About 1 Million Dressers Are Recalled After Failing Government Safety Tests
October 10, 2019, Consumer Reports
Two companies recalled dresser models last week after the products failed stability testing conducted by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. This marks the third and fourth dresser recalls in the past five months. Ridgewood Industries (also known as Ameriwood Home) recalled about 1 million Belmont four-drawer dressers sold by Kmart and Sears for about $40. The second company, E&E, recalled about 1,800 Ink+Ivy Renu three-drawer dressers, sold online at Bed Bath & Beyond, Kohl’s, Macy’s, and elsewhere. for about $350.
New lawsuits filed against Polaris in connection to ATV fires
October 9, 2019, Star Tribune
More lawsuits claiming Polaris ATVs suddenly caught fire, resulting in injuries, have been filed in Hennepin County District Court. The new cases involve fires that occurred this year, including one that resulted in a passenger’s death. One also involved a replacement vehicle issued to an Arizona man after his original Polaris 2015 off-road RZR vehicle caught fire. Medina-based Polaris — a $6.1 billion maker of off-road vehicles, snowmobiles and motorcycles — said it will not comment on individual cases but has denied wrongdoing in court papers.
Amazon Prime Air VP Touts Environmental, Safety Benefits Of Drone Delivery
October 3, 2019, Benzinga
Amazon.com, Inc. AMZN 0.68% Prime Air vice president Gur Kimchi held an audience of clean technology and environmental policy experts spellbound as he laid out the company’s futuristic vision of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) darting around the sky delivering packages to consumers in 30 minutes or less.
Fossil fuel industry sees the future of their product in hard-to-recycle plastic
October 10, 2019, Phys.Org
Plastic pollution and the climate crisis are two inseparable parts of the same problem, though they aren’t treated as such. Many countries have implemented plastic bag charges and plastic straw bans while action to phase out fossil fuels lags far behind, due in part to the inertia of the huge oil and gas companies that dominate the sector.
Preliminary test results show PFAS chemicals in fish from Farmington River
October 4, 4019, NBC
Preliminary testing results detected elevated levels of PFAS chemicals in fish from the Farmington River after firefighting foam spilled into the river from Bradley International Airport in June. PFAS is a group of thousands of man-made chemicals that are widely used in consumer products, including products ranging from nonstick cookware to waterproof clothing to carpets to food packaging materials. According to DEEP and the state Department of Public Health, PFAS have been linked to health risks ranging from developmental effects in fetuses and infants to certain forms of cancer.
Singapore supplier fined S$50,000 for affixing safety marks on unregistered charging adapters
October 9, 2019, MalayMail
Gadget supplier iPassion Group has been fined S$50,000 (RM151,712) for putting “Safety” stickers on unregistered charging adapters used for personal mobility devices (PMDs) and selling them, trade agency Enterprise Singapore said in a media statement yesterday.More than 90 per cent of the adapters have since been recalled and more than 900 pieces were seized as part of investigations.
China: Websites failing to protect consumers from toxic plastic toys
October 9, 2019, China Dialogue
A squishy toy, a squawking chicken and some fluorescent slime. Stress-relieving plastic toys like these sell well on China’s e-commerce sites, usually for less than 20 yuan (US$2.80) each. No matter how they are handled, they always return to their original shape because they contain “plasticisers” that make them more flexible and less brittle. But plasticisers can also be toxic. In particular, phthalates are one class of chemical used as a plasticiser that increase the risk of asthma and allergies and can interfere with hormone production, causing issues such as low sperm count or early puberty.
New York City files federal lawsuit accusing 22 online sellers of targeting young with flavored e-cigarettes
October 9, 2019, WTVR
New York City has filed a federal lawsuit against 22 online sellers of flavored e-cigarettes.
The suit accuses the 22 of illegally selling to minors, targeting young people via social media, and luring them with flavors such as “Lemon Twist,” “Freddy’s Pebbles” and “Whipped Salted Caramel.”
Professional Certification: Details released for 2020 product safety professional designation program
October 15, 2019, Society of Product Safety Professionals
Details for the consumer product safety field new individual certification designation have been released by the organizations that have developed the program. The Society of Product Safety Professionals (SPSP) is a non-profit professional development organization that is the conferring body for those who successfully complete the program. SPSP affiliate, the Consumer Product Safety Certification Services (CPSCS), is an independent certification oversight organization that operates to assure the integrity of the certification program and related preparatory activities. The Emerson Leadership Institute at Saint Louis University’s Richard Chaifetz School of Business was selected as the organization to develop the educational program designed by SPSP and CPSCS. Registration to apply for the program will open in October.
Consumer Product Update: Health Canada warns Canadians of health and safety risks of certain containers of pourable alcohol-based fuels and certain firepots that use pourable fuels
October 9, 2019, Oil and Gas 360
Health Canada is informing consumers of the serious fire and burn risks associated with flame jetting occurrences that may result from the use of certain containers of pourable alcohol-based fuels and certain firepots that use those fuels. These products should not be used in the absence of important safety features.
“Toxic Mix”: New quad bike rules overlook age restrictions
October 10, 2019, Sidney Morning Herald
Quad bikes sold in Australia will have to be fitted with roll bars and safety stickers within two years, under new safety standards announced by the federal government. But advocates say there’s still a long way to go as children continue to ride the deadly bikes. The changes come after a long-fought campaign by a coalition of rural voices, including the National Farmers Federation, the Royal Flying Doctor Service and the Country Women’s Association, to mandate safety standards for quad bikes, which are a major cause of injury and death on farms.
PFAS Forever chemicals are in your popcorn and your blood
October 10, 2019, Wired
Next time you pick up a pizza from your favorite pizzeria and toss the box in your front seat, think about why the grease doesn’t saturate through the cardboard onto your upholstery. Or when you hear popcorn bursting in a bag in your microwave, consider why the oil doesn’t ooze out and the paper doesn’t burst into flames, even when some kernels turn black. The answer is likely to be PFAS. Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances are a group of about 4,700 chemicals that make carpets and upholstery stain-resistant and help firefighters douse burning oil and gas. Some PFAS versions keep your burger from sticking to its fast-food wrapper and your salad from turning its fiber-based bowl into a soggy mess.
