In the News: January 16, 2023

There’s A Secret Pollution Source In 40 Million Homes. The U.S. May Try To Ban It.
January 10, 2023, Washington Post
For years, scientists and health advocates have tried to bring attention to a secret source of air pollution sitting in 40 million homes around the United States. They say it jump-starts childhood asthma, increases the risk of respiratory problems, and emits planet-warming gasses. It’s the gas stove. And now, those efforts seem to be gaining traction. Recently, Richard Trumka Jr., one of the four commissioners of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, said in an interview that the agency was considering a ban on gas stoves — or, at least, standards around the amount of toxic fumes such stoves can spew into Americans’ kitchens.

We’re Not Taking Away Your Gas Stove, Regulator Tells CNN
January 12, 2022, CNN
The federal government isn’t going to take away your gas stove, a top consumer regulator told CNN. Richard Trumka Jr, a Consumer Product Safety commissioner, set off a firestorm this week by suggesting the agency could ban gas stoves because they have been linked to childhood asthma. Trumka confirmed to CNN that “everything’s on the table” when it comes to gas stoves but stressed that any ban would apply only to new gas stoves, not existing ones. “We are not looking to go into anyone’s homes and take away items that are already there. We don’t do that,” Trumka said. “If and when we get to regulation on the topic, it’s always forward looking.”

Statement of Chair Alexander Hoehn-Saric regarding gas stoves

Managers, Stop Distracting Your Employees
January 13, 2023, Harvard Business Review
The rise of remote work has made corporate leaders paranoid, thinking they must monitor their employees’ every digital move to maintain productivity. The author offers four strategies to help managers get to the root causes of what’s distracting their employees: 1) Open a dialogue about distractions; 2) Schedule-sync with your employees; 3) Don’t hold meetings without an agenda; and 4) Set an example.

Appeals Court Grants Window Association Motion To Stay CPSC Rule On Custom Window Coverings
January 11, 2023, Business Wire
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit granted a motion by the Window Covering Manufacturers Association (WCMA) to stay the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s rule, A Safety Standard for Operating Cords on Custom Windows, pending judicial review. The CPSC’s rule therefore will not take effect while the case is pending in the D.C. Circuit. The Court’s order stated that WCMA “satisfied the stringent requirements for a stay pending court review.” One of those requirements is that WCMA demonstrated that it is likely to ultimately succeed in the case.

New York Prohibits PFAS In Apparel
January 10, 2023, JD Supra
New York governor Kathy Hochul recently signed a bill which prohibits the sale of apparel that contains “intentionally added” perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl chemicals (“PFAS”) starting on December 31, 2023.  New York joins California in banning the sale of apparel containing intentionally added PFAS substances. There has been an ongoing debate about the potential need for certain industries to reformulate to remove PFAS from their products and manufacturing process.  For distributors of apparel in the New York market, this bill resolves that debate and mandates reformulation.

Analysis: Micromobility Alliance’s Incident Data Shows Improving E-Scooter Safety
January 11, 2023, TTI
Micro-Mobility for Europe (MMfE), the EU association of shared micro-mobility providers, has published a first-of-its-kind factsheet on incident data involving shared e-scooters in Europe. Based on over 240 million shared e-scooter trips, accounting for over 461 million kilometers travelled, the collected incident data demonstrate that the overall risk of incidents requiring medical treatment is 60% lower than comparable data from 2019. In 2021, 5.1 injuries requiring medical treatment with shared e-scooters per million km were registered.

Opinion: Former CPSC Chair Says Guns Are Consumer Products. They Should Be Regulated As Such.
January 12, 2023, Washington Post
By Ann Brown. As former chair of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, I had seen children killpeople every year using their parents’ guns. And though I was charged with keeping products safe, I was powerless to act. I hope Congress passes meaningful gun laws this session, including finally empowering the CPSC to treat firearms like any other consumer product. I hope the Senate steps up and approves them. I hope President Biden signs them.

Michigan Legislators Pass Act To Protect Firefighters From Chemicals
January 11, 2023, C&G Newspapers
Firefighters are weighing in on new legislation led by two Michigan lawmakers, Sen. Gary Peters and Rep. Debbie Dingell, to help protect fire departments from perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, otherwise known as PFAS or forever chemicals. “The Protecting Firefighters from Adverse Substances Act” will direct federal agencies to develop best practices, training and educational programs to reduce, limit and prevent exposure to PFAS chemicals. “Forever chemicals are an urgent public health threat, especially to our firefighters who are frequently exposed to harmful PFAS in firefighting foams and personal protective equipment as they work to keep us safe,” Rep. Dingell said.

Washington State Department Of Ecology Issues Draft Guidance On PFAS Contamination
January 11, 2023, JD Supra
The Guidance states its purpose is to provide direction for investigating and cleaning up Per- and polyfluoroalkyl (“PFAS”) contamination in Washington State. This is intended to include people remediating contaminated property such as property owners, potentially liable partners and cleanup professionals.

After 200+ Incidents, E-Scooter And Micromobility Manufacturers Called Out To Comply With Safety Standards
January 10, 2023, Islander News
Of the many trends washing over Key Biscayne, electric transportation products are likely the most noticeable, with the administration considering a ban on e-bikes and other micromobility devices. While the focus is on riders’ safety, there is another risk associated with this mode of transportation; fires with 39 states reporting injuries and even people being killed by the devices. To combat this dangerous trend, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission has imposed stricter safety standards on the manufacturers of these products.

Consumer Product Safety Commission Penalizes Peloton For Reporting And Safety Failure
January 11, 2023, JD Supra
This settlement reemphasizes the importance of creating and enforcing policies and procedures to ensure compliance with the CPSA requirements, particularly those related to consumer complaints and reports. Any company that creates, markets, manufactures, sells, or is materially involved with consumer products would be well advised to craft and enforce robust product safety, customer complaint, and safety reporting protocol. Of course, all consumer product companies should stay up to date on CPSC reporting requirements and work with the CPSC to make sure their products follow safety requirements.

Government Must Extend 2023 Deadline For EU Law Repeal To Avoid Life-Saving Laws Falling Over A Cliff Edge
January 12, 2023, Essex UK
A growing list of organizations, politicians and peers have expressed concern over rushing through the Bill, saying there is not enough time to thoroughly assess, adapt or improve each law, and if essential laws are repealed on mass this year, without proper review and consultation, many lives will be lost as a result. Errol Taylor, Chief Executive of the Royal Society of the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), says that if managed correctly, this Bill could offer an opportunity to arrive at a successful destination, but that cannot happen if the Government sticks by its current 2023 deadline, which represents a cliff edge over which will fall essential life-saving legislation.