CPSC Collecting Data On PFAS In Consumer Products
September 21, 2023, JD Supra
The Consumer Product Safety Commission is initiating a wide-ranging data collection effort on the use and presence of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in consumer products. As detailed in a September 30 Federal Register Notice and Request for Information (“ROI”), CPSC is requesting public comments by November 30, 2023. The information could provide the basis for a future rulemaking that may restrict or ban PFAS in a broad swath of consumer products.
Editorial: ‘Nobody Should Lose Their Child Over A Toy’
September 21, 2023, Consumer Reports
Water beads can be deadly to children and are sending thousands to the ER each year. An estimated 4,500 visits to the emergency room since 2017 have been related to water bead incidents, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. This is almost certainly an undercount. Inside bodies, the beads can contribute to hearing loss, infections and bowel obstructions that require the surgical removal of intestines. Blocked airways that can lead to lung collapse and even death can also result. Experts say the packaging of many water bead brands have vastly inadequate safety warnings that make no mention of any of these risks.
CPSC Report Urges Parents And Caregivers To Check Baby’s Sleep Space; African Americans Disproportionately Impacted
September 21, 2023, cpsc.gov
A new report by the Consumer Products Safety Commission shows that risks associated with nursery products remain high. The report, Injuries and Deaths Associated with Nursery Products Among Children Younger Than Age Five, notes that there are more than 160 nursery product-related deaths annually. It also says that African American children are disproportionately impacted by nursery-product related deaths. African American children made up 29 percent of all deaths (compared to 16 percent of the population).
5 Types Of Stories Leaders Need To Tell
September 22, 2023, Harvard Business Review
Storytelling is an important leadership skill, Executives who want to succeed should master five types of narratives: Vision stories, which inspire a shared one; values stories that model the way; action stories that spark progress and change; teaching stories that transmit knowledge and skills to others; and trust stories that help people understand, connect with, and believe in you.
Groove To These Glorious Consumer Product Safety Commission Songs
September 20, 2023, CNET
Move over, Taylor Swift. There’s a new pop superstar in town and it’s a government agency. The Consumer Product Safety Commission — the same agency that recalls dehumidifiers for fire hazards — has released a seven-track album of songs about wearing helmets and practicing fireworks safety. The album is called We’re Safety Now Haven’t We and you can download it for free. Don’t spend too long contemplating the grammar of that title. The cover hints at the absurdity beyond. There’s a cat with a phone, a fox wearing a bike helmet, a Shiba Inu riding an ATV and a bird hanging out with a smoke alarm.
California’s Potential Approach To Regulations On Risk Assessments And Cybersecurity Audits Could Be A Game Changer
September 12, 2023, National Law Review
Until late August 2023, California’s data protection law, the California Consumer Privacy Act, or “CCPA,” only provided for future rulemaking on automated decision-making. This includes profiling, risk assessments and cybersecurity audits. However, the California Privacy Protection Agency, which shares enforcement authority of the CCPA with the California Attorney General, discussed a new set of draft regulations. While not yet part of the official rulemaking, the draft and the discussions around it provides direction on its upcoming rulemaking on these topics.
How Safe Are Scooters? A Pediatric ER Expert Weighs In
September 19, 2023, CTV News
Scooters, both manual and electric, are gaining popularity. This popularity increase is leading to a surge in emergency room visits from scooter-related injuries, said Meagan Doyle, a pediatric emergency physician and the trauma medical director at McMaster University. A report published in 2022 by Health Promotion and Chronic Disease Prevention in Canada stated there were 523 hospital cases related to e-scooter injuries between Jan. 2012 and Dec. 2019 in hospitals across the country. Out of these cases, 299 (57 per cent) were between the ages of two and 14 years old.
California Legislature Approves Bans On PFAS In Cleaning Products And Artificial Turf
September 19, 2023, JD Supra
The California legislature passed two bills regulating PFAS in certain products: AB 727 which restricts the use of PFAS in cleaning products and floor sealers and finishes; and AB 1423 which restricts the use of PFAS in artificial turf. Beginning on January 1, 2026, these products can no longer contain intentionally added PFAS, or total organic fluorine above certain thresholds, except for floor sealers and floor finishes where the effective date is January 1, 2028. Governor Newsom is expected to sign both bills into law.
Consumer Reports: Keep Your Baby Safe With This New Resource
September 20, 2023, WMTV 8
Parents and caregivers who are shopping for baby products face an unwieldy marketplace filled with items that may boast dubious claims, and in many cases turn out to be unsafe. Consumer Reports (CR), the nonprofit research, testing, and advocacy organization, launched a new initiative to provide parents with objective information they can use to make the best decisions about the safety, health and comfort of their children. As part of CR’s new baby initiative, the organization has expanded its testing, ratings and coverage of children’s products and created a comprehensive digital hub designed to be a new go-to resource for everyone who cares for an infant or small child.
Ex-Paramedic Warns Parents About ‘Extremely Dangerous’ Cleaning Detergent
September 21, 2023, 9honey/parenting
Ross Smith, founder of the popular first-aid education site Safer Little Steps, has warned parents dishwashing tablets and powder can be incredibly dangerous if kids get their hands on them. “They contain a caustic-type substance. When they bite on them and start chewing on them, they foam up, that foam can cause burns,” he explains. “They’re very attractive, they’re bright blues, bright reds, or multiple colored with round dots that look like a treat or some sort of sweet that [kids] want to have,” he says.
