CPSC Warns Consumers To Stop Using La-La-Me Infant Loungers Due To Suffocation Risk And Fall Hazard
August 10, 2023, cpsc.gov
The Consumer Product Safety Commission is warning consumers to immediately stop using La-La-Me infant loungers because they fail to meet the safety requirements of CPSC’s Infant Sleep Products Rule, creating an unsafe sleeping environment for infants. The agency says the loungers pose a suffocation risk and fall hazard to infants. The failures include not having a stand and not meeting the requirements for side height, fabric-sided openings, markings, labeling and instructional literature.
The Startling Number Of Australians Who Die Every Year Because Of Unsafe Products
August 9, 2023, 9NEWS
Almost 800 Australians die every year using products that end up being deemed unsafe in the way they were produced or sold, it has been revealed. Data from the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) shows that on average, 780 people die each year because of products that are found to be unsafe due to a design or manufacturing flaw. A further 52,000 people are hospitalized with serious injuries because of the products. The combined deaths and injuries cost the Australian economy at least $5 billion a year.
Getting Along: My Coworker Is Sabotaging Me—And My Boss Won’t Help
August 10, 2023, Harvard Business Review
Working with someone who is set on undermining you can be incredibly frustrating. And it can feel especially defeating if your boss doesn’t intervene when you try to get their support. Our advice columnist, Amy Gallo, shares her research-backed recommendations in this article.
Eureka! Virginia Tech Scientist Staring At Fire Devises Method Of Turning Plastic Waste Into Soap
August 10, 2023, Study Finds
Genius moments can happen anywhere at any time. For a scientist from Virginia Tech, a night by the fireplace has led to the creation of a recycling method that turns plastic waste into soap! This discovery could allow society to take the growing problem of plastic pollution and recycle everyday garbage — including milk cartons, food containers, and shopping bags — into useful cleaning products. A team of scientists at Virginia Tech College of Science developed this innovative technique for upcycling plastics into high-value chemicals known as surfactants, which are commonly used in soap and detergents. They hope this will provide a cost-effective way to significantly reduce the escalating levels of plastic pollution worldwide.
House Bill Would Direct Consumer Product Safety Commission To Explore AI
August 8, 2023, Financial Regulation News
A bipartisan group of legislators introduced legislation last week that would direct the Consumer Product Safety Commission to explore the use of artificial intelligence (AI) in a pilot program. Specifically, the Consumer Safety Technology Act (H.R. 4814) directs the Consumer Product Safety Commission to launch a pilot program exploring the use of artificial intelligence to track injury trends, identify hazards, monitor recalls or identify products not meeting importation requirements.
Three innocent victims suffer an unfortunate fate as harmless golf cart ride turns fatal
August 9, 2023, Essentially Sports
The seemingly innocuous cart might appear to be a safe option for travel. But when the matter was dug deeper, it was learned that these golf vehicles play a huge role in causing accidents and street mishaps. While the frequency is not as high as motor vehicles, the rate is quite high and even causes death sometimes. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, approximately 15,000 golf cart-related accidents take place in the US each year.
Protect Yourself And Others: Top 5 Flammable Liquid & Fuel Container Safety Tips
August 9, 2023, LI Herald.com
Planning a backyard bonfire, or a summer ride on a motorized vehicle? Make sure that you’re using the utmost care when starting any type of fire or filling a vehicle with fuel, by keeping flammable liquids away from ignition sources. According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, thousands of people go to emergency departments with burn injuries related to flammable liquids every year. Many of these incidents happen when liquid fuel is used outside on a backyard fire pit, a campfire, a bonfire, or when burning trash. Incidents can also happen when flammable liquids such as gasoline and alcohol are near ignition sources like flames. To help prevent severe injury or death when using flammable liquids and fuel containers, CPSC wants everyone to follow these top five safety tips.
UK: Trading Standards Law To Be Enforced In October
August 9, 2023, BBC
New consumer legislation in Guernsey will be put into law on 2 October, the States has confirmed. It said the Trading Standards Fair Trading Ordinance would bring much of the bailiwick “in line with UK requirements” and make traders meet minimum requirements for how they operate. Legislation would cover unfair terms in consumer contracts, unfair commercial practices, information and cancellation rights, and rights regarding additional charges, it added. The States of Guernsey voted for the new legislation in March.
Ten Weeks, Six Days And Three Deaths
August 8, 2023, Woodworking Network
During the summer of 2023, three children died after similar accidents involving furniture. Accidents that could have been avoided with a piece of aftermarket hardware that costs a few dollars. The children died when a piece of furniture toppled over on them. These tragic accidents occurred just months from the start date of a new safety standard which, depending on the furniture that fell, might have prevented the accident.
‘Dangerous’ Carbon Monoxide Alarms Sold Through The UK On Online Marketplaces
August 11, 2023, STV News
Dangerous carbon monoxide (CO) alarms are being sold on eBay, Amazon, AliExpress and Wish while the Government “fails to take the urgent action needed” to hold online marketplaces legally accountable, consumer watchdog Which? has warned. Which? raised concerns that the Government’s update on its long-delayed product safety review did not confirm that an independent regulator would be given effective powers to crack down on unsafe products on online marketplaces “any time soon.”
Deadly E-Scooter Crashes Prompt New Reporting Method
August 11, wsmv Nashville
According to a study conducted by the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), 119 people died while riding electric scooters or e-bikes between 2017 and 2021. Researchers said numerous deadly crashes involving these vehicles may have gone unreported, prompting transportation officials to take action. The NTSB made several recommendations to National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) and the Federal Highway Administration on gathering data for e-bike and scooter trips and the miles traveled. It also called for an e-bike code to be added to a national injury tracking system. In 2023, new codes were added to the ICD-10-CM code book that includes e-bikes. This recent addition in medical diagnosis codes changed how e-bikes and e-scooters are reported and could make measuring the impact of these vehicles on public health and safety more precise.
