Ex-Reagan advisor: ‘Future safety’ of my kids depends on whether US and China are friends or enemies
October 19, 2018, CNBC
The deteriorating relationship between the world’s two biggest economies is at a possible tipping point into a cold war, John Rutledge, a principal architect of Ronald Reagan‘s economic plan, told CNBC on Friday.
“The single biggest question for the future safety of my children is whether China and the U.S. end up as friends or enemies,” said Rutledge, now chief investment officer at the Safanad global investment firm. He has also advised leaders in the Chinese government.
Safety Agency Nixes Tracking Deaths Involving ROVs
October 15, 2018, Fair Warning Reports
Despite mounting casualties from crashes of recreational off-highway vehicles, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has shot down a proposal to track injuries and deaths involving the popular trail machines. Commissioners voted 3-2 against adding the vehicles, known as ROVs, as a category to the agency’s annual report on all-terrain vehicle, or ATV, deaths and injuries.
CPSC Steps up enforcement of child resistant packaging requirements
October 18, 2018, Keller and Heckman, LLP
Over the last twelve months, Keller and Heckman has seen a significant uptick in Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) recalls of products that do not have required child-resistant closures. Under the Poison Prevention Packaging Act (PPPA), child-resistant packaging is required for prescription drugs, over-the-counter drugs, dietary supplements, and cosmetics that contain chemicals listed in CPSC’s regulations. Since 1992, CPSC has conducted 28 recalls for PPPA violations.
Judge: Amazon Not Liable for Injuries From Hoverboard Fire
October 18, 2018, The Law
A federal judge in Atlanta has tossed out claims against Amazon leveled by a man who was severely burned and lost his home when a hoverboard caught fire in 2016, ruling the shipper was not on notice about the hazards of the device when it was sold. Chief Judge Thomas Thrash Jr.’s order filed Wednesday in response to Amazon’s motion to dismiss seems to leave little remaining in the case since the remaining co-defendants, including the Chinese manufacturers of the hoverboard and battery, never responded to the suit filed in February in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of Georgia.
CPSC Quick Business Desktop Reference Guide
October, 2018, cpsc.gov
Print and post a handy desktop guide that covers such topics as children’s products, general use non-children’s products, duty to report, and key substantive product safety rules. This can be kept on a variety of digital platforms for each access from any location.
Risk Assessment: A free webinar on what every professional needs to know about reducing risk
October 19, 2018, Society of Product Safety Professionals
In today’s increasingly safety-minded culture, it is critical for companies to consider both who is using their products and how those products are being used. This webinar, presented by Don Moffett, a product safety leader in training for many years, believes that product risk assessments are by far the most effective way for product safety professionals to determine whether action is required to reduce the risk that end users might be injured while using their company’s products. Failure to assess these potential risks may lead to product returns or recalls, damage to brand integrity, or even litigation.
Professional Certification: Oct. 30 webinar explains how to qualify for university program
October, 2018, Emerson Leadership Institute at Saint Louis University
The field’s first professional certification for consumer product safety personnel will start in January, 2019. Registration closes on November 15. The program features full professors from the Richard Chaitfetz School of Business at Saint Louis University, as well as product safety experts from a number of safety-related different disciplines. First year program candidates will receive tuition fee discounts as incentive to become pioneers in certification.
What businesses need to focus on for 2019
October 16, 2018, Digital Journal
As well as the other challenges facing businesses in 2019 and beyond, a particular focus needs to be placed onto digital ethics and data privacy, according to industry analysts Gartner. The firm outlines the top ten coming industry and technology trends.
UL Introduces UL 4041 to Provide Rigorous Outdoor Furniture Safety Certification Document that Helps Advance Product Quality, Mitigate Risk
October 16, 2018, PRNewswire
In response to a growing number of incidents and injuries that occur each year with outdoor furniture usage, UL announced the development of a rigorous science-based safety certification document for outdoor furniture to help retailers and consumers identify safer furniture. Data from the Consumer Product Safety Commission reveals that nearly three million outdoor furniture products were recalled between 2016 and 2018 due to safety risks and problems. These recalls highlight the need for more stringent testing and standards that require a product to be designed and manufactured with the highest levels of quality.
Amazon helps companies comply with California’s Proposition 65
October, 2018, amazon.com
The California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) administers the Proposition 65 program and publishes the listed chemicals, which includes more that 850 chemicals. In August 2016, OEHHA adopted new regulations, effective on August 30, 2018, which change the information required in Proposition 65 warnings.The company is providing the following warning for products linked to a specified page: WARNING: This product contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm.
This collapsible and foldable helmet could change bike safety as we know it
October 14, 2018, Mashable
Currently seeking funding on IndieGoGo, a Brooklyn-based company, Park & Diamond, has created a collapsible bike helmet that’s stylish, ultra-portable, breathable, and reportedly safe. The helmet (which looks like a snazzy baseball cap) only weighs eight ounces and completely folds into itself, so it can be taken just about anywhere. According to the company’s website, the helmet complies with U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission guidelines and standards, Canadian cycling helmet safety certification standards, and European Union regulations.
