The government urged paper shredder manufacturers Wednesday to work out measures to prevent accidents following two cases earlier this year in which two 2-year-old children lost fingers in the machines.
The Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry asked the Japan Business Machine and Information System Industries Association and the All Japan Stationery Association to investigate whether similar accidents had occurred and to warn consumers about the risks.
On March 10, a 2-year-old girl in Shizuoka lost nine fingers when she got her hands caught in a SCA-410D office-use shredder made by Sendai-based Irisohyama Inc. that was in her home, according to METI.