$15.8 Million Penalty For Product Safety Violation Highlights Disagreements Within CPSC
May 10, 2023, Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A.
A recent penalty imposed by the Consumer Product Safety Commission has highlighted differences among agency leaders about when and why such penalties should be utilized and whether other tools might be more effective.
Commissioner Mary T. Boyle Statement on Generac Power Systems, Inc. Agreement to Pay $15.8 Million Civil Penalty
Statement of Commissioner Peter A. Feldman on Generac Power Systems Civil Penalty Settlement
Statement of Commissioner Richard Trumka: CPSC Secures $15.8 Million Penalty Against Generac for Failing to Timely Disclose Amputation Hazard Posed by Portable Generators
Peloton Recalls Two Million Exercise Bikes Over Seat Issue
May 11, 2023, Reuters
Peloton Interactive Inc. has recalled two million exercise bikes citing the possibility of the seat post breaking during use that could lead to injuries, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said. The CPSC said Peloton has received 35 reports of the seat post breaking and detaching from the bike during use, including 13 reports of injuries due to falling from the bike.
Is Your Remote Job Making You Lonely?
May 12, 2023, Harvard Business Review
Loneliness — the distress and discomfort we feel when we perceive a gap between the social connection we want and the quantity and quality of the relationships we currently have — can be a side effect of remote work. Sadly, prevalent feelings of loneliness were on the rise even before the Covid-19 pandemic. In a 2020 study from Cigna, 61% of respondents reported feeling lonely. The author presents several steps to take if you’re grappling with loneliness.
Europe’s First AI Rules: Could They Set A Global Standard?
May 9, 2023, Christian Science Monitor
Authorities worldwide are scrambling to figure out how to control the rapidly evolving technology to ensure that it improves people’s lives without threatening their rights or safety. Regulators are concerned about new ethical and societal risks posed by ChatGPT and other AI systems, which could transform daily life, from jobs and education to copyright and privacy. The EU’s AI Act could become the de facto global standard for artificial intelligence.
More Than 150 Countries Agree To Ban 3 Toxic Chemicals
May 11, 2023, Grist
To get plastics ready for use in consumer and industrial products, companies add thousands of chemical additives that give them properties like elasticity and fire resistance. Many of these chemicals, however, are hazardous to human health. Environmental advocacy groups have long pushed for their elimination. The most recently banned chemicals include a pesticide called methoxychlor, as well as two plastic additives: UV-328, which absorbs UV light and is widely used in transparent plastics products, and Dechlorane Plus, a flame retardant that’s added to plastic coatings and electrical wires.
Packaging Issue In Play For Recall Of 36,250 Knives
May 11, 2023, Best Life
The Consumer Product Safety Commission just issued a recall notice for over 36,000 knives sold at Target, because they pose a threat before you even take them out of the packaging. According to the CPSC, the knife only poses a threat while it’s still in its original packaging. The blade can become unlocked and protrude through the plastic, “posing a laceration hazard,” the notice states.
Australia: Wooden Baby Toys Sold Over Etsy Recalled After Major Choking Hazard Discovered
May 10, 2023, 7news.au
Wooden rattles for babies made by a Brisbane brand have been urgently recalled over fears of injury or even death. The play toys were found to breach safety standards and pose a risk of fatality to young children. “There is a risk of choking, suffocation or death to young children if they continue to use these rattles,” the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission recall reports.
Health Canada Advisory – Misuse Or Modification Of Lithium-Ion Batteries In E-Mobility Devices Can Be Extremely Dangerous
May 11, 2023, newswire.ca
Health Canada is warning people in Canada about the misuse or modification of lithium-ion batteries used in e-mobility devices. Lithium-ion batteries are more easily damaged than other types of batteries and can become hazardous in certain conditions as they are more unstable than other types of batteries. It is also important to never modify, tamper with or attempt to make your own lithium-ion battery. This could result in the battery being damaged or compromised internally, potentially leading to short circuits, overheating, fires or explosions, and could result in severe injuries and even death.
CPSC And Company Reach Agreement On $15.8 Million Civil Penalty For Failure To Report
May 10, 2023, Retail & Consumer Product Law Observer
The Consumer Product Safety Commission announced a civil penalty settlement with Generac Power Systems, Inc. to resolve charges that Generac failed to report immediately to the CPSC under Section 15(b) of the Consumer Product Safety Act. This settlement includes a $15,800,000 civil penalty, and requirements that Generac (1) implement and maintain a compliance program and system of internal controls and procedures designed to ensure compliance with the CPSA; and (2) file annual reports with the agency for the next three years regarding the Company’s compliance program, internal controls and procedures, internal audits of the effectiveness of the new compliance program and internal controls.
Study: Do You Know What Toxic Chemicals Are In Your Everyday Products?
May 10, 2023, KSBY 6
Do you know what toxic chemicals are in your everyday products? “For many categories of products there’s no requirement to list ingredients so there’s no easy way to tell what’s in a lot of products,” said Megan Schwarzman, a researcher at the University of California, Berkeley in the School of Public Health. California’s Prop 65 requires businesses to have warnings about significant exposures to chemicals that can cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm. Some of the categories containing the most chemicals overall are adhesives, paint removers, vehicle care products and mothballs.
Strangulation Risk Prompts Health Canada Recall Notice For Window Shades Sold By Wayfair
May 11, 2023, CBC
Health Canada has issued a recall notice for window shades sold in Canada by Wayfair over concerns they pose a strangulation hazard. The recall involves three different shades of various sizes manufactured by Green Mountain Vista and distributed by Wayfair in Canada. Health Canada says the products are problematic because they have multiple operating cords tied together, creating a loop. It says the blinds consequently do not meet national safety regulations.
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