In the News: February 20, 2023
United In Resistance: Furniture Industry Execs React To CPSC Tip-Over Rule
February 14, 2023, Furniture Today
Last October, the Consumer Product Safety Commission voted to approve a new furniture stability standard that has since created a firestorm in the furniture industry. The majority of the industry is united in its resistance to the CPSC rule, which most see as confusing, unenforceable and likely to create more problems than it solves. Furniture manufacturers are concerned that as much as 100 pounds will have to be added dressers and other units, considerably ramping up prices and creating safety concerns for employees and delivery teams. Further, they say, the testing method described by the CPSC is ambiguous and may end up producing varying results.
$3.5 Million Available In Pool Safely Grants To Help State, Local And Tribal Governments Prevent Drownings And Drain Entrapments
February 16, 2023, Yahoo
The Consumer Product Safety Commission is seeking applications for its Pool Safely Grant Program (PSGP or grant program) to assist state and local governments in reducing deaths and injuries from drowning and drain entrapment incidents in pools and spas. CPSC will award up to a total of $3.5 million in two-year grants to qualifying jurisdictions. The PSGP is an essential part of CPSC’s national campaign to prevent drowning and drain entrapment. Drowning is one of the leading cause of deaths among young children.
The Hidden Toll Of Microstress
February 7, 2023, Harvard Business Review
Microstresses are small moments of stress that seem manageable on their own — think a vague, worrying text from your teen flashing on your phone while you’re in a meeting, the appearance of a colleague who always wants to vent to you or having to tell your team that the project you’ve all been grinding out extra hours on is no longer a priority. Microstresses aren’t as harmless as they seem. Once you understand the science behind microstress and where it comes from, you can fight back. Fresh research will teach you how to recognize and manage microstress’s most common forms.
CPSC Commissioner Mary T. Boyle To Address Consumer Product Safety Group At Virginia Tech
February 15, 2023, APNews.com
Mary T. Boyle, a Commissioner of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), will open the 6th annual Consumer Product Safety Professional Certification program which will take place at the Virginia Tech Research Center in Arlington, VA. Commissioner Boyle explains her interest in sharing information with the participants in the 2023 safety laws. “As a CPSC Commissioner with more than a decade of experience at the agency, I am committed to robust enforcement of consumer product safety laws. Industry stakeholders should see safe products as good business. I look forward to sharing important information firms need to meet their safety obligations.”
Gas Stove Battles Heat Up With New Laws Across The Country
February 9, 2023, Yahoo News
While chefs and politicians are taking sides on gas stoves, there is no data yet to suggest any shift in consumer choices. Yahoo News called several Home Depots in Chicago — Illinois has one of the highest shares of gas stoves in the country — and the employees who responded said they had seen no recent change in the split of stove sales between electric and gas.
New York Department Calls For Crackdown On Lithium Batteries In E-Bikes, Ban For Universal Batteries
February 14, 2023, News 12 Bronx
The FDNY is asking the Consumer Product Safety Commission to crack down on e-bikes that use lithium batteries in New York City. FDNY Fire Commissioner Laura Kavanagh said in a letter that there have been 22 lithium battery-related fires in 2023. The letter calls to punish manufacturers who do not warn consumers of the hazards. It also calls for a ban on universal batteries, which are used to be interchangeable batteries for different products and e-bikes. The FDNY says universal batteries need to be made for specific products so that they cannot be remade or refurbished by illegal sellers.
E-Bike Safety Drives New Push For De Minimis Reform
February 15, 2023, Bicycle Retailer
Lithium-ion battery fires and e-bike standards generated plenty of debate within the industry in 2022, but little argument exists within the industry over how some unregulated packs and bikes enter the U.S. and become potentially hazardous products. Manufacturers are supposed to provide a certificate of conformity, as outlined by the CPSC. Many in the U.S. industry said the off-shore direct-to-consumer brands offered on sites like Amazon and eBay perform minimal testing to standards such as the UL 2849 for e-bikes. The high $800 threshold also has led to counterfeit products making their way to the U.S.
Analysis: CPSC Initiates Proposed Rulemaking On Information Disclosure Procedures
February 15, 2023, National Law Review
On February 8, 2023, a majority of commissioners of the Consumer Product Safety Commission voted to issue a supplemental notice of proposed rulemaking (SNPR) on the CPSC’s procedures for disclosing information to the public under Section 6(b) of the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA). The notice follows the publication of a briefing package on January 11, 2023, that indicated the Commission was preparing to vote on a proposed rulemaking in regard to Section 6(b). This is the second time the Commission has sought to revise 16 CFR § 1110, the rule interpreting Section 6(b) (6(b) Rule), since the rule’s promulgation in 1983.
UK Charity Warns Online Sellers Exploiting Energy Crisis With Dangerous Heaters
February 14, 2023, Yahoo Finance UK
Online sellers are exploiting the cost-of-living crisis to push dangerous heaters to UK consumers, a safety charity has warned. Electrical Safety First found all three heaters it bought via online ads – branded Keilini, HeatPal and InstaHeat – posed a serious risk of electric shock, with main plugs not meeting UK safety standards. The charity tested the heaters after seeing ads which claimed they would help households save on their energy bills. Two of the heaters had such poorly-made plugs there was a risk of the pins breaking off when plugged into a socket, putting the user at risk of an electric shock.
How Companies Can Interpret Consumer Behavior In The Aftermath Of A Crisis
February 15, 2023, Forbes
When a global crisis unfolds, the key question on executives’ minds is, “What does this mean for our business, and how do we respond?” For a B2C business, the ideal place to start answering that question is with the impact of the crisis on consumers’ needs and how they will respond to it. This drives a company’s own response across all functions, including marketing, distribution, manufacturing, product development, etc. For example, when consumers were forced to stay home during the beginning of the pandemic, shopping online was an obvious consumer response. I observed many companies, in turn, responded by creating their own online stores, listing their products on e-commerce platforms and/or going omnichannel.
Why Are Our Cleaning Products Failing Us? Experts Explain The Recent Recalls.
February 15, 2023, Yahoo Life
It’s a fair assumption that cleaning products you use will help protect you against bacteria and viruses that can make you sick. But a recent series of recalls around cleaning agents has made plenty of people question that basic concept. It seems strange that pseudomonas can thrive in products designed to kill bacteria and viruses, but it’s not shocking to experts. “These bacteria grow in the soil, so they are pretty good at living in some strange conditions,” Jamie Alan, associate professor of pharmacology and toxicology at Michigan State University, tells Yahoo Life.
High-Profile Chemical Spills On Rails, Roads Prompt Transport Concerns
February 15, 2023, The Washington Post
Transportation officials and experts say the recent incidents are a reminder of the risks, but they point to regulations and technological improvements that have enhanced safety — particularly on the nation’s rails. Those enhancements include the use of devices on tracks that identify derailment risks and upgraded rail cars that can better withstand crashes.
