Robinson Says Priorities Are Section 104, Imports and Education Marietta Robinson May 10 at her confirmation hearing told the Senate Commerce Committee that her priories if she joins CPSC will be completing Section 104 switches, strengthening the agency’s import surveillance work, and expanding its education efforts.
Pryor Suggests Look of CPSIA Database Protections Senator Mark Pryor (D-Ark.) May 10 urged a meeting among his staff, that of Sen. Kay Baily Hutchinson (R-Texas), and CPSCers familiar with the CPSIA database.
CPSC Challenges ASTM Playground Equipment Proposal CPSC will raise concerns about proposed changes to ASTM F1497-11, Standard Consumer Safety Performance Specification for Playgrounds, to exempt non-traditional units not specified in the section from certain requirements.
DOT and Others Target Odorant Fade in LP Gas The Department of Transportation (DOT), Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and nine fire-related associations and groups May 9 discussed engaging in a multi-pronged approach to target under-odorization and odorant fade in liquefied petroleum (LP) gas tanks.
JPMA Seeks Longer Phase-In for Upcoming Stroller Proposal An ASTM F15.17 task group May 7 discussed a Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association (JPMA) recommendation that CPSC extend from six- to 24-months an effective period in an upcoming Notice of Proposed Rulemaking (NPR) for strollers.
ECHA Wants Feedback on Phthalates Risk The European Chemicals Agency (ECHA) seeks comments by July 31 on its review of scientific evidence of risks posed by the phthalates DINP and DIDP.
CPSC Briefs Briefs on Privacy Act, recalls, meetings
Tenenbaum Weighs in on Ertl Decision from the May 7 issue CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum April 27 termed “an excellent precedent” the decision by Ertl in its recent lead-content petition not to seek a total exemption but rather only approval to meet the previous limit.
EU Panel Looks at GPSD, RAPEX and More from the May 7 issue The EU General Product Safety Directive (GPSD) committee in Brussels recently discussed the following.
EU Committee Looks at Standards and More from the May 7 issue The European Commission’s Consumer Safety Network (CSN) in Brussels recently discussed the following:
CPSC Updates CPSIA Webpage from the May 7 issue CPSC’s recent updated to its webpage for the CPSIA includes a three-step process for finding requirements.
CPSC Reveals First Targets of Regulatory Review from the April 30 issue Third-party testing burdens, animal testing and toy caps would be the first targets of CPSC’s regulatory review project.
Adler Warns of Broad Interpretation of Ertl Decision from the April 30 issue CPSC member Robert Adler April 25 cautioned against reading too much into the commission’s recent unanimous decision to grant a 100 parts per million (ppm) lead content exemption.
ASTM Reviews Bunk Bed Standards from the April 30 issue ASTM ‘s F15.30 subcommittee April 17 discussed comments and concerns about current bunk bed specifications.
Reported Increase in Older Adult Fall Deaths Due to Improved Coding Newswise (Charlottesville, Va.) The recent dramatic increase in the fall death rate in older Americans is likely the effect of improved reporting quality, according to a new report from the Johns Hopkins Center for Injury Research and Policy.
New Sunscreen Guide: 1 in 4 Products Deemed Safe WebMD (New York, N.Y.) With warmer weather on the way, the Environmental Working Group has just released a new edition of their popular sunscreen guide.
Health Canada Has Warnings for Garage Salers CBC (Toronto, Ontario) Just in time for summer, product safety officers with Health Canada are warning second-hand store owners and garage salers about safety regulations.
Child Products Tested for Safety WJTX (Jacksonville, Fla.) When Consumer Reports releases its studies and reviews on different products, we always let you know how things rank.
Children at Risk as "Button" Battery Use Grows: Study Reuters (New York, N.Y.) Children face a growing risk from "button" batteries, according to a U.S. study showing a near doubling of emergency room visits in the past two decades as the objects can cause electrical or chemical burns if swallowed.
Watch Out For Toxic Chemicals In School Supplies, Public Told Manila Buletin (Manila Philippines) The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) advised the public yesterday to buy school supplies only from reputable vendors and those that are properly labeled.
Swallowed Battery Hazards: ER Visits Double MSNBC (New York, N.Y.) Every three hours a child shows up in a U.S. emergency room with a battery that’s been swallowed or placed in the mouth, ears or nose, a new study shows.
JUVENILE PRODUCTS & CHILDCARE ITEMS
Everyday Baby Items Can Cause Serious Injury Pittsburgh Post-Gazette (Pittsburgh, Pa.) Of all the things parents worry about, the safety of bottles, binkies and sippy cups is not usually high on the list.
Product Safety Letter Celebrates 40th Anniversary Product Safety Letter is turning 40. The inaugural issue was April 3, 1972. The lead story was on consideration by the FDA Bureau of Product Safety of warning symbols in ads for hazardous products. Other stories covered...
Along with the new product testing and certification requirements and the adoption of several new standards for various juvenile products, 2011 was notable for the March 11th launch of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) public information database, available at SaferProducts.gov. The database contains reports of product-related injuries and other incidents provided by consumers, health care and child care providers, consumer advocacy groups, attorneys, and other third parties.
Safety, especially product safety, can mean different things to different people. To an engineer, it’s hazard analysis. To a risk manager, it’s loss control. To a regulator, it’s compliance. To a lawyer, it’s liability. To the working group that created ISO 10377, it was orchestrating all views into one practical methodology that will turn out a safe, reliable consumer product every time.
