In the News: September 12, 2022
CPSC Approves New Federal Safety Standard For Magnets To Prevent Deaths And Serious Injuries From High-Powered Magnet Ingestion
September 7, 2022, cpsc.gov
In an effort to reduce the risk of children and teens experiencing serious, even life-threatening injuries from swallowing dangerous, small high-powered magnets, the Consumer Product Safety Commission voted 5-0 to approve a new federal safety standard for magnets. When high-powered magnets are swallowed, they can attract to each other, or to other material that attracts to magnets, through internal body tissue. This can result in perforations, twisting and/or blockage of the intestines, infection, blood poisoning and death. These injuries can occur when children and teens access and ingest the magnets, including, for example, when teens use the magnets to mimic mouth piercings and swallow them inadvertently.
CPSC Chair & Commissioner Statements:
Chair Alex D. Hoehn-Saric Statement
Commissioner Richard Trumka Statement
Commissioner Mary T. Boyle Statement
Peloton Says CPSC Staff Recommends Fines Related To Treadmill Recall
September 7, 2022, Yahoo News
Peloton Interactive disclosed that staff at the Consumer Product Safety Commission plans to recommend the company be fined for violating federal safety laws related to last year’s recall of a line of treadmills. Peloton said the CPSC notified it in August that the agency’s staff believed the company had failed to meet statutory obligations under the Consumer Product Safety Act.
How To Figure Out The Power Dynamics In A New Job
August 29, 2022, Harvard Business Review
When you join a new organization, it’s important to understand who holds the power as they directly impact how work gets done, but it’s not always clear. In this piece, the author offers strategies to better identify where the true power exists.
Early Learning Centre Kids’ Toy Recalled Over Fears It Could Make Youngsters Choke
September 6, 2022, The Mirror
The UK Office for Product Safety and Standards has issued a notice to have the “Little Sense Lights and Sounds Shape Sorter” recalled over safety concerns. Toy manufacturer Addo Play, responsible for the design and creation of the product issued a voluntary safety notice.
Risk Of Ruptured AAA Batteries Prompts Recall Of Children’s Headphones
September 8, 2022, WSB-TV 2 Atlanta
The Consumer Product Safety Commission, in cooperation with Hearing Lab Technology/Lucid Audio, is recalling four models of its powered HearMuffs. The Vinnic brand AAA alkaline batteries included with the affected HearMuffs can rupture, posing hearing, projectile or burn injury, according to the CPSC. The headphones were sold from January 2018 to December 2021 at Sam’s Club, Kroger and other stores nationwide; and online at samsclub.com and kroger.com.
Survey: Safer Baby Diapers Are More Important Than Ever
September 9, 2022, EWG
To clean up the baby diapers available in the marketplace, the Environmental Working Group surveyed more than 1,800 parents and caregivers to better understand what they know about diapers and what they want from these products. Almost 71 percent of survey respondents were unaware of chemicals found in diapers – dyes, chlorine, formaldehyde, pesticides, phthalates and other harmful substances.
‘It’s So Important To Pay Attention To Recalls:’ Keeping Your Family And Children Safe At Home
September 7, 2022, CBS Pittsburg
Several times a week there are recalls telling you about everything from food to household products. The recalls are warnings. However, the Consumer Product Safety Commission says that too often those warnings are ignored. There are plenty of recalls and it’s not hard to miss some of the, but that could compromise your family’s safety.
ASTM subcommittee will develop standards on PFAS in consumer products
September 6, 2022, National Law Review
ASTM has announced that a new subcommittee will develop standards on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) that are present in consumer products. The new subcommittee (F15.81) will operate under the jurisdiction of ASTM’s consumer products committee (F15). According to ASTM, the new subcommittee “will develop standards that provide guidance on how to prepare and analyze a wide variety of consumer product samples for PFAS.”
New British PM Confirms Online Safety Bill Will Be Taken Forward
September 8, 2022, Out-Law News
The resignation of Boris Johnson as Conservative party leader in July, and the resultant leadership contest that followed, raised the prospect that the Online Safety Bill could be withdrawn. However, responding to a question from former digital minister Jeremy Wright in the House of Commons on Wednesday, Truss confirmed that the Bill has a future under her premiership but hinted that businesses can expect her government to make changes to the draft legislation that was introduced into parliament earlier this year.
Health Canada Says Portable Radon Meter Poses A Health And Safety Risk To Consumers
September 7, 2022, Cambridge Today
The product is a portable, battery powered, radon meter advertised for long- and short-term home radon monitoring. It was sold on Amazon.ca and potentially through other online websites. Health Canada’s Consumer Product Safety Program found that the product poses a health and safety risk to consumers. The product was sold as real-time radon monitor but reports a low value regardless of the actual radon level (with errors greater than 90%). This false reading misleads Canadians who are trying to assess whether or not their homes exceed the national guidelines for radon. This may lead to continued exposure to radon and possible adverse health consequences.
Additional Murphy Beds Recalled By Consumer Product Safety Commission
September 8, 2022, Woodworking Network
The Consumer Safety Product Commission is recalling 8,200 Murphy beds after they were blamed for injuring 62 users. According to the CSPC, there have been 146 reports of beds falling or breaking. The agency said the beds can detach or break from the wall, posing serious impact and crush hazards. The faulty beds caused broken bones, bruising, lacerations, concussions, and other injuries, the CSPC reported. Earlier this year, the CPSC and Bestar, of Canada, recalled 129,000 wall beds.
