Peloton Accidents Spark Push To Change Product Safety Law
April 22, 2021, The Verge
House Democrats introduced a bill, the Sunshine in Product Safety Act to make it easier for the CPSC to warn people about unsafe products. The act would repeal part of a 49-year-old law that limits what information the agency can release publicly.
Peloton Stumbles As Competitor Attracts Funding, Media Attention
April 29, 2021, Motley Fool
After a year of growth, Peloton has hit a new hurdle following a recent wrangle with the CPSC. The exercise company’s shares have dropped more than 40% since January highs.
Why You Shouldn’t Engage With Customer Complaints On Twitter
April 29, 2021, Harvard Business Review
What do you do when a customer tweets something negative about your company? Many businesses pursue a strategy of proactive, public engagement. But new research suggests publicly responding to customer complaints can actually have a negative effect.
UK Government To Review Product Safety And Liability Laws
April 28, 2021, JDSupra
UK government announced the intention of reviewing and strengthening the UK’s product safety laws to ensure that they are fit for the 21st century. Business Minister Paul Scully spoke of a “new, modern product safety regime which will unleash the creative potential of our businesses while keeping consumers safe.”
Consumers Should Spring Into Safety With The “New Normal”
April 28, 2021, CPSC.com
Now with spring upon us, flowers in the garden are not the only things blooming. Milder temperatures mean more of us will head outdoors for recreation and do-it-yourself home projects involving power tools, yard equipment and sports gear. The CPSC encourages consumers to remain vigilant about avoiding hazards while at home, at play or at school. Whatever the activity, the CPSC cautions consumers, always Do It Safely (D-I-S).
Another Court Gets On (hover) Board With Online Marketplace Liability For Defective Products
April 28, 2021, The National Law Review
In a recent development, California’s Court of Appeal determined that Amazon could be held strictly liable for injuries a consumer suffered from a defective hoverboard she bought from the retailer, even though Amazon neither manufactured nor sold the product.
UL Institute Toolkit To Help Specify Furniture To Reduce Flame Retardant Exposure
April 28, 2021, Chemical Insights
A Chemical Insights, an Institute of Underwriters Laboratories, in conjunction with the Sustainable Furnishings Council, released a toolkit designed to help interior designers specify and select residential upholstered furniture that reduces exposure to flame retardant chemicals. The toolkit, based on the recently released UL 118F Guidance Document, is a set of actionable guidelines that follows years of Chemical Insights’ research into human exposure to flame retardant chemicals as well as processes for reducing furniture flammability and residential fire hazards.
The Pandemic Trade-Off’: Some Parents Are Reassessing Which Kids’ Activities Feel Safe
April 16, 2021, The Washington Post
The collective easing of anxiety around skateboarding may be more in line with statistical realities, according to national data from the CPSC. Responding to growing parental concern about X Games sports, the agency in 2002 published a study comparing youth skateboarding injury rates with those of other sports. The findings showed that skateboarding was, statistically speaking, much safer than basketball: Skateboarders had an injury rate of 8.9 per 1,000 participants, while basketball players’ injury rate was 21.2 per 1,000 players.
Under New Administrator Michael Regan, EPA Closes Loophole On Toxic PFAS
April 28, 2021, The Progressive Pulse
Manufacturers of perfluorinated compounds, also known as PFAS, will no longer be allowed to use a special exemption that allowed hundreds of these toxic substances to be fast tracked into the marketplace. The EPA is closing the “low-volume” loophole. It allowed industries that agreed to limit their manufacture of chemicals, including PFAS, to no more than 22 tons per year to request a shortened 30-day scientific review instead of the traditional 90 days.
Urgent Warning After WA Child Consumes Hand Sanitizer
April 29, 2021, Mirage (AU)
An urgent safety warning has been issued by Consumer Protection after a six-year-old child who had consumed hand sanitizer was admitted to a Perth hospital. Commissioner for Consumer Protection Lanie Chopping said parents and carergivers of children should be extra vigilant as children often mistake the bottles of sanitizer for food or drink.
Honoring Our Heroes
SPSP Website
SPSP makes a permanent home for the salute poster at its website.
