Lexmark has asked buyers to return a range of laser printer models after "internal reliability testing" uncovered a potential electric shock hazard.

According to the company, which reported the recall in co-operation with the US Consumer Product Safety Commission, no user has been affected by the problem - or, rather, no one has yet complained about it. And Lexmark is adamant that the issue only emerged in a single machine that had undergone the equivalent of "several years of normal usage".

The risk appears only evident on printers connected to an unearthed power supply. To users who have such a power supply, Lexmark said they should "not open the covers, not turn off the printer, not touch the back of the printer, and not touch anything else connected to the printer prior to unplugging it".

Still, that hasn't stopped it recalling all E232, E232t, E330, E332, E332n and E332tn lasers sold in the US through 20 August 2004. The printers were sold not only under the Lexmark brand, but as IBM and Dell printers too, according to a Forbes.com report.

Further details here.

Lexmark's recall follows last week's call by IBM for the return of a number of notebook power adaptors, and Apple's recent recall of 15in PowerBook G4 batteries. ®

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