Justice Department Files Complaint Against Manufacturer Alleging Delay In Reporting Dangerous Awning Covers
April 6, 2023, Department of Justice News
The Justice Department and the Consumer Product Safety Commission jointly announced the filing of a complaint against SunSetter Products LP (SunSetter), alleging that the company delayed reporting a hazardous defect involving protective vinyl covers for its retractable awnings. Despite notice of these incidents, the company did not report the problems with its awning covers to the CPSC until October 2017. According to the complaint, between 2012 and 2017, SunSetter received 14 reports of its motorized awning springing open and resulting in several injuries and one death.
CPSC Advances Portable Generator Safety Rule To Prevent Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
April 6, 2023, The Texas Tribune-ProPublica
The federal government is moving forward with sweeping new regulations to make portable generators safer, citing the increasing number of deaths they cause and the failure of manufacturers to protect consumers. The Consumer Product Safety Commission has voted unanimously to advance a proposal that would require portable generators to emit less carbon monoxide and to shut off automatically when the deadly gas reaches a certain level. The invisible and odorless gas emitted by the devices claims an average of 85 lives a year, making generators one of the deadliest consumer products the CPSC regulates.
Commissioner Mary T. Boyle Statement on Approval of the Portable Generator SNPR
MEPs Approve Revamped EU Product Safety Rules
March 31, 2023, The European Sting
Members of the European Parliament endorsed the revised rules on product safety of non-food consumer products with 569 votes in favor, 13 against and no abstentions. The new regulation aligns the existing General Product Safety Directive with the latest developments in digitalization and the surge in online shopping. The updated law will ensure that products in the EU, whether sold online or in traditional shops, comply with the highest safety requirements.
A Two-Minute Burnout Checkup
April 10, 2023, Harvard Business Review
Burnout is the result of chronic stress and, at work, that stress tends to accumulate around your experiences of workload, values, reward, control, fairness, and community. If any are lacking or out of sync, you may be headed toward exhaustion, cynicism, and the feeling of being ineffective. When taken regularly, this short assessment can help you gauge whether you’re on the path to burnout, and where you should focus your attention to make beneficial changes.
Study: Toxic PFAS Not Necessary To Make Fabric Stain Repellent
April 7, 2023, The Guardian
A new peer-reviewed study calls into question how well PFAS-based products repel water and stains in furniture, shoes, clothing, carpeting, outdoor gear and other consumer goods made of fabric. The study, which did not name brands, compared the performances of furniture fabric treated with PFAS to untreated fabric. It found the types of fabric, wear and how consumers manage stains to be much more important in determining how well fabrics repelled water and stains, and the study’s authors characterized PFAS as having “no practical benefit.”
Some E-Bike Batteries Can Explode. Here’s How To Stay Safe.
April 8, 2023, Washington Post
A deadly fire in the basement of a New York apartment claimed the life of a 9-year-old boy. A blaze in Virginia that killed a man. An explosion that destroyed an apartment in Huntington Beach, Calif. What weaves these incidents together is the presence of lithium-ion batteries. The fires are particularly dangerous because they can happen suddenly and spread aggressively. Experts say to avoid purchasing batteries or chargers that aren’t recommended by manufacturers. They suggest making sure that your battery meets safety standards by looking for certifications.
Opinion: Is The Baby Product Recall Process Failing Parents? Some Experts Say Yes
April 6, 2023, ABC New/Good Morning America
What makes the CPSC unique among other federal agencies that handle recalls, consumer rights advocates say, is a provision that requires the agency to notify the manufacturer of a product incident and seek feedback before it can publicize information about that product. According to Nancy Cowles, executive director of Kids in Danger, citing research done her organization, “most parents report hearing about recalls of children’s products once or twice a month, when in reality, those recalls happen once or twice per week.” The provision, known as Section 6(b), requires the CPSC to give the manufacturer an initial 15-day period to review and send comments, and then an additional 5-day review period once the CPSC notifies the manufacturer of its position.
The Importance Of Bike Helmets For Children: A Comprehensive Guide
April 7, 2023, Vaughn Today
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), bicycle-related injuries result in nearly 300,000 emergency department visits and more than 1,000 deaths annually in the United States alone. In addition, head injuries are the most common cause of bicycle-related fatalities. This highlights the crucial role that helmets play in protecting children from severe head injuries when cycling. According to the Bicycle Helmet Safety Institute, wearing a bike helmet can decrease the risk of head injury by as much as 85%. It is important to note that this protection only applies if the helmet is worn correctly and fits properly. Therefore, parents and caregivers must ensure children wear helmets when riding their bikes.
Why Paris Is One Of The Few Cities In The World Banning Rental E-Scooters
April 9, 2023, Business Insider
The residents of Paris, France recently voted to get rid of the 15,000 electric rental scooters on its streets. It’s the latest hiccup in what was once touted as a central pillar of the movement to decarbonize urban transportation. Meanwhile, other major cities, including Washington, DC, Chicago, New York, Rome, and Madrid, have renewed or expanded their e-scooter programs recently. The diverging approaches to rental e-scooters by major cities around the world reflects the technology’s chaotic rollout over the last few years and an inability for cities to keep up with sufficient regulations, experts say. It’s also illustrative of how the path to greener transportation won’t look the same everywhere.
