Lowe’s Lawsuit Claims Utilitech 7500-Lumens Halogen Plug-in Stand Work Lights Pose Severe Burn Risk

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A proposed class action lawsuit claims that Lowe’s has failed to disclose that its Utilitech 7500-Lumens Halogen Plug-In Stand Work Lights can become dangerously hot during ordinary use, posing a risk of serious burns.

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The 46-page defective products lawsuit says that although Lowe’s represents that the Utilitech work lights at issue are “designed with an eye on safety” and safe, high-quality, and easy to install for residential or commercial projects, the exterior surface of the product can become “dangerously hot to the touch,” such that it can cause severe burns during regular use.

The case alleges that Lowe’s has failed to warn consumers that the exterior surface of the work lights—including the die-cast aluminum rear yellow housing, its surrounding surfaces, and the on/off switch—can become hot enough to immediately burn skin on contact.

The suit takes issue with the fact that the only warnings about the Utilitech work lights are “buried” in the instruction and troubleshooting manual, which cannot be viewed until a consumer has already purchased the product.

Moreover, the complaint says that the manual includes only generic, inadequate warnings, such as “Be Extremely Careful When Using This Device” or “only touch the power plug or cushioned handle when turning the lamp head ON or OFF,” that fail to convey that the lights and their on/off switches can reach extremely hot temperatures.

The class action suit claims that Lowe’s is “deeply familiar” with the thermal characteristics of halogen lights and knew or should have known that the exterior of the Utilitech product would reach unreasonably hot temperatures. Moreover, Lowe’s used Intertek, an independent testing laboratory, to evaluate the lights’ performance in wet conditions, but failed to ensure that the product was thermally safe and free from temperature-related defects, the case claims.

Importantly, the lawsuit says that several models of Utilitech retail fluorescent lighting sold by Lowe’s between 2011 and 2015 were recalled in the United States and Canada after another retailer received numerous complaints of sockets overheating, melting or arcing, posing a serious fire hazard.

The filing says that the plaintiff used the lights for a home renovation project after reviewing advertising and marketing materials touting the safety of the product. Per the case, “within minutes” of turning on the light, the ambient temperature in the room increased by eight degrees, and within 30 minutes the light caused an approximate 21-degree increase in the ambient temperature.

The plaintiff then used an infrared thermometer to measure the “tremendous” amount of heat generated by the halogen work light, which revealed that the front of the lamp had reached approximately 495°F, the rear yellow housing reached approximately 289°F, and the on/off switch reached about 121°F, per the complaint.

According to the case, the safety risk is made more apparent when considering that the work lights are often used in bedrooms, garages and workspaces, where individuals, their family members and pets are likely to encounter the exterior surface of the lights.

The Lowe’s class action lawsuit looks to cover all individuals in the United States who purchased or used the Utilitech 7500-Lumens Halogen Plug-in Stand Work Light, model #1107083, from July 22, 2021 to the present.

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