New Study: Stroller, carrier injuries send two children to the ER every hour
August 20, 2016, Medical News Today
A new study published in Academic Pediatrics has determined injuries associated with stroller and wearable carriers between 1990 and 2010 using data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS), operated by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Almost 361,000 children under 5 years of age were treated during the 21-year period resulting in an average of 2 children in emergency visits to the hospital every hour. While many of the injuries were minor, traumatic brain injuries accounted for 25% of stroller related injuries and 35% of carrier related injuries.
Lumber Liquidators to get $100,000 settlement for costs incurred in defending Prop 65 lawsuit
August 16, 2016, PRNewswire.com
Lumber Liquidators Holdings Inc. has announced final resolution in a Proposition 65 law suit filed in 2014 in California. The settlement includes a plaintiff’s payment of $100,000 to Lumber Liquidators as reimbursement for costs incurred in defending the lawsuit. The plaintiffs also must surrender their right to appeal or challenge the judgment.
McDonald’s pulls Happy Meal fitness tracker
August 19, 2016, nj.com
McDonald’s fast food restaurants stopped giving out children’s fitness trackers with its Happy Meals out of concern they may cause a rash, according to news reports. The bracelet style trackers, which were available in all U.S. and Canadian stores, will be replaced by other prizes in children’s meals. The fitness devices have not been formally recalled by the Consumer Product Safety Commission, but instead McDonald’s has ceased including them from Happy Meals voluntarily.
Hot CPSC jurisdictional issues: does CPSC have regulatory authority over amusement parks?
August 18, 2016, The National Review (Mintz, Levin)
In the wake of two tragic amusement park ride accidents in Kansas and Tennessee, and the ongoing political debate in America over gun safety issues, an attorney seeks to answer the question that is being asked by the media: does the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission have the authority to address the safety of amusement park rides and guns?
Volkswagen supplier played key role in cheating, court paper says
August 18, 2016, The New York Times
The German auto supplier Robert Bosch GmbH played a key role in developing the software that let Volkswagen cheat on clean air rules, according to new allegations filed in a San Francisco court on behalf of car owners. Already a co-defendant in class actions suits revolving around the scandal, the new suits portray Bosch as playing a more central role in the scandal than was previously alleged.
Compliance and Product Safety
August 16, 2016, Print and Promo
An executive of a promotional products company challenges the concept of self-regulation, citing industry examples showing how misadventures can change an industry or brand quickly. He credits prior experiences for ingraining the thought that following regulations and law, and making sure every product met top level performance and quality standards is a “must-have outcome.”
Seven Boston schools found with elevated levels of lead-in-water fountains; expanded testing in other cities
August 16, 2016, wcvb.com
Public attention on lead in water continues to spread across the country. Summer testing of water in the Boston public schools shows the presence of lead concentrations. Several Oregon school districts have also uncovered lead concentrations in water. Philadelphia has announced it will test water at 40 schools.
Tainted Table: Food recalls rise dramatically in Q2
August 18, 2016, stericycleexpertsolutions.com
In Q2 2016, food and beverage recalls jumped dramatically over Q1, a survey by Stericycle ExpertSolutions shows. The period finds that recalls in the U.S. jumped more than 80 times higher for Food and Drug Administration recalled units, and more than 45 times higher for Department of Agriculture recalled units.
Circular economy: EU Commission expands Ecolabel criteria to computers, furniture, and footwear
August 18, 2016, Diplomatic Intelligence
The EU Commission has adopted a new set of ecological criteria under the EU Ecolabel scheme for computers (personal, notebook, and tablet computers), furniture and footwear. Manufacturers who want to benefit from the Ecolabel have to comply with strict requirements that focus on the environmental performance of the product, but also cover product safety and social aspects. “The EU Ecolabel promotes Europe’s transition to a circular economy, supporting both sustainable production and consumption,” according an EU official.
Cosmetics industry in lather over legislation aimed at keeping products safe
August 15, 2016, Seattle Times
Over 21,000 complaints have been lodged against Wen Hair Care, a product which can cause itching, rashes, and even hair loss in adult and children. This has lead to a fierce debate over the government’s power to ensure the safety of a $50 billion in annual sales cosmetics industry. A beauty care trade association has been lobbying Congress to block legislation that will increase the Food and Drug Administration’s authority over testing and issuing mandatory product recalls. The fight has pitted smaller independent companies against the giants of the industry, which view the increased regulations as a way to win back public trust.
Rethink how chemical hazards are tested
August 16, 2016, Nature
The passage, and signing into law by President Obama, of legislation reforming the Toxic Substance Control Act mandates greater transparency and timely assessment of chemicals by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the EU’s REACH legislation. But the legislation does little for inventors and product designers faced with the task of creating safer chemicals and products. Two authorities in the chemistry field suggest three approaches to address this area of concern: 1) standardized chemical safety tests, 2) testing finished products, and 3) making test results public.
