOBI pruning and trimming tools, kind not given
1 report to CPSC, the latest made Jan 29, 2016. A report isn’t a recall.
Watch and the shortlist are kept with a free account, on every device. Your watch list. CPSC’s own search is on saferproducts.gov.
At a glance
From SaferProducts.gov, released Oct 25, 2026.
- 1report to CPSC
- Jan 29, 2016the latest report was made
- Jan 29, 2016the earliest
- 1with the company’s comments
- Brand
- RYOBI
- Maker
- HOMELITE CONSUMER PRODUCTS, INC.Makers, importers or sellers, as the reports name them
- Product
- Pruning and trimming tools, kind not givenCPSC’s product type: Pruning or Trimming Equipment, Not Specified (code 1447), in Yard & Garden: Gardening & Landscaping
By month
The numbers, as a table
| Month | Reports |
|---|---|
| January 2016 | 1 |
How badly anyone was hurt
- No one hurt 1 CPSC: Incident, No Injury
As each report says it, in short words; CPSC’s own words are under each.
The reports, as CPSC published them
Reports people made to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. CPSC publishes each one after sending it to the company named, and doesn’t guarantee they’re accurate. A report isn’t a recall.
Each report is the words of the person who made it, as CPSC published them. The company’s comments, where CPSC published any, are set apart as the company’s own.
CPSC, SaferProducts.gov public database export. Released Oct 25, 2026. Updated daily.
-
No one hurt Made Jan 29, 2016, sent to the company Feb 10, 2016, published by CPSC Feb 25, 2016
The product, in the report: RYOBI PRUNER ATTACHMENT - MODEL RY15520 Univeral attachment
On January 17, 2016 Purchased a Ryobi PRUNER ATTACHMENT - MODEL RY15520 from Home Depot store #[REDACTED].
On January 24, 2016, I used the attachment with a [REDACTED] 4 cycle engine, designed to allow various attachment tools. According to the HomeDepot web site: “This pole saw attachment can be used with Ryobi, [REDACTED] and other universal brand fit power heads and trimmers.”
The attachment comes with a strap hanger that the manual says to attach to the power head end of the shaft. It also comes with a shoulder strap which is then connected to the strap hanger with a snap clip.
The shoulder strap is made from nylon webbing and sewn together connected with some steel rings and nylon-plastic adjustment sliders.
The manual implies to make sure to use this shoulder strap as a safety measure.
From the manual:
“When operating this unit, you must wear a shoulder strap to support the unit. If your unit does not have a strap hanger installed on the power head shaft, use the following instructions to install the hanger. ? Pull strap hanger apart and place over power head end of shaft; position near the upper knob. ? Install bolt and lock nut. Tighten nut securely. NOTE: Check for tightness before each use to avoid serious injury or product damage. ? Place shoulder strap over your left shoulder and attach shoulder strap clip to strap hanger. Adjust by sliding the front clip up or down. NOTE: When properly adjusted, the power head should be supported by the shoulder strap about hip level.”
The first time I used this tool, I used it for about 45 minutes and then the shoulder strap fell apart and stopped supporting the weight of the power head and attachment.
The combined weight of the power head and the attachment stressed and deflected a metal ring that holds two parts of the strap together. The nylon part of the strap was then able slip out of the ring where a gap in the ring had opened up. I did not get hurt, but feel I could have been. I stopped using the product.
In my opinion, this created a substantial safety hazard since the user of the product can suddenly and without warning have to support the full weight of the product with their hands and arms when the strap comes apart. This unexpected shift in what carries the weight can result in injury in various ways: At the least may be muscle strain in hands and arms. At the most, an unbalance situation could occur where the user might fall and come into contact with the pole saw chain while under power. (Like falling on a chain saw.)
I called Ryobi Customer Service at 1-800-525-2579 on January 29, 2016 at about 11:30am Central Time to express my concerns. They offered to replace the strap. I asked if there had been an improvement of tensile or deflection strength to the connecting ring that failed. They said no, it would be the same strap.
I also asked if they wanted to take my name and number so that I might be kept informed about what they intended to do about this potential safety issue. They did not want my contact information. All they said was that they would pass along my description of the problem to the appropriate personnel. It was at that point I decided to file this report and to decided to not keep the product.
I will be returning the entire product to Home Depot for a refund as I can no longer trust the product.
- Model
- RY15520
- UPC
- 046396155160
- Serial number
- n/
a - Bought from
- Home Depot #254
- Bought
- Jan 17, 2016
- Where
- TALLAHASSEE, Florida: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Age 53, Male
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Self
- As this report names them
- Brand RYOBI, made or sold by HOMELITE CONSUMER PRODUCTS, INC.
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
CPSC’s disclaimer
Disclaimer: CPSC does not guarantee the accuracy, completeness, or adequacy of the contents of the Publicly Available Consumer Product Safety Information Database on SaferProducts.gov, particularly with respect to information submitted by people outside of CPSC.
Word for word, from the disclaimer in CPSC’s export.
Sources
Sources
-
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, SaferProducts.gov public database export.
Released Oct 25, 2026 and checked Oct 25, 2026. Updated daily. Public domain (U.S. Government work). CPSC asks to be credited, and that no endorsement be implied.
Reports of harm are from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), on SaferProducts.gov. CPSC does not endorse Hearth Record.