In the News: November 21, 2022

Onewheel Skateboards Linked To 4 Deaths, CPSC Says
November 16, 2022, CBS News
Commuters and thrill-seekers should stay off Onewheel electric skateboards because the products can eject riders, causing serious injury and death, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. At least four people have died from traumatic head injuries after falling from the self-balancing boards made by Santa Cruz, California-based Future Motion, the agency stated.

CPSC Awards More Than $1.1m In Safely Grants Combat Pool And Spa Drownings
November 15, 2022, The Winchester Star
Consumer Product Safety Commission Chair Alexander Hoehn-Saric and U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23) announced three awardees of a grant program aimed at preventing pool and spa drownings, as well as drain entrapments. The state and local governments were selected by CPSC to receive more than $1.1 million in Pool Safely Grant Program (PSGP) grant funds. This funding will provide state and local governments with assistance for education, training, and enforcement of pool safety requirements that are intended to save lives and prevent serious injuries.

Make The Most Of Your One-On-One Meetings
Nov-Dec 2022, Harvard Business Review  
Few organizations provide strong guidance or training for managers on meeting individually with their employees, but the author’s research shows that managers who don’t hold these meetings frequently enough or who manage them poorly risk leaving their team members disconnected, both functionally and emotionally. When the meetings are done well, they can make a team’s day-to-day activities more efficient and better, build trust and improve employees’ experience, motivation, and engagement at work. 

4-Year-Old’s Death Prompts CPSC Warning About “My Bouncer Little Castle” Due To Strangulation Risk
November 16, 2022, Yahoo Finance
The Consumer Product Safety Commission is warning consumers not to use an inflatable bounce house because it could pose a risk of strangulation. The product is sold online under the name “My Bouncer Little Castle.” According to the CPSC, a 4-year-old boy died after a hoop inside the castle became entangled around his neck.

NYC Council Looks To Take Action On E-Bike Batteries After Deadly Fires
November 14, 2022, ABC News 7
The New York City Council is looking to take action on the batteries used by electric bikes and scooters after hundreds of destructive and deadly fires. The committee discussed various proposals. One of the proposals would require public education campaigns or safety reports. Another would prohibit the sale of some secondhand lithium-ion batteries, or e-bike or scooter batteries without certain seals of approval.

REI PFAS Consumer Fraud Lawsuit Continues Trend Of Similar Lawsuits
November 16, 2022, National Law Review
The first wave of PFAS lawsuits takes direct aim at the consumer products industry. Because of this it is essential that businesses along the supply chain evaluate their PFAS risk. Public health and environmental groups urge legislators to regulate PFAS at an ever-increasing pace. Similarly, state level EPA enforcement action is increasing at a several-fold rate every year.

What Is Reese’s Law? Landmark Legislation To Protect Kids From Battery Ingestion
November 16, 2022, Fatherly
What are button batteries? Parents might not know that button-cell batteries — typically used to power watches, keyless car entry remotes, and other products that require a slim, compact power source — have been one of the more under-the-radar household health hazards for years, potentially leading to major injury or death in kids. But thanks to a law signed by President Biden and passed by both houses of Congress last fall, they should soon become much more difficult for kids to get their hands on accidentally.

Feds Restore Washington State Water Quality Standards For Chemical Discharges
November 16, 2022, Chronline.com
In a reversal of Trump administration policies, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency this week reinstated federal water quality standards for chemicals discharged into Washington state waterways. The final rule signed recently would ensure polluters stay within federally established levels of chemicals or conditions in a body of water that are not expected to cause adverse health effects.

Common Type Of Clothing Could Be Exposing Millions Of Children To Harmful Chemicals
November 14, 2022, SciTechDaily.com
According to a recent study conducted by scientists at the Paul H. O’Neill School of Public and Environmental Affairs at Indiana University and associates from the University of Toronto, the University of Notre Dame, and the Green Science Policy Institute, children who wear stain-resistant school uniforms may be exposed to potentially harmful levels of chemicals.

CPSC Says Parents Should Stop Using ‘Unsafe’ Dockatot Deluxe+
November 14, 2022, The Bump
The Consumer Product Safety Commission is cracking down on the sale of unsafe sleep products under its new Infant Sleep Products Rule, which went into effect in June making it unlawful to sell infant sleep products that don’t meet federal safety standards. The latest product in violation? The DockATot Deluxe+ Dock. The product was determined to be unsafe for infant sleep because it is a flat product that doesn’t have a stand, doesn’t meet certain stability requirements and doesn’t have a side height of at least 7.5 inches, according to the CPSC.

CPSC Chairman: Why The Agency Rejected An ASTM Revised Voluntary Standard For Children’s Folding Chairs And Stools
November 8, 2022, cpsc.gov
“The Commission voted unanimously to reject an update to the voluntary safety standard for Children’s Folding Chairs and Folding Stools. Under section 104 of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, once the Commission has adopted a voluntary standard for durable infant or toddler products as a mandatory standard, we review each update to the voluntary standard that the voluntary standards organization submits to the Commission.  If that update does not improve safety, the Commission can reject it and leave the mandatory standard as it is.” 

CPSC Tells Manufacturers, Importers, Distributors And Retailers They Must Protect Infants By Complying With Infant Sleep Product Rule
November 9, 2022, cpsc.gov
A news release explains the CPSC’s position on the Infant Sleep Rule: “On June 23, 2022, the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s Infant Sleep Product Rule went into effect, making it unlawful to sell non-compliant infant sleep products manufactured on or after that date. This landmark rule removes products hazardous to infants from the marketplace as part of CPSC’s longstanding commitment to protecting the most vulnerable members of the public. The regulation applies to infant sleep products marketed or intended to provide a sleeping accommodation for an infant up to 5 months of age, which are not subject to another mandatory standard for infant sleep.” 

Commissioner Richard Trumka Statement

3 Steps To Prepare Your Supply Chain For The Next Crisis
November 9, 2022, Harvard Business Review
Most risks to supply chains are predictable. That means that companies can and should be prepared to handle them. It entails taking three steps. They are creating a world-class sensing and risk-monitoring operation; simplifying your product portfolio; and de-risking your supply chain in terms of sourcingraw materials and components.

EXPLAINER: Bikes, Batteries And Blazes Spark Concern In NYC
November 7, 2022, Federal News Network
A fire that injured over three dozen people — and forced firefighters to use ropes to pluck people from a 20th-story window — is drawing attention to a rising concern in New York City. That is battery fires that can arise in the electric bikes and scooters that have proliferated here. City officials are considering new laws after the fire department counted nearly 200 blazes and six fire deaths this year tied to problems with lithium-ion batteries in such “micromobility” devices.

Textile Trade Group To Again Seek Textile Standard Testing Exemption For Spandex
November 9,2022, Sandler, Travis & Rosenberg, P.A.
The American Apparel and Footwear Association is again launching an effort to add spandex to the list of fabrics exempt from testing under the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s standard for the flammability of clothing textiles. This flammability standard (which applies to clothing and textiles intended to be used for clothing) provides testing requirements, establishes three classes of flammability, sets out the criteria for classifying textiles, and prohibits the use of textiles that exhibit rapid and intense burning.

Australia: Kids’ Product Recalls Continue As Shopping Season Approaches
November 10, 2022, Choice
A steady stream of recalls of products for babies and kids is cause for concern. According to the consumer advocacy group, Choice, the root cause remains the lack of a general safety provision in Australia, a regulatory regime that would require a product to be proven safe before it can be sold in this country.

Canada Publishes Notice Of Intent On The Labeling Of Toxic Substances In Products, Including Toxic Flame Retardants
November 8, 2022, JD Supra
On October 29, 2022, Canada published in the Canada Gazette a notice of intent (NOI) announcing that it intends to propose actions under the Canadian Environmental Protection Act, 1999 (CEPA). The NOI would require the labeling of certain substances that are listed on the CEPA Schedule 1 List of Toxic Substances in certain products, such as cosmetics, cleaning products, and flame retardants in upholstered furniture. 

CPSC: Guidance On The Application Of Human Factors To Consumer Products
February 2020, cpsc.gov 
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) staff and Health Canada’s Consumer and Hazardous Products Safety Directorate (“Health Canada”) have developed this guidance document to help consumer product manufacturers integrate human factors principles into their product development process.

3 Toy Safety Tips To Keep In Mind During Toy Safety Awareness Month
November 9, 2022, Gifts & Decorative Accessories Newsletter
Toys and youth entertainment trade association The Toy Association has kicked off its second annual Toy Safety Awareness Month, bringing gift-givers like parents and grandparents important safety information for the holiday season. “Our members work year-round to design, produce, and deliver products that comply with more than 100 strict federal safety standards and tests to safeguard children at play,” said Joan Lawrence, The Toy Association’s senior vice president of standards and regulatory affairs and “toy safety mom.” “However, safety is a partnership shared by industry and consumers, and Toy Safety Awareness Month aims to equip families with the resources they need to ensure every play date is both fun and safe.”

Whether At Home Or Traveling For The Holidays CPSC Reminds Parents To Keep Babies’ Sleep Space Safe
November 10, 2022, cpsc.gov
With the holiday season fast approaching and families preparing to gather, the Consumer Product Safety Commission is teaming up with members of Congress and safety advocates to remind adults to keep the little ones safe by always creating a safe sleep space. Chair Alex Hoehn-Saric recently joined pediatric experts, child safety advocates and Members of Congress to raise awareness of the best safe sleep practices for babies and highlight new laws and regulations aimed at creating a safer marketplace to keep all babies safe. 

Action Needed To Improve CPSC Preparedness For Product Examination Disruptions”
October 27, 2022, Government Accountability Office
According to the GAO report: “From the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic through August 2020, the Consumer Product Safety Commission conducted significantly fewer examinations of imported products. Working remotely, CPSC investigators conducted 850 examinations compared to 4,537 during the same period in 2019. CPSC wasn’t well prepared entering the pandemic, when port staff stopped conducting onsite examinations. The agency made decisions about its operations and remote procedures as conditions evolved because it didn’t have a fully developed continuity plan.”

On CPSC 50th Anniversary, Sen. Cantwell Highlights Action To Protect Children From Residential Elevator Hazards
October 27, 2022, U.S. Senate Committee on Commerce, Science and Transportation
U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.), Chair of the Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, recognized the 50^th anniversary of the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Sen. Cantwell acknowledged CPSC’s decades of work to protect American consumers from dangerous and deadly products, including this year’s long overdue actions to protect children from hazardous residential elevators.

Product Safety Group Opens Registration for 2023 Certification Program in Washington, D.C. area
October 30, 2020, EIN News
Registration is now open for the 2023 Consumer Product Safety Professional Certification Program taking place on the campus of the Virginia Tech (VT) Research Center in Arlington, Va. This program is being offered by the alliance of Virginia Tech Continuing and Professional Education, the Society of Product Safety Professionals (SPSP) and its education partner ADK Information Services. Those who successfully complete this training course earn the designation Certified Product Safety Professional™ awarded by SPSP. The annual program was first offered in 2019.

Monitoring Individual Employees Isn’t The Way To Boost Productivity
October 27, 2022, Harvard Business Review 
Ever since workers moved from offices to work-from-home setups, companies have worried about how they’re spending their time. Many have bought invasive “productivity monitoring” software to keep tabs on people. There is, however, a better and more empathic way to use data to improve productivity. Among other things, protect employee anonymity and collect data at the team level.

Prop 65 PFAS Notices Increasing In Number
October 26, 2022, National Law Review
 Significant actions by the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) lists six types of PFAS as chemicals known to cause cancer or reproductive harm – PFOA, PFOS, PFDA, PFHxS, PFNA, and PFUnDA. Companies with current or legacy uses of certain PFAS must be cognizant of the strict Prop 65 requirements in order to avoid significant penalties and must take a close look at chemical composition of their product lines to avoid expensive enforcement action defense.

Consumer Reports: You Can’t Always Trust Claims On ‘Non-Toxic’ Cookware
October 26, 2022, Consumer Reports
If you’ve shopped for nonstick cookware recently, you may have noticed labels meant to indicate that your new frying pan is free of certain hazardous chemicals. To see if nonstick pans that are claimed to be PFOA-free really are, and if consumers can rely on other PFAS-related claims, Consumer Reports recently tested three recommended nonstick frying pans in our ratings at different price points.

Tesla Cyberquad For Kids By Radio Flyer Recalled Because It Doesn’t Meet Federal Safety Standards
October 27, 2022, Penn Live.com
Radio Flyer has recalled the Cyberquad for Kids that was sold exclusively through Tesla. “The Cyberquad fails to comply with the federal mandatory safety standard requirements for youth ATVs, including mechanical suspension and maximum tire pressure,” according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The Commission also said, “Additionally, the Cyberquad lacks a CPSC-approved ATV action plan, which is required to manufacture, import, sell, or distribute ATVs.”

National Fire Protection Association Provides Tips On E-Bike, E-Scooter Safety And Micromobility Device Fires
October 25, 2022, Fire Engineering
The National Fire Protection Association® (NFPA®) has created a new micromobility device safety webpage (https://www.nfpa.org/ebikes) in response to the concerns fire officials have about the growing number of fires caused by lithium-ion batteries that power electric bikes and electric scooters as their popularity increases. The webpage features information about why e-bikes and e-scooters catch fire, what some jurisdictions are doing to better regulate that risk and what tips people can follow to stay safe if they use, store, or charge e-bikes or e-scooters.

FTC Proposes New Efficiency And Repair Instruction Requirements
October 27, 2022, JD Supra
Manufacturers may soon have to include energy efficiency labeling and appliance repair instructions for a broad range of new consumer appliances. Specifically, the FTC is exploring amending its Energy Labeling Rule to require EnergyGuide labels on some new consumer products and additional categories of lamps, as well as instructions for how consumers could repair broken products. The FTC’s advance notice of proposed rulemaking has not yet been published in the Federal Register; public comment on the Commission’s proposals will be due 60 days following such publication.

Children Very Vulnerable To Severe Injury From Quad Bike Use
October 27, 2022, Medical X Press
Children are very vulnerable to severe injury from the use of quad bikes, also known as ATVs, finds research published in the open access journal BMJ Open. Public education campaigns on the potential dangers associated with their use are urgently needed, say the researchers. the Consumer Product Safety Commission estimates that close to 100,000 injuries associated with ATV use were treated in US emergency departments in 2013.

Internet Safety Will Change The Web For Adults, Too
October 26, 2022, Stanford University Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence
In September, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed the California Age-Appropriate Design Code Act into law. The bill, designed to protect minors on the internet, goes beyond today’s simple parental controls. While directed toward children’s safety and well-being, the impact of the law could be much broader, says Stanford HAI Privacy and Data Policy Fellow Jennifer King. 

CPSC Finds Micromobility Injuries Rose 127% Since 2017
October 11, 2022, Bicycle Retailer
Injuries involving micromobility devices including e-scooters, hoverboards and e-bikes were up 127% between 2017 and 2021 according to a new report by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The CPSC report also counted 48 deaths involving the products last year, including 23 deaths involving e-bikes. The total number of micromobility device fatalities was up from just five in 2017. The report found that Black consumers sustained injuries at a higher rate than other groups.

CPSC Enforcement Trend: Unilateral Press Releases
October 13, 2022, Retail & Consumer Products Law Observer
Companies take note: over the past month or so, the Consumer Product Safety Commission has issued four unilateral press releases instructing consumers to stop using a product. Since May of this year, that number rises to seven. If that number does not seem high, consider this: between 2011 and 2019—a nine-year period—the agency issued two. So, what exactly is a “unilateral press release” and what does the agency’s issuance of four over recent weeks mean for you?

Is Agenda Theater Ruining Your Meetings?
October 14, 2022, Harvard Business Review 
Like triaging our inboxes, clearing our messages or managing our to-do lists, preparing an agenda can make us feel like we’ve accomplished something. But research shows that these feelings may in fact be leading us into the trap of agenda theater: We sink time and effort into agendas that create the appearance of effective meetings, without actually improving how meetings are run.

The Dangers Of Using Your Gas Range Or Oven For Heat
October 13, 2022, Consumer Reports
More than one in five Americans with income under $30,000 who have a gas range say they used that appliance to heat their home during the past year, according to a Consumer Reports survey. And new CR research shows that cooking with a gas range can expose people to potentially dangerous nitrogen oxide gases (NOx) at levels twice as high as the limit set by the EPA for outdoor air. 

Poll: Most U.S. Voters Want Products Free Of Harmful Chemicals
October 11, 2022, Fox 41
A new survey shows and they are even willing to pay more to get that assurance of safety. This according to Lake Research Partners, which conducted the poll. The Program on Reproductive Health and the Environment (PRHE) at the University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), commissioned the survey. More than 90% of those polled wanted the U.S. government to require products to be screened for harmful chemicals and proven safe before market approval.

Etsy Provides Resources To Seller On Creating Safer Children’s Products
October 10, 2022, Ecommercebytes
Etsy has partnered with a nonprofit organization focused on the safety of children’s products to help inform sellers on the topic. Etsy will make Kids in Danger (KID)’s video course available to sellers, which is designed specifically for small business owners. The course offers lessons that go in-depth on designing and creating products for children.

Halloween Face Paint Can Be Toxic To Kids
October 12, 2022, Consumer Reports
Around Halloween time many parents worry about trick-or-treating safety and curfews, sugar crashes, and ruined bedtimes. But here’s something you might not be thinking about but should be: toxic ingredients in your kids’ face paints and powders. Studies in recent years have found Halloween face paints that contain heavy metals like lead and cadmium, and powdered makeup marketed to kids that are contaminated with asbestos. 

Kidde Launches ‘Cause For Alarm™’ Campaign, Sounding The Alarm On Fire Safety Inequity
October 12, 2022, EIN PressWire
Kidde, a leading manufacturer of residential smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, fire extinguishers and safety accessories, created Cause For Alarm in response to the statistics that fatal residential fires disproportionately affect some communities more than others. The Consumer Product Safety Research found African Americans face nearly two times the risk of house fire deaths.        

New York Lawmaker Wants Internet Privacy Protections For Kids
October 12, 2022, Spectrum Local New
Digital advertising aimed at kids as well as the data collection of younger users would be banned under legislation proposed this week by state Sen. Andrew Gounardes. The measure is meant to provide stronger protections for kids online and give parents more control over their children’s digital lives. The bill is being proposed after years of studies finding social media exposure can be harmful to children and teenagers, leading to mental health problems like depression. 

Study Finds 3 Out Of 4 Stock Photos Of Sleeping Babies Show ‘Unsafe’ Spaces
October 13, 2022, PetaPixel
The BabyCenter analyzed 500 photos and 77 percent of them were found to be in a position that puts them at risk for sudden unexpected infant death (SUID). The study found that the most common safety issue was a baby sleeping with something in their crib, such as a blanket (35%), a pillow (18%) or soft toys (16%). Babies are also frequently shown sleeping outside of a crib or bassinet, such as on a soft surface (16%) or an adult bed (12%). In 12% of photos, a baby is shown sleeping on their stomach or side.

Canada Prioritizes Methylene Chloride For Further Risk Assessment
October 13, 2022, Chemical Watch
The Canadian government has determined it must further assess methylene chloride to better understand the risk it poses to workers and consumers, and to decide whether it requires additional regulations. Prioritizing the widely used solvent for further review could put Canada on track to follow the US in identifying risks from its current applications and imposing new restrictions.

27 Children, 5 Adults Hospitalized After Carbon Monoxide Leak At Daycare Center
October 11, 2022, Morning Call
The first sign anything was amiss at Happy Smiles Learning Center in Allentown came when a boy got up from his seat in what’s known as the “cozy area” and collapsed mid-stride as he ran across the room. Employees of the day care tried to revive him as they called 911 for help. When emergency medical technicians arrived, monitors connected to their medical bags sounded, alerting them to the presence of carbon monoxide, a colorless, odorless and potentially deadly gas. Further testing with a carbon monoxide gas meter showed it was present in a concentration of 700 parts per million, more than three times the threshold that can cause death.

CPSC Approves New Magnet Safety Standard For Certain Non-Toy Products
October 3, 2022, The Toy Association
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has unanimously approved a final rule for the safety standard for magnets, including loose or separable magnets used in non-toy products. The standard also includes magnets for entertainment, stress relief or jewelry. Commonly referred to as the “adult magnets” rule, it is designed to address magnets that are outside the scope of the toy standard. 

Product Safety Education Group Partners With Virginia Tech In Washington, D.C. Area
October 7, 2022, EIN News
The Society of Product Safety Professionals (SPSP) and its education program collaborator, ADK Information Services, LLC, have formed a partnership with Virginia Tech to offer the group’s Consumer Product Safety Professional Certification Program. The program provides education and supports professional development for people in the product safety field. Those who complete this training course earn the designation Certified Product Safety Professional™. The program, scheduled to begin next Spring, will be held at the Virginia Tech Research Center — Arlington, VA, near Washington, D.C.

4 Myths About In-Person Work, Dispelled
October 4, 2022, Harvard Business Review
The authors hear many myths when it comes to what in-person learning — or in-person experiences more generally — can achieve. Here, they’ll dispel the ones they hear most often and show you how to maximize connection from in-person learning events.

Crash Test Dummies For E-Scooters
October 4, 2022, TechXplore
The risk associated with these speedy runabouts is widely underestimated. In response to this, Fraunhofer researchers studied a typical accident scenario and the associated injuries as part of the HUMAD project. The experts also tested novel materials for helmets and protective gear. These could provide much better protection than conventional products.

California Bans PFAS In Textiles, Cosmetics But Governor Vetoes Reporting Requirement
October 5, 2022, Morgan Lewis
Last month, California Governor Gavin Newsom signed two bills banning per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in textiles and cosmetics. He also vetoed a bill that would have required manufacturers and certain other businesses to submit annual reports concerning the usage of PFAS in products sold or imported into the state. These new consumer regulations will have far-reaching implications for companies up and down the supply chain doing business in California.

Legislative Update: Tariffs, Product Safety And China Restrictions
October 4, 2022, Sandler Travis & Rosenberg, P.A.
 A review of several important House and Senate action, These include introduction of the Fair Tariff Act and the No Chips For China Act and Senate approval of the STURDY Act.

White House Proposes Voluntary Safety And Transparency Rules Around AI
October 4, 2022, TechCrunch
The White House this morning unveiled what it’s colloquially calling an “AI Bill of Rights,” which aims to establish tenets around the ways AI algorithms should be deployed as well as guardrails on their applications. It explicitly calls out algorithmic discrimination, saying that AI systems should be designed to protect both communities and individuals from biased decision-making. And it strongly suggests that users should be able to opt out of interactions with an AI system if they choose, for example in the event of a system failure.

Transportation Research Board Releases New Report Identifying Deficiencies Impacting E-Scooter Rider Safety
October 7, 2022, Green Car Congress
A new research report released by the Transportation Research Board (TRB), E-scooter Safety: Issues and Solutions, finds that amid a rapid rise in the use and prevalence of electric scooters (e-scooters) on US roads and sidewalks, more must be done to address regulatory, infrastructure and educational deficiencies that are putting riders at risk. The research was conducted by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in conjunction with the University of Tennessee, Knoxville; Safe Streets Research and Consulting; Equitable Cities; and Populus. The report, released under the Behavioral Traffic Safety Cooperative Research Program (BTSCRP), found that available data and research evaluating e-scooter safety are lagging behind the rapid adoption and expansion of this form of transportation commonly referred to as micromobility.

India: Baby Chakra Launches National Label Education Campaign With #Babychakrakilist
October 3, 2022, afaqs
The parenting platform BabyChakra released Definitive List to raise awareness of toxins that find their way into many seemingly natural and even premium baby & childcare products.
The list is titled #BabychakraKiList: Ingredients We Say No to. The Objective of the list is to urge parents to be aware of what is going in their baby’s products.

Recall Litigation Report: Plaintiffs Seek To Consolidate Recall-Related Lawsuits Against Exactech
October 3, 2022, Retail & Consumer Products Law Observer
A group of plaintiffs recently filed a motion with the U.S. Judicial Panel on Multidistrict Litigation (JPML) to consolidate all Exactech join replacement lawsuits in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of New York. The consolidated case would include over two dozen lawsuits about injuries from Exactech’s knee and hip systems and an undisclosed number of future cases that plaintiffs intend to file over Exactech’s ankle systems.

Outdoor Stove Recalled In Canada Over Potential Gas Leak
October 6, 2022, CTV News
Health Canada has issued a recall notice for an outdoor gas stove following the discovery of a potential leak that could pose a fire hazard. The joint recall Thursday from Health Canada, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and product importer Katadyn Canada, ULC advises users to “immediately stop” using the Optimus Gemini two-burner gas stove and return it to their original place of purchase for a full refund. The notice says the stove’s gas regulator could have a tear in the seal, which may cause a gas leak.

CPSC Recalls More Than 100,000 Residential Elevators In 2021-2022
September 29, 2022, cpsc.gov
As the Consumer Product Safety Commission announced its latest recalls involving residential elevators, it renewed its call for homeowners and vacation rental businesses to address hazards in residential elevators to protect children from harm. Over the past year, CPSC has stepped up its residential elevator enforcement efforts by recalling 117,100 total units across the U.S. to address an entrapment hazard. Most recently, the CPSC issued recalls for Cambridge Elevating and Custom Elevator, citing the danger these devices pose to young children.  In the case of Custom Elevator, a 7-year-old child died in 2021, at a North Carolina vacation home, after becoming entrapped in a residential elevator.  

Bipartisan Congressional Group Urge Federal Agencies To Investigate Chinese Firm
September 29, 2022, Wisconsin Examiner
Sen. Tammy Baldwin (D-Wis.) and U.S. Reps. Glenn Grothman (R-Glenbeulah, Wis.) and Scott Fitzgerald (R-Juneau, Wis)) wrote three federal agencies urging action against Man Wah Holdings and its American subsidiary. Their letter to the CSPC states that Raffel Systems LLC was receiving consumer safety complaints because of defective copies of its cup holders made by Man Wah.  The defects “included electrical faults that could have exposed consumers to potential safety risks,” according to the letter. It asks the CPSC to investigate whether the knockoff manufacturer broke federal consumer protection laws by not reporting its own “potentially defective and dangerous products” to the agency.

Preventing Burnout: The Demand-Control-Support Model
September 27, 2022, Knowledge at Wharton
Even before the pandemic, ‘burnout’ was labeled an epidemic. It’s the persistent work-related stress that’s exhausting and impairing. In the U.S., over half of employees feel burned out at least some of the time — and it can lead to what has recently been termed “quiet quitting.” Burnout can be prevented and reduced — even in high-pressure jobs. It requires structural and cultural change, and the author’s favorite model is demand-control-support.

Electronics: New Rules For PFAS Chemicals In Canada & U.S.
September 28, 2022, Electronic Products and Technology
Alarmed by recent studies on PFAS toxicity, several U.S. states have implemented laws restricting the sale of articles containing substances from the chemical group. In addition, the U. S. has proposed new rules in its Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA). Furthermore, the government of Canada is proposing to repeal the Prohibition of Certain Toxic Substances Regulations, 2012 and replace it with a stricter set of laws.

UK: Call For Ban On Dangerous E-Bike Chargers After Fires
September 27, 2022, BBC News
A London council has called on the government to ban the sale of substandard e-bike chargers.
Hammersmith & Fulham councilor Frances Umeh said the chargers “should never have been available for sale”. An investigation by consumer safety charity Electrical Safety First found that dangerous e-bike chargers were on sale via popular online marketplaces.

Opinion: When Plaintiffs’ Attorneys Mislead The Public
September 28, 2022, Bloomberg Law
The American Tort Reform Association writes, “Plaintiffs’ lawyers are relying more and more on traditional and social media to bolster litigation, often pushing inaccurate and baseless claims in friendly outlets. They sometimes partner with so-called experts to provide misleading scientific evidence to support their claims both inside and outside the courtroom. This concerning trend repeats fallacies and influences public perception of cases and the parties on each side.”

New Liability Rules On Products And AI To Protect Consumers And Foster Innovation
September 28, 2022, European Commission
The Commission adopted two proposals to adapt liability rules to the digital age, circular economy and the impact of global value chains. The revised Directive modernizes and reinforces the current well-established rules, based on the strict liability of manufacturers, for the compensation of personal injury, damage to property or data loss caused by unsafe products, from garden chairs to advanced machinery.

Safety Tips For Kids Who Walk Or Bike To School
September 25, 2022, Winona Daily
Children usually aren’t ready to start walking to school without an adult until about fifth grade, or around age 10. Younger children are more impulsive and less cautious around traffic, and they often don’t fully understand other potential dangers they could encounter. By walking with your children to and from school, you can help them learn the neighborhood, teach them about traffic signs, street signs and directions, and model correct behaviors when crossing streets.

AU: Baby Sling Safety Is Under Spotlight – A 5-Point Checklist Can Keep Infants Safe
September 27, 2022, Mirage News
Carrying babies in a soft fabric sling or carrier close to their parent or caregiver has been practiced throughout the world for centuries. However, the recent inquest into the death of a three-week old baby boy in New South Wales has highlighted the potential risks of this valued aspect of infant care.

California Trails Closely Behind The UK To Protect Children’s Privacy
September 28, 2020, JD Supra
Recently signed into law by Governor Gavin Newsom, the California Age-Appropriate Design Code Act (“AADC”) changes the playing field for certain businesses that provide online services, products, or features accessible to children under the age of 18. Although California models its new law after the Children’s Code passed by the UK, the AADC is first state law of its kind in the U.S. Once it goes into effect on July 1, 2024, the California Attorney General may fine noncompliant businesses up to $7,500 per affected child.

In Pursuit Of Better Batteries
September 26, 2022, ShowMeMizzou
Missouri University researchers are using a $500,000 grant from National Science Foundation to explore a key technical challenge preventing lithium-ion batteries from achieving optimal energy performance.

CPSC Warns Consumers To Stop Using Go-Bowen Youth All-Terrain Vehicles Due To Federal Safety Standard Violations
September 28, 2022, Yahoo Life!
The Consumer Product Safety Commission is warning consumers to immediately stop using Go-Bowen’s Sonora, Monster, Sahara-X and Mars youth ATV models because the ATVs do not comply with federal safety standards. Go-Bowen has refused to conduct a voluntary recall of these noncompliant ATVs.  CPSC is continuing to pursue a recall.

School Uniforms Carry High Levels Of Dangerous PFAS Chemicals
September 21, 2022, Consumer Reports
Children’s school uniforms are loaded with potentially dangerous PFAS chemicals, according to a study published today in the journal Environmental Science and Technology. The study found that the chemicals were present in all 30 of the uniforms tested, as well as some other clothing worn by children.

REI Members Nationwide Rally At REI Stores Following “Company Inaction“
September 20, 2022, Toxic-Free Future
Spanning 12 cities in 11 states, REI customers will deliver a petition with more than 130,000 signatures demanding action on PFAS “forever chemicals.” Competitor Patagonia already committed to phase out all PFAS in products by 2024, yet REI has failed to set a timeline to ban PFAS, according to a national campaign led by a coalition of grassroots groups.

The Best Managers Are Leaders — And Vice Versa
September 22, 2022, Harvard Business Review
Most of the long-running debate over “leaders” vs. “managers” focuses on nouns when it should focus on verbs. Everyone needs both “leading” and “managing” in their work, and the best executives balance the two.

NYC’s Delivery Drivers Depend On E-Bikes, But Charging And Storing Them Isn’t Easy
September 20, 2022, Marketplace
To make money as a delivery worker in New York City, you have to be fast. And if you want to be fast, a car is not the way to go. Instead, most delivery workers now use electric bikes. But the city is now considering banning e-bikes and their rechargeable lithium-ion batteries from public housing after a number of fires have been attributed to batteries overheating and exploding.

Safe Infant Sleep: Consumer Groups Say Australian Product Regulation Lags
September 21, 2022, The Guardian
“Australia has some of the strongest safety standards in the world for important categories such as household cots and strollers,” says the consumer affairs group Choice. “However, there’s inconsistency with some products such as bassinets (used for the first months of a baby’s life) which don’t have an Australian standard at all, and portable cots which have outdated mandatory standards,” Choice charges.

Wrap-Up Of Federal And State Chemical Regulator Developments, September 2022
September 20, 2022, JD Supra
A wide range of subjects were addressed in September’s federal and state chemical regulation. These include findings for certain new chemicals for significant new uses, revising risk determination, consolidating TSCA regulations, OECD (Organization For Economic Cooperation and Development) reports on the safety of manufactured nanomaterials.

Theories Of AI Liability: It’s Still About The Human Element
September 20, 2022, Reuters
Artificial Intelligence (AI) is a transformative technology changing nearly all sectors of commerce ranging from analytical modeling and e-commerce to health care. AI systems are capable of perceiving, learning, and forecasting outputs with minimal human intervention, Although AI systems offer potentially significant benefits to society, they also present new risks and legal challenges for liability. Without regulatory standards applicable to AI systems specifically, theories of liability currently available and applicable to AI systems still hinge on finding the human behind its development or application liable rather than the AI itself.

Causation Issues In PFAS Litigation: Where Did The “Forever” Chemical Come From? 
September 20, 2022, JD Supra
PFAS were developed in the 1930s, and over the course of the 20^th century became nearly ubiquitous due to their remarkable ability to make surfaces resistant to oils and wrinkles. They are broadly present in consumer goods, including food packaging, clothing, furniture fabrics, and nonstick cookware, as well as firefighting foams Humans ingest them through food, drinking water, and household dust.

World’s Leading Consumer Goods Companies Put Transparency And Transformation At Forefront Of Latest Deforestation Report
September 22, 2022, The Consumer Goods Forum
Report shows how the world’s leading initiative of consumer goods companies taking collective action on deforestation are taking individual and collective steps to transform palm oil, soy, paper packaging, and beef supply chains and production landscapes.

EU Commission Expects To Set The World’s Cybersecurity Standards For Connected Devices
September 22, 2022, Euractiv.com
The proposal for a Cyber Resilience Act introduced a security-by-design approach for all products with digital components. The idea is to oblige manufacturers to address vulnerabilities to facilitate consumer uptake of connected products. The Internet of Things sector is expected to boom in the coming years.

A Shut-Off Switch Was Supposed To Prevent 99% Of Generator-Related Deaths. It Failed A Family Of Three.
September 21, 2022, NBC News
The generator industry has touted automatic shut-off switches as a lifesaving fix for carbon monoxide poisoning. But the voluntary standard falls short of what the Consumer Product Safety Commission says is necessary to eliminate deaths.