Why e-scooter companies are getting serious about safety
July 16, 2019, City Lab
Lime, the micro mobility company that’s flooded the streets of more than 100 cities around the world with fleets of green-and-white electric scooters, launched a Public Policy and Safety Advisory Board last week. Lime has joined rival Bird in establishing the group which has been tasked with helping the e-scooter industry shape local regulations—and shake its risky reputation. Among the Board’s members is former CPSC Chair Inez Tenenbaum.
After death of YouTube star, Amazon will push e-scooter safety warnings
July 18, 2019, Washington Post
Wherever electric scooters have appeared around the globe, severe injuries have followed.
Now the United Kingdom — where motorized scooters are banned from public roads and sidewalks — is seeking to publicize the danger associated the devices. The Department of Transport, which oversees British transportation networks, has persuaded Amazon, the global e-commerce giant, to pressure electronic scooter manufacturers to make clear in their online listings that their devices cannot be used on public roads.
Protect your data: What parents need to know about WiFi-connected toys
July 16, 2019, WRAL
Experts say parents of teenagers, elementary school children and even preschoolers need to be cautious when it comes to Wi-Fi-connected toys. According to a Consumer Reports study, wireless-connected toys can ask for names and birth dates and even require a password, and that information could lead to trouble if it lands in the wrong hands.
Girl, nine, dies after touching a cord in a light fixture being repaired in the family pool
July 18, 2019, Daily Mail
A nine-year-old girl died while swimming in a pool in California after being electrocuted and drowning as a result. The accident happened near Sacramento, when McKenzie Kinley apparently touched a cord attached to a light fixture that was under repair in her dad’s backyard pool. The girl’s father spoke out about the tragedy, saying he was not home at the time, but that his girlfriend had been in the pool with his daughter and three of her friends before she stepped out to go to the restroom.
Consumer Reports launches digital lab
June 6, 2019, Consumer Reports
Consumer Reports announced the launch of the Digital Lab, a new initiative that will expand CR’s work on consumer privacy rights and digital security. The project, funded in part by a $6 million initial investment from Craig Newmark Philanthropies, will help Consumer Reports develop new ways to test and report on digital products and services—from connected thermostats, to cars that collect data on their drivers, to online platforms such as Amazon, Google, and Facebook.
CPSC Offers wide range of product safety publications covering variety of topics, industries
July, 2019, cpsc.gov
CPSC offers a number of product safety publications covering topics that include: bicycles; carbon monoxide; clothing and accessories; containers and packaging; cribs; electronics and electrical; fire; fuel, lighters, and fireworks; furniture, furnishings and decorations; general information; hobbies; home; kids and babies; kitchen appliances; outdoors and gardens; playgrounds; pools and spas; sports, fitness and recreation; toys and other subjects. The material will be useful as a reference resource in any company or organization product safety library.
Wrap-up of federal and state chemicals regulatory developments
July 16, 2019, JD Supra
“TSCA: Three Years Later” Conference Looks To The Past And Into The Future: On June 24, 2019, B&C, the Environmental Law Institute (ELI), and the George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health (GWU) presented “TSCA: Three Years Later,” a day-long conference with leading experts exploring the current impacts of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) on science policies, challenges faced by industry, and the impacts of TSCA on regulatory policies, especially those concerning ensuring compliance and enforcement
Advocates joint letter to House committee on markup of product safety bills
July 16, 2019, Consumer Reports
Advocate groups write to express support for advancing six bills that were marked up by the U.S. House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee. The organizations, Consumer Federation of America, Kids in Danger, Consumer Reports, and Public Citizen have worked together on these bills based on their determination that each proposed piece of legislation helps address a significant product safety hazard.
E-scooter riders lack awareness of rider liability survey says
July 18, 2019, Property Casualty 360
According to a survey by VOOM, a majority of e-scooter riders have never thought about purchasing insurance coverage despite safety concerns. Voom, an insurance platform for specialized mobility, found that 49% of millennial e-scooter riders are concerned about harming themselves or others when riding, but 53% have never thought about purchasing insurance coverage.
Group recommends trampoline parks receive safety oversight under the Safety Code for Amusement Rides and Devices
July 17, 2019 Technical Safety BC
To improve public safety, Technical Safety BC has made a recommendation to the Government of British Columbia that trampoline parks be regulated. The move comes after serious injuries at various trampoline parks, and a fatal incident in Richmond in 2018. Technical Safety BC oversees the safety of amusement devices, including roller coasters, ziplines, inflatable devices such as bouncy castles, bumper cars, simulators and waterslides, but current regulation does not address trampoline parks.
