CPSC Approves New Federal Safety Standard For Infant Support Cushions To Prevent Infant Deaths And Serious Injuries
October 16, 2024, cpsc.gov
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has approved, by a 5 to 0 vote, a new federal mandatory standard to improve the safety of infant support cushions. CPSC is aware of 79 infant deaths and 124 injuries between 2010 and 2022 associated with infant support cushions. Most injuries and deaths ccurred among infants younger than 3-months old. The new rule will go into effect 180 days following its publication in the Federal Register and will require that all infant support cushions manufactured for sale after the rule takes effect meet the new requirements.
Statement of Chair Hoehn-Saric
Dangerous Toys Made Outside European Union Sold Online Within The Bloc
October 17, 2024, The Irish Times
Many unbranded toys made outside of Europe but sold within the EU by online retailers including Temu and Amazon are dangerous for children, an industry survey shows. Toy Industries of Europe (TIE) said that final results showed 80 per cent of the toys tested did not meet EU safety standards. The more than 100 products tested were bought on 10 online platforms: China’s AliExpress, Temu and Shein, Singapore’s Light In The Box, the US’s Amazon and Wish, France’s Cdiscount, UK’s Fruugo, the Netherlands’ Bol and Poland’s Allegro. Platforms themselves are not responsible for goods sold by third-party sellers which are often shipped directly from China at subsidized postage rates. TIE has called for this loophole to be closed by the European Commission and for it to crack down on dangerous products being sold.
What Experts Predict The Future Of Work Will Look Like
September 16, 2024, Harvard Business Review
No one knows exactly what the future of work will look like. Research involving Belgian newspaper articles and experts shows that public commentators on the topic tend to fall into three buckets: Optimists (largely tech entrepreneurs), skeptics (largely economists) and pessimists (authors and journalists). So, who’s righ? Because each group uses different research and has a different point of view, it’s impossible to tell who is right. But it is possible to better understand all three arguments, and to think critically about what you want the future of work to look like. A robust public debate involving every citizen, policy maker, manager and CEO is the best way to ensure all voices are heard.
CPSC Commissioners Abstain From Retracting Infant Sleep Product Statements
October 17, 2024, Morrison Foerster
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has refused to retract Commissioner Richard Trumka’s unilateral statements earlier this year encouraging retailers to stop selling weighted infant sleep products. CPSC Commissioners Peter A. Feldman and Douglas Dziak published a statement rejecting a request by Dreamland Baby, a weighted sleep sack company. The CPSC retraction commissioner Trumka’s statements was not agreed upon. Notably, Commissioners Feldman and Dziak did not express support for Commissioner Trumka’s statements. Rather, they explained, “The relief sought by Dreamland Baby in this matter raises separate concerns, particularly with respect to the remedy, which requires a retraction ‘in a manner equivalent’ to the original method of dissemination.”
FDNY: Fatal Brooklyn Fire Caused By Unregulated Lithium-Ion Battery
October 18, 2024, Fire & Safety Journal Americas
As reported by the Fire Department of New York, a fire in Brooklyn on October 16, 2024, was caused by a failed lithium-ion battery. The fire tragically claimed the life of a 69-year-old man. FDNY Commissioner Robert S. Tucker addressed the issue during a public briefing, emphasizing the dangers posed by unregulated lithium-ion batteries. He urged the public to avoid purchasing batteries from unregulated sources and warned of the risks to both civilians and firefighters. Commissioner Tucker pointed out that there have been 219 lithium-ion battery-related fires in 2024 so far.
Expanding The Scope Of Winter Safety
October 15, 2024, Occupational Health and Safety
Winter hazards are nothing if not predictable: Slip hazards due to frozen ice; frostbite and other forms of cold stres; housekeeping issues in entrances and walkways; and slush in the workplace. How they appear may vary from one incident to the next, but every year, some permutation of these safety issues will pose a threat as the weather turns colder. And every year, safety professionals will dust off their talking points on winter weather hazards.
Colsen Recalls Fire Pits Due To Risk Of Serious Burn Injury; No Recall Or Remedy Offered
October 17, 2024 cpsc.gov
This recall involves Colsen-branded indoor/outdoor tabletop fire pits. The fire pits consist of a concrete, open reservoir intended to contain burning liquid alcohol. They vary in size from 5 to 18 inches wide. Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled fire pits and dispose of them. Do NOT resell or donate them. It is a violation of federal law to sell or distribute recalled products. CPSC has received 31 reports of flame jetting and flames escaping from the concrete container; resulting in 19 burn injuries. Two incidents resulted in third degree burns to more than 40% of victims’ bodies, and at least six incidents have involved surgery, prolonged medical treatment, admission to burn treatment facilities, short-term disability, loss of function, physical therapy, or permanent disfigurement. The firm stopped selling Colsen-branded fire pits and does not have the financial resources to offer a remedy to consumers.
CPSC Finds Substantial Number Of Mattresses Tested Fail Parts 1632 And 1633
October 17, 2024, International Sleep Products Association
The International Sleep Products Association has been following publicly available violation data from the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Based on the available data (Violations | CPSC.gov) there appears to be an alarming increase in mattresses failing to meet Part 1632 and 1633 burn tests over the past year. These failures can have costly consequences. Manufacturers or importers of non-compliant products may need to conduct expensive recalls or take other corrective actions. When imported products fail compliance tests before the goods formally enter the United States, US Customs and Border Protection can require that the non-compliant goods be seized and destroyed.
Agricultural Research Service Develops Long-Term Roadmap For PFAS In U.S. Agriculture
October 16, 2024, Agricultural Research Service
The Department of Agriculture (USDA)’s Agricultural Research Service (ARS) today announced several key outcomes from a workshop to develop a research roadmap that would lead to short and long-term science-based solutions to meet the emerging challenges posed by the discovery of PFAS in agricultural soils and waters. PFAS have become increasingly found in the environment, posing significant challenges for producers, and farming communities, highlighting the need for agricultural researchers to develop innovative and practical solutions. ARS and the University Maine collaborated recently during a three-day workshop to bring together more than 150 interagency researchers, state partners university partners and other subject matter experts. They engaged in discussions and identified key research and innovative solutions that address the top challenges PFAS poses to agriculture, agroecosystems, food systems and farming communities.
Several Branded Promotional Cigar Slim Lighters Recalled
October 17, 2024, WGAU radio
About 60,000 cigar slim lighters were recalled because they did not have child-resistant mechanisms and were not evaluated for child resistance. The cigar lighters were promotional items, given away for free, the Consumer Product Safety Commission announced. The lighters were either white, brown or red and were about 3 inches by 1 1/2 inches by one-quarter inch. The CPSC said the lighters should be thrown away, and since it was a free promotional item, no refund or replacement will be given.
Texas Attorney General Obtains Settlement Of Alleged False And Misleading Statements About Healthcare Artificial Intelligence Product Accuracy
October 15, 2024, Quaries.com
The Attorney General (AG) of Texas announced a settlement with an artificial intelligence-focused healthcare technology company to resolve allegations of false and misleading statements about the accuracy of its product. The company provides a generative artificial intelligence-enabled service to support health system doctors and nurses to summarize, chart, and draft clinical notes in the electronic health record, among other AI-enabled functionality related to patient care. The company promotes its product’s capability to minimize AI “hallucinations” using “highly tuned adversarial AI” and “board-certified clinician oversight.” The Texas AG asserts that the company’s claims that its product was “highly accurate” and that its “critical hallucination rate” was “<.001%” were false and misleading and may have deceived hospitals about product safety and accuracy, putting the public interest at risk.
