CPSC Chair To Meta CEO: “Strengthen Meta’s Efforts To Prevent The Posting Of Banned And Recalled Consumer Products For Sale On Meta Platforms”
July 13, 2022, cpsc.gov
In a July 13 letter to Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg, CPSC Chairman Alexander Hoehn-Saric wrote: “Given the resulting threat to the public health and safety, and the considerable resources and technological expertise of Meta, I urge you to take stronger efforts to identify and prevent the listing of such banned and recalled products before they are offered for sale on your site. This would save lives and prevent needless injuries.”
Q2 2022 Recall Activity: Consumer Product Recalls Ups And Downs
August 17, 2022, Sedgwick
The Sedgwick brand protection recall index shows some ups and downs in Q2. The annual Recall consumer product recalls fell 15.6% in Q2 (from 77 in Q1, to 65). While total impacted units fell 3.5% (to 6.7M) in Q2, the average recall size increased 14.3% (to 103.3K) in the current report. The annual recall index is a vital resource for manufacturers, suppliers and retailers who need an unbiased and educated perspective on past, present and future recall data and product safety trends. The full report is featured in this week’s Product Safety Education newsletter.
Build Learning Into Your Employees’ Workflow
July 11, 2022, Harvard Business Review
Effective Learning and Development (L&D) programs are critical for the success of both employees and their employers. Research suggests that an approach known as “learning in the flow of work” can help ensure that learners retain and apply new skills and concepts in their day-to-day workflows. Ultimately, the author argues that to build L&D that works, employers must invest in programs that emphasize ROI, encouraging employees to learn not in the abstract, but directly in the flow of work.
Breakthrough Might Break Down PFAS ‘Forever Chemicals’
August 19, 2022, Heath Day
PFAS compounds are known as “forever chemicals” because they degrade slowly in the environment and accumulate in the body, potentially harming human and animal health. Until now. A team of researchers say they’ve figured out a cheap, easy and effective way to break down two of the major classes of PFAS compounds, leaving behind harmless end products.
Ironic: United Airlines sends breast cancer awareness scarf with (cancer warning) to staffers
August 17, 2022, New York Post
United Airlines sent their employees scarves that flight attendants are required to wear during October in recognition of Breast Cancer Awareness month. And, shockingly, the scarves with tiny pink ribbons carried warnings that they might contain chemicals that can lead to cancer or reproductive harm.
Parents Urged To Watch Out For ‘Dangerous’ Kids’ Toys Flooding The UK From Abroad
August 19, 2022, My London
Parents have been urged not to buy replicas of a popular children’s soft toy after a London council found them to be “potentially dangerous”. The Huggy Wuggy toys, which are from the video game Poppy Playtime, failed essential safety requirements.
Mandatory Safety Standards For Sling Carriers Updated
August 18, 2022, Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.C.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued a direct final rule updating the current mandatory safety standards for sling carriers to incorporate by reference ASTM’s 2022 version of the voluntary standard (ASTM F2970-22) while retaining the additional requirement for warning label attachment. The updated standards will apply from Nov. 19 unless the CPSC receives significant adverse comment by Sept. 19, in which case it will withdraw the direct final rule before its effective date.
California To Roll Out Safety Standards For E-Bike Riders
August 19, 2022, San Diego Union-Tribune
The California Highway Patrol will develop safety standards for e-bike riders under legislation signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom recently. The law, AB 1946, requires the Highway Patrol to develop statewide safety guidelines and training programs covering topics including general e-bike safety, emergency maneuver skills, rules of the road and laws on electronic bicycles.
Alcohol Drinking Test Launched
August 19, 2022, TTI
Micro-mobility provider Tier has unveiled a new bespoke in-app test to deter riders from drink riding and to point them towards an alternative form of transport if they have been drinking alcohol. Designed to encourage riders to check their sobriety, the test asks them to match the angle of their phone with an angle displayed on a screen.
Motherboard Recall Only Affects Limited Countries
August 18, 2022, OC3D.net
On August 18, the Consumer Product Safety Commission released a statement regarding the recall of ASUS’s ROG Maximus Z690 Hero motherboard due to “Fire and Burn Hazards. ASUS has confirmed to us that products the model number “90MB18E0-MVAAY0” have never been made available in the UK, EU, and APEC regions. So immediately, most ASUS customers can breathe a sigh of relief.
New Product Safety Requirements Ahead For Button Cell And Coin Batteries
August 19, 2022, Sandler, Travis, & Rosenberg, P.A.
President Biden has signed legislation that requires the Consumer Product Safety Commission to promulgate no later than Aug. 16, 2023, a final consumer product safety standard for button cell or coin batteries as well as consumer products containing such batteries. The safety standard must include a performance standard requiring the button cell or coin battery compartments of a consumer product containing such batteries to be secured in a manner that would eliminate or adequately reduce the risk of injury from button or coin cell battery ingestion by children that are six years of age or younger during reasonably foreseeable use or misuse conditions.
