Federal Commission Finalizes Ban Of Inclined Infant Sleepers, Crib Bumpers
August 30, 2023, Fox29 Philadelphia
The Consumer Product Safety Commission unanimously approved the last two steps to ensure inclined infant sleepers and crib bumpers are no longer sold in the U.S. because of potential harm. Effective in November 2022, the Safe Sleep for Babies Act (SBBA) prohibited the sale of inclined sleepers for infants and crib bumpers, along with the manufacturing for sale, distribution or importation into the U.S., of such products. The new rules were implemented to save the lives of infants while creating a safer marketplace for parents, according to CPSC.
Rented Electric Scooters Removed From Paris As Ban Enters Into Force
September 1, 2023, Engineering & Technology
Paris has become the first European city to ban self-service e-scooters due to safety risks. Five years after it become the first city in Europe to open to the e-scooter market, the French capital has also become the first to end the experiment after residents voted to ban e-scooters in an April referendum. Three companies, Lime, Dott and Tier, all had contracts with the city to provide e-scooters in the French capital with a total fleet of 15,000 e-scooters. The three firms will continue to operate in Paris, with their focus shifted towards e-bikes.
Product Safety Leaders Assist Industry In Meeting Crises That Affect Millions Of Consumers; Nine Guidelines Defined
September 1, 2023, einpresswire.com
The impact of crises occurs every day around the world, affecting the health and safety of millions of consumers. The challenge that companies face in these circumstances is to be prepared to respond and have the necessary tools already in place to support the company, its employees, consumers, and key stakeholders. The Crisis Management Conference taking place November 7-9, 2023, at the University of Missouri St. Louis (UMSL) College of Business Administration offers a set of 9 guideline areas that can help shape a company’s approach to crisis management.
How To Prepare For A GenAI Future You Can’t Predict
August 31, 2023, Harvard Business Review
Given the staggering pace of generative AI development, it’s no wonder that so many executives are tempted by the possibilities of AI. Businesses today are concerned about finding and retaining qualified workers and humbled by recent market corrections or missed analyst expectations. Here are steps every leader should take to prepare for an uncertain world where generative AI and human workforces coexist but will evolve in ways that are unknowable.
Company With Hazardous Infant High Chairs Unresponsive To CPSC Request For Recall
August 31, 2023, cpsc.gov
The Consumer Product Safety Commission is warning consumers to stop using iCraves high chairs because they do not comply with federal safety standards for high chairs and for infant sleep products. The Agency says they pose a suffocation risk, as well as entrapment and fall hazards to infants. The high chairs fail to meet the safety requirements of CPSC’s Infant Sleep Products Rule and the Safe Sleep for Babies Act. The seller, Brosishop Ltd, of the United Kingdom has been unresponsive to CPSC requests to recall the high chairs.
Baby Gear: What You Should Never Buy Used
August 31, 2023, wfmy News2
Parents often turn to secondhand stores, consignment shops, and online exchanges devoted exclusively to used baby gear. But bargain hunters beware: You could be putting your baby’s life at risk. Consumer Reports has an important warning on the risks of buying secondhand. “While it’s illegal to sell recalled products, including on the secondhand market, people might not be aware of the law, or may not realize the product they’re selling has been recalled,” said Emily Thomas, Consumer Reports.
Safety Alert: Canada-Wide Recall For Portable Heaters After Multiple Fires
August 29, 2023, Vancouver is Awesome
Thousands of portable heaters sold across Canada are being recalled after several incidents of overheating, including three that caught fire. Health Canada has issued an alert stating certain heaters sold under the Mastercraft, Profusion Heat, Prestige, and Matrix brands could be unsafe and lead to burns or property damage. As of Aug. 17, there have been 10 reports of heaters overheating, with three that resulted in fires that damaged property. “Consumers should immediately stop using the recalled product and return it to the place of purchase for store credit or to obtain a replacement unit. Proof of purchase is not required,” states the alert.
3M Agrees To Pay $6 Billion To Settle Earplug Lawsuits From U.S. Service Members
August 29, 2023, MYNORTHWEST
Chemical and consumer product manufacturer 3M has agreed to pay $6 billion to settle numerous lawsuits from U.S. service members who say they experienced hearing loss or other serious injuries after using faulty earplugs made by the company. The settlement, consisting of $5 billion in cash and $1 billion in 3M stock, will be made in payments that will run through 2029. The agreement announced by the Minnesota company marks a resolution to one of the largest mass torts in U.S. history.
Some Colleges Are Banning E-Bikes On Campus
August 29, 2023, Bicycling
It’s that time of year again. Colleges and universities around the country are welcoming students back to campus for the beginning of a new school year. However, something is different this year: several institutions have made it clear that while students are welcome, their e-bikes are not. Several campuses are joining what’s becoming a growing trend in higher education of banning electric scooters and e-bikes, according to Electrek. This trend is growing despite the ever-increasing popularity of electric bicycles among college students, who gravitate towards them as an accessible and practical mode of transportation and a greener alternative to owning a car.
Europe’s Two-Track Approach To Policing Big Tech
August 29, 2023, Washington Post
One reason why the digital economy is dominated by a handful of big technology companies has been their success in resisting government oversight. Now the European Union is trying to change that on two fronts simultaneously: new rules to expose the Silicon Valley giants to more competition, and tougher content moderation requirements for social media platforms and digital marketplaces including Meta Platforms Inc.’s Facebook, Alphabet Inc.’s YouTube and Amazon.com Inc. Failure to comply carries the threat of heavy fines, but the eventual impact in some areas will depend on how rigorously the laws are enforced by national governments.
Woman’s Leg Impaled By Beach Umbrella In Alabama
August 31, 2023, CBC News
A beach umbrella impaled a woman’s leg at an Alabama beach, sending her to the hospital, local officials said. Last year, a 63-year-old woman, Tammy Perreault, died after a loose beach umbrella impaled her in the chest in South Carolina. Wind had blown the umbrella from its anchoring. A strong gust of wind also uprooted a beach umbrella in Virginia in 2016, killing a 55-year-old woman. From 2018 to 2021, there were 1,700 beach umbrella-related injuries treated at hospital emergency departments, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
Florida Warns Gas-Powered Generator Deaths Are Preventable Storm Hazards
August 30, 2023, Florida Politics
Seventy-five minutes into Hurricane Idalia’s landfall, almost a quarter-million Floridians were reportedly without power, prompting warnings about the dangers that gas-powered generators present. The Consumer Product Safety Commission found that 85 Americans die each year from gas-powered generators. And it can be an invisible killer — deadly in a matter of minutes — due to generators’ carbon monoxide emissions.
4 State Right-To-Repair Efforts To Watch Now That Apple Supports California Bill
August 29, 2023, Waste Dive
Apple now says it supports California’s right-to-repair bill after long opposing such legislation. Advocates are also busy supporting pending bills in Massachusetts, Michigan and Pennsylvania.
