Rubbermaid step stools
7 reports to CPSC, the latest made Oct 11, 2023. 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.
- 7reports to CPSC
- Oct 11, 2023the latest report was made
- Jul 23, 2013the earliest
- 3with the company’s comments
- Brand
- Rubbermaid
- Makers
- Newell Rubbermaid Inc. and Tricam Industries, Inc.Makers, importers or sellers, as the reports name them
- Product
- Step stoolsCPSC’s product type: Step Stools (code 620), in Home Maintenance and Structures: Ladders
By month
The numbers, as a table
| Month | Reports |
|---|---|
| October 2023 | 1 |
| September 2023 | 1 |
| March 2021 | 1 |
| September 2017 | 1 |
| June 2017 | 1 |
| August 2013 | 1 |
| July 2013 | 1 |
How badly anyone was hurt
- Emergency room 2 CPSC: Injury, Emergency Department Treatment Received
- First aid 3 CPSC: Injury, First Aid Received by Non-Medical Professional
- No one hurt 2 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 Oct 11, 2023, sent to the company Nov 14, 2023, published by CPSC Nov 29, 2023
The product, in the report: 2-step stool
10/10/2023: The consumer was standing on the stool when the top platform cracked. The consumer had just climbed up on the ladder and was on it for less than 30 seconds. He was able to grab a nearby fence and was not injured. The crack went from the bottom edge to the top platform to the top surface (1” – 2”).
The stool is rated for 225 lbs., but the consumer weighs 153 lbs (at most). He has never had any issues with the stool in the past.
Lastly, the stool was always stored inside a heated garage, and never left out in the elements.
He’s tried contacting the manufacturer, but he could only hear music and was not able to speak with a live rep.
This problem is similar to the manufacturer’s recall (CPSC #13-020)
- Model
- RM-SLA3
- Bought
- Oct 1, 2015, about then
- Where
- Boulder, Colorado: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Male
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Unspecified
- As this report names them
- Brand Rubbermaid, made or sold by Newell Rubbermaid Inc.
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
-
First aid Made Sep 12, 2023, sent to the company Sep 14, 2023, published by CPSC Sep 28, 2023
The product, in the report: Newell-Rubbermaid gray roughneck - small grip step stool, model 4B40
Stepping up onto a small stool from Rubbermaid (roughneck-model 4B40), in my bathroom, the sharp underside edge of the stool caught my shin/ankle area and sliced into my shin removing a two inch square section of my skin. This caused profuse bleeding for two days and took two weeks to heal, changing bandages regularly, leaving me with a permanent scar.
- Model
- Rubbermaid roughneck - small grip step stool-4B40
- UPC
- 71691 22388
- Where
- Collegeville, Pennsylvania: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Age 60, Unknown
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Self
- As this report names them
- Brand Rubbermaid, made or sold by Newell Rubbermaid Inc.
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Injury, First Aid Received by Non-Medical Professional
-
First aid Made Mar 15, 2021, sent to the company Apr 12, 2021, published by CPSC Apr 7, 2021
The product, in the report: Rubbermaid 3 step ultra light aluminum step stool ladder. It is predominantly raw aluminum in color with black plastic parts and a red rubbermaid logo on the handle. I believe the model is Rubbermaid RM-AUL3G. It is approx. 55” tall folded up. It stands 51” tall floor to handle when opened into use position. It is 31-1/2 x 20” at the base when opened.
I was using a 3 step Rubbermaid Step Stool Ladder (I believe the model is Rubbermaid RM-AUL3G), as I have done many times before. Prior to use, I did not observe any signs of damage which would suggest that the product was faulty. While standing on the middle step with a screw driver in my hand, the step gave way and as a result of the product failure I fell to the floor, injuring my knee and leg.
I examined the step stool ladder afterward and observed that the plastic brackets at the ends of the step were damaged, and the four screws which hold the step to the frame had sheared to failure.
I did not exceed the weight rating of this product. The weight limit of this product is 225 lbs.
- Model
- RM-AUL3G
- UPC
- n/
a - Serial number
- n/
a - Bought from
- Home Depot
- Bought
- Sep 11, 2013, about then
- Where
- Providence, Rhode Island: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Age 51, Male
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Self
- As this report names them
- Brand Rubbermaid, made or sold by Tricam Industries, Inc.
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Injury, First Aid Received by Non-Medical Professional
-
No one hurt Made Sep 20, 2017, sent to the company Jan 26, 2018, published by CPSC Feb 9, 2018
The product, in the report: Rubbermaid RM-LWS3
Rubbermaid RM-LWS3 three step step stool has two full thickness cracks in plastic of top step. The product is rated for 225 pounds. No resident of the house has weighed 225 lbs during our ownership. The product is at risk of failing and causing serious injury.
We have owned this product since sometime in 2012 or 2013 and use it very infrequently.
- Model
- RM-LWS3
- Bought from
- Costco
- Bought
- Jan 8, 2013, about then
- Where
- Rancho Santa Fe, California: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Age 61, Male
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Self
- As this report names them
- Brand Rubbermaid, made or sold by Tricam Industries, Inc.
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Incident, No Injury
-
Emergency room Made Jun 6, 2017, sent to the company Jun 14, 2017, published by CPSC Jun 28, 2017
The product, in the report: Rubbermaid RM-SLA3 Commercial Type II Step Stool
One leg of step stool collapsed while I was on the top step. I fell onto a brick patio and injured both elbows, back, and hands. I also hit my head but, fortunately, did not sustain a concussion. I went immediately to ER where I was x-rayed and treated for hairline fracture of radius.
Please note I am well under maximum allowable weight of 225 lb.
- Model
- RM-SLA3
- UPC
- 722571009120
- Serial number
- Itm./
Art. 681998 - Bought from
- Costco, California
- Bought
- Nov 1, 2013, about then
- Where
- Pasadena, California: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Age 58, Female
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Self
- As this report names them
- Brand Rubbermaid, made or sold by Tricam Industries, Inc.
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Injury, Emergency Department Treatment Received
-
Emergency room Made Aug 23, 2013, sent to the company Sep 3, 2013, published by CPSC Sep 17, 2013
The product, in the report: plastic step stool
I was using a Rubbermaid step stool to step up into and out my pickup bed.
when I went to step down one of the supports broke causing the stool to collapse
this caused head neck and back injures
- Model
- rubermaid 300lb stepstool
- Where
- raynham, Massachusetts: Other Public Property/
Office - Who was involved
- Age 60, Male
- The reporter’s relation to them
- Self
- As this report names them
- Brand rubbermaid, made or sold by Newell Rubbermaid Inc.
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Injury, Emergency Department Treatment Received
-
First aid Made Jul 23, 2013, sent to the company Jul 31, 2013, published by CPSC Aug 14, 2013
The product, in the report: Lightweight and sturdy plastic construction resists rust and dents. Folds to 6-5/8” deep for easy transport and storage. Supports up to 300 lb. capacity. Slip-resistant surfaces on steps and foot pads. Number of Steps: 2 Step Stools Type: Folding Step Stool.RCP420903CYLND. 420903CYLND. Rubbermaid Folding Two-Step Step Stool.
I was cleaning the top of my washing machine and went to get into the cupboard above it when the stepladder broke it sides cracked and I fell onto my tile floor landing on my tailbone and scraped my shin. The stool states that it holds up to 300 lbs and I do not even come close to that. The stool is approximately 6 years old. I emailed Rubbermaid to see if anyone else had this problem but have not received a response yet. I could have been seriously hurt and this item needs to be recalled before someone else gets hurt. I was using exactly as stated and have never had a problem with it before I saved it and can mail it to you if requested.
- Model
- RCP420903CYLND
- Bought from
- Walmart, Kansas
- Bought
- May 15, 2008, about then
- Where
- Azle, Texas: Home/
Apartment/ Condominium - Who was involved
- Age 55, Female
- The reporter’s relation to them
- My Spouse
- As this report names them
- Brand Rubbermaid, made or sold by Newell Rubbermaid Inc.
- How badly, in CPSC’s words
- Injury, First Aid Received by Non-Medical Professional
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.