Furniture Makers, Retailers Speak At CPSC Hearing On Proposed Stability Standard
April 11, 2022, Furniture Today
The Consumer Product Safety Commission recently held a public hearing for oral comments on its proposed stability rule for clothing storage furniture. While continuing to support a mandatory standard, American Home Furnishings Alliance raised key concerns with the CPSC’s proposed rule in its oral testimony. The Alliance said the proposed rule was ambiguous, unenforceable and would force entry-level companies out of the market due to costs.

Testing Finds Toxic Chemicals In 50 Of Dollar Store Goods
April 12, 2022, E&E News
The consumer advocacy group, Campaign for Healthier Solutions, purchased 226 products from Dollar Tree, Family Dollar, Dollar General, Five Below and 99 Cents Only Stores. They tested 635 product components for toxic metals and chemicals like flame retardants, bisphenol A and its substitutes, phthalates and PFAS. The results showed that half of the items had one or more chemicals of concern.

Commissioner Feldman Explains Opposition To Bestar, Inc, Correction Action Plan
April 7, 2022, cpsa.gov
“Today, the Commission announced a Corrective Action Plan (CAP) with Bestar Inc., which came to the commissioners for approval because of a death after a Bestar wall bed fell on a 79-year-old woman. As the only commissioner to oppose the CAP, I want to explain my vote,” said Commissioner Feldman.

Commissioner Trumka Backs Approval Of Petition Requesting A Ban Or Standard On
Adult Portable Bed Rails
March 15, 2022, cpsc.gov
“Today, the Commission voted to begin rulemaking to address the risk posed by adult portable bedrails, which have trapped and strangled older adults at alarming rates. This was the right decision to protect older Americans.” said Commissioner Trumka.

Persuading Your Team To Embrace Change
April 12, 2022, Harvard Business Review
How do leaders persuade people to do things they would rather not do? The author outlines two very different persuasive techniques based on social science: The “foot-in-the-door” technique and the “door-in-the-face” technique.

PFAS, Microplastics, Baby Food: Emerging Casualty Risks
April 8, 2022, Insurance Journal
There is no longer a need to ponder the “next asbestos” because the current litigation environment and the recent pace of additions to the list of emerging risks and trends in casualty insurance is enough to keep the industry on its toes.

Charlotte Superintendent Confirms Clear Backpacks Are Still Moving Forward
April 7, 2022, WCNC
Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools still plans to eventually distribute clear backpacks to high school students. Last week, they stopped due to due to a warning tag issue related to possibly harmful materials. The district spent close to half a million dollars on the backpacks as part of a larger effort to reduce weapons in schools.

Chair Hoehn-Saric And His Staff Will Participate In A Meeting About Liquid Laundry Packets
April 15, 2021, cpsc.gov
Chair Hoehn-Saric and his staff will participate in a Webex meeting to discuss the voluntary ASTM safety standard for liquid laundry packets. The meeting will be held on Friday, April 22, 2022, at 2:00 pm.

Three Signs Your iphone Cable Could KILL You
April 17, 2022, The Sun
A TECH safety guru is urging iPhone users to keep their eyes peeled for dodgy charging cables. He warns that counterfeit chargers pose a risk of fire or serious electric shock.

Companies Selling Products In California Must Justify Environmental Marketing Claims
April 11, 2022, National Law Review
When companies make advertising claims (including websites, social media, print, and product labels) that a product is beneficial to or not harmful to the natural environment, California law requires those companies to maintain written records supporting the validity of the claims. This requirement extends to manufacturers and distributors.

DOJ Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch Released Its First-Ever Annual “Recent Highlights”
April 12, 2022, JD Supra
On April 4, 2022, the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch released its first-ever annual “recent highlights” report. The report describes the CPB’s accomplishments from October 2020 through December 2021 and gives some insight into the enforcement trends companies can expect in the future as CPB’s enforcement activities continue to ramp up.

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UCLA Study Shows E-Scooter Injury Rate Soaring
April 6, 2022, HealthDay
Riders of e-scooters are more likely to get in an accident and suffer an injury than any other form of personal transport, according to a new study. The work by the University of California Los Angeles estimated that for every million rides made on an e-scooter, about 115 will result in some form of injury. In comparison, motorcyclists face the prospect of an injury 104 times out of a million, and for people on a bicycle it is just 15 injuries per million trips.

Samsung Refrigerators Cited In Hundreds Of Consumer Complaints To Federal Safety Database
April 8, 2022, Consumer Reports
American consumers submitted 613 complaints involving Samsung refrigerators to the Consumer Product Safety Commission from January 2019 through December 2021, according to a study of CPSC complaints conducted by Consumer Reports’ Product Safety team. Samsung is the manufacturer with the highest number of complaints during that time frame, according to CR’s analysis of the records publicly available on the CPSC’s SaferProducts.gov database.

Managers Are Trapped In A Performance-Compassion Dilemma
April 7, 2022, Harvard Business Review
Employees need managers to show compassion. At the same time, executives expect their managers and teams to deliver results. Middle managers often feel the tension most acutely. How can they cope with competing pressures? Focus on 2 sets of actions.

Recall Issued After Woman Killed By Falling Bed
April 7, 2022, Fox 59 Indianapolis
A bed sold online is being recalled after a woman died after it fell on her. The Consumer Product Safety Commission said the recall involves 129,000 Bestar Wall beds that can detach from the wall and fall, posing serious impact and crush hazards.

Viewpoint: Earning Your ‘Certified Product Safety Professional’ Certification. One Person’s Experience.
April 6, 2022, ADK Viewpoints Newsletter
Melissa Cairns, legal specialist at the 3M Company discusses how earning her ‘Certified Product Safety Professional’ certification has helped “to deepen my understanding and learn best practices related to managing a product safety incident from start to finish.”

Committee Publishes Update On Impact Of EU Product Safety Regulations
April 5, 2022, UK Parliament Committees
The European Scrutiny Committee has issued an update to its analysis of the impact of the draft EU General Product Safety Regulation on the UK if implemented. The November report highlighted risks that could affect businesses exporting to the EU.

Australia: 3 Months To Go For Button Battery Safety Standards
April 6, 2022, The National Tribune
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is focusing on businesses that supply button batteries or products that are powered by them. The goal is to ensure they are complying with the new button battery safety standards ahead of the laws becoming mandatory on June 22.

Orlando Freefall Tragedy: Ride Safety Expert Says ‘Something’s Got To Change’ With Amusement Park Oversight
April 4, 2022, Fox News
State-by-state regulations on amusement park rides are ‘hit or miss’ and federal regulations needed, a University of Florida lecturer and ride safety expert says. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., sponsored legislation in 2007 that would have given the Consumer Product Safety Commission federal safety oversight over fixed amusement park rides, but it failed to pass.

E-Scooter, E-Bike Safety, Convenience Tech Revealed
April 6, 2022, Forbes
Electric scooters and e-bikes are rapidly growing in popularity as micromobility wheels of choice. That trend is leading technology companies to address two pressing issues for users—safety and convenience. according to a study released last fall by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission emergency room visits due to e-scooter accidents soared from 7,700 in 2017 to 25,400 in 2020.

Washington PFAS Law Takes Aim At Consumer Goods
April 5, 2022, National Law Review
Last month, Washington’s Governor signed into law a bill that significantly accelerates the state’s initiative to develop regulations for various consumer goods that contain PFAS. With increasing attention being given to PFAS in consumer goods in the media, scientific community, and in state legislatures, the Washington PFAS law takes direct aim at a variety of specific products.

Opinion: New PFAS Scorecard For Popular Apparel Brands
April 6, 2022, NRDC
NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc.), Fashion FWD and U.S. PIRG Education Fund released a first-of-its kind scorecard ranking PFAS policy commitments from a swath of leading retail and apparel brands.

Canada: Amazon Downsizes Its Environmental Impact
April 4, 2022, National Post
Though they are not entirely boxing up the old way of doing business, the online superstore recently introduced new and improved ways to get goods to Canadian shoppers. A new recyclable paper mailer was developed as a way to be mindful of reducing environmental impact and also as a response to customers who also want to see less packaging waste.

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Spinning To Popping: How Manufacturers Can Address Popular Product Misuse
March 29, 2022, National Law Review
With social media trends going viral almost daily, trends that actually promote product misuse can gain traction and become popular overnight. As product misuse becomes more publicized through social media, where does this leave manufacturers?

Cancer Warning On Label Halts Charlotte Schools’ Rollout Of Clear Backpacks
March 29, 2022, Charlotte Observer
After spending more than $400,000 on the products, Charlotte-Mecklenburg is pausing its plan to distribute clear backpacks to students. The delay was caused when warning labels about cancer-causing chemicals were found on the backpacks. The initiative was launched after 25 incidents of finding firearms on campus.

How To Be A Supportive Manager When Times Are Tough
March 31, 2022, Harvard Business Review
As disturbing world events continue to unfold, it’s understandable that your team’s minds are elsewhere. As a manager, what can you do to support your team right now? The author offers recommendations for how to manage in uncertain times.

“We Don’t Want Tragedies To Occur” – DFPS Shares Baby Sleep Safety
March 30, 2022, Valley Central
The Texas Department of Family Protective Services (DFPS) is warning about bed-sharing, also known as co-sleeping. DFPS says there were 165 reported baby deaths last year due to bed-sharing and some parents aren’t aware of the risks of bed-sharing.

How To Have More Successful Conversations
March 26, 2022, Knowledge@Wharton
In this paper, the authors introduce a framework to help people have more successful conversations by understanding the motives of each participant. The model is called the “conversational circumplex,” and it maps conversations along two key axes.

Prop 65 Lawsuit Targets iphone Cases At Nordstrom
March 29, 2022, Legal Newsline
Nordstrom is the defendant in a lawsuit that claims it is selling a product that contains a chemical on the Prop 65 list. The lawsuit in San Francisco says Nordstrom is violating Prop 65, which forbids the sale of products that contain chemicals the state considers carcinogens without a warning label.

EU Act ‘Must Empower Those Affected By AI To Take Action’
March 31, 2022, ComputerWeekly.com
Research organization, the Ada Lovelace Institute, published a series of proposals on how the European Union can amend its forthcoming Artificial Intelligence Act to empower those affected by the technology on both an individual and collective level.

E-Scooters That Stop If You Speed
March 31, 2022, Axios
Don’t speed, swerve or ride illegally on a sidewalk in a scooter that employs “Pedestrian Defense”, a technology that slows you to a stop if you misbehave. “Pedestrian Defense” will be deployed this year in 25 cities in the U.S. and Europe.

Insurers Say Britain Should Strictly Regulate “Fire Risk” E-Scooters
March 30, 2022, Reuters
Britain should put stringent regulations on e-scooters if their legal use is widened beyond current trials given the number of injuries from illegal vehicles and fire risks from the batteries, the International Underwriting Association says.

Indian Government Orders Probe Into Scooter Fire Incidents
March 29, 2022, Business Standard
The Centre for Fire Explosive and Environment Safety, an Indian defense lab, has been asked to investigate the circumstances that led to the incident and also suggest remedial measures, according to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

The ABC Of Responsible Artificial Intelligence
March 29, 2022, University of Oxford
Amazon’s Alexa told a ten-year-old to touch a live plug with a penny, which could lead to severe burns. Fortunately, the girl’s mother intervened. But child had been hurt, who would be responsible: Amazon, the parents or the licensing authorities?

Washington Bill Aimed At Phasing Out PFAS “Forever Chemicals” By 2025
March 31, 2022, Toxic-Free Future
Washington Governor Jay Inslee signed a bill that will tackle PFAS “forever chemicals” in a broad range of products by 2025, the fastest timeline in the nation. Product categories include apparel, cosmetics, and firefighter protective equipment.

5 Surprising Home Hazards — And How To Avoid Them
March 31, 2022, AARP
Home mishaps account for most of an estimated 2.9 million annual injuries sustained by adults 65-plus that are serious enough to require hospital treatment. About 3,800 of them are fatal, according to Consumer Product Safety Commission report.

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New Bipartisan Senate Bill Bans Crib Bumpers
March 23, 2022, WebMD
The bipartisan bill will direct the Consumer Product Safety Commission to ban the manufacturing and/or importation of crib bumpers. CPSC data shows that bumpers have been linked to 107 infant deaths and 282 serious injuries between 1990 and 2016.

Europol Seizes 5 Million Unsafe Fake Toys
March 25, 2022, The Business Times
The European Police Agency seized more than 5 million potentially hazardous counterfeit toys worth more than 18 million euros ($27 million) from October 2021 – January 2022. The haul included “counterfeit and illegal puzzle games, videogames and related characters, board and card games, dolls and puppets from famous TV series, bricks for children and clothing and accessories from famous brands,” Europol said. “The majority of fake toys were imported from East Asia to the EU, UK and the US,” it said.

What To Do If Your Employees Keep Getting Poached
March 23, 2022, Harvard Business Review
In a hot job market, where jobs exceed the number of skilled workers, there’s a high probability that other organizations are trying to poach your employees. . Here, the author offers four ways to be proactive in working to keep your best employees.

Child Poisoning Deaths Spiked In Pandemic From Narcotics, Bleach And Batteries
March 23, 2022, CBS News
The pandemic saw a spike in young children accidentally poisoned by products found at home, says a Consumer Product Safety Commission report. On average, 31 kids under f 5 die of poisoning each year, a figure that has fallen 80% from 1972, when 216 children died. But, after decades of falling fatality rates, the past several years have seen a reversal.

Several Over-The-Counter Drugs Recalled Over Non-Childproof Packaging
March 23, 2022, New York Post
Some 165,000 units of Aspirin, Extra Strength Non Aspirin, Extra Strength Pain Reliever, Ibuprofen, Medication Station and Multi-Pack have been recalled because the packaging is not child resistant, says the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Study Finds Children’s Exposure To Phthalates May Increase Risk Of Cancer
March 23, 2022, Consumer Affairs
The University of Vermont study showed that exposure to phthalates during childhood was linked with a 20% higher risk of cancer. The risk of lymphoma was twice as high for those exposed to higher levels of phthalates and the risk of osteosarcoma was three times as high for those with the highest phthalate exposure.

OECD/EUIPO Report: China And Hong Kong Account For 75% Of Dangerous Counterfeits
March 21, 2022, IP Watchdog
A new study on counterfeit goods that pose health, safety and environmental threats has found that China and Hong Kong account for three-quarters of exports of dangerous counterfeits. The study, conducted by the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the European Union Intellectual Property Office (EUIPO) found that online sales represent 60% of seizures of dangerous products destined for the EU.

EU Court Dismisses Challenge To Ban On TVs With Halogenated Flame Retardants
March 23, 2022, Chemical and Engineering News
The International Bromine Council (BSEF) sued over what it claims are technical flaws in the EU’s ban on sales of televisions, computer monitors, and other electronic devices encased in plastic that contains halogenated flame retardants. The prohibition took effect in 2021.

‘Right To Repair’ Bill Aims To Give Consumers Product Fix Choices
March 23, 2022, NBC Washington
Federal lawmakers introduced Right to Repair legislation last month. it would ensure that independent repair shops have equal access to manufacturers’ maintenance tools. Several manufacturers have argued that their policies are in place for safety reasons, saying staff at their own facilities and authorized repair shops undergo specialized training and are accountable to the manufacturer if they do shoddy repairs.

PFAS Update: Current State-By-State Consumer Products Regulations/March 2022
March 23, 2022, JD Supra
Consumer products across a broad spectrum of industries are being impacted by per- and polyfluoroalkyl regulations. Here is an overview of enacted and proposed state laws and regulations to assist in investigating if products may be impacted.

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Report Finds Increase In Child Deaths And Injuries Tied To Recalled Products
March 17, 2022, NBC New 5 Chicago
The year 2021 was a challenging year for child safety. That’s the main takeaway from the Kids in Danger (KID) annual report that tracks children’s product safety recalls and trends. While some of the recalls have been widely reported, others have not. And safety advocates believe it’s information that could mean life or death for parents and caregivers. The report is based on recall data and findings from the Consumer Product and Safety Commission.

CPSC Celebrates 50 Years Of Making Consumer Safety Our Mission
March 16, 2022, CPSC.gov
The Consumer Product Safety Commission is marking its 50th anniversary in 2022. “We believe there is value in recognizing the significant strides for safety CPSC has taken in reducing deaths and injuries from the products in our homes. This history will continue to help guide us on our journey to a world with far fewer preventable deaths and injuries associated with consumer products,” said Chair Alex Hoehn-Saric.

5 Key Trends Leaders Need To Understand To Get Hybrid Right
March 18, 2022, Harvard Business Review
The people now returning to the office are not the same as those who left in March 2020. Adapting to the change in this business environment is no easy feat. The author lays out 5 key trends to help leaders empower teams to thrive in the year ahead.

SPSP Professional Certification Program announces 2022 Instructor panel and scope of program content
March 17, 2022, US Times Gazette
The Society of Product Safety Professionals (SPSP) has announced the instructor panel, comprised of academic and product safety professional leaders, who will lead the Consumer Product Safety Professional Certification program which takes place June 1-August 30, 2022, in a virtual format. Individuals who successfully complete the program criteria earn the designation of “Certified Product Safety Professional,” said SPSP president Shelia Gottschalk.

Counterfeit Goods ‘Increasingly Being Made In The EU’
March 15, 2022, Securing Industry
While most counterfeit goods distributed in the EU are produced outside the bloc, there are signs that production increasingly takes place within EU borders, says a recent Interpol Crime Threat Assessment report.

Crowell-Moring Micromobility White Paper
2020 Crowell-Moring
The Washington, D.C. office of Crowell-Moring developed a white paper that covers the regulatory product safety landscape for bicycles, electric bikes and scooters. The 2020 report includes a review of compliance obligations.

Parents Warned Over Popular Children’s Toy After Girl Hospitalized
March 17, 2022, nzhearld.co.nz
Parents are being warned about magnetic toys after another young girl in Australia was hospitalized. Magnetic balls have been the subject of repeated warnings from product safety watch dogs in Australia and overseas for the past several years.

Hong Kong Consumer Agency Finds That Grill Appliances Have Safety Hazards
March 15, 2022, South China Morning Post
Hong Kong’s consumer watchdog found more than 60% of grill appliances tested for stress presented safety risks, with one having burst into flames. Half of them were also found to pose a risk of excessive temperatures, which could cause scalding.

Toy Doll Recalled Due To ‘Unacceptable Chemical Risk’ After Thousands Sold In Ireland
March 15, 2022, The Irish Mirror
A popular toy doll sold in Ireland is being recalled due to what the Completion and Consumer Protection Commission calls an “unacceptable chemical risk.” The doll was sold in Dealz stores and the ACCC estimates about 18,986 were sold in Ireland.

Reckitt Recalls More Than 3.5 Million Bottles Of Airborne Gummies Due To Injury Hazard
March 16, 2022, Consumer Reports
This recall involves 63 and 75 count bottles of Airborne Gummies. When opened for the first time, pressure build up in the bottle can cause the cap and underlying seal to pop off with force, posing an injury hazard. Reckitt has received 70 reports of the cap or seal popping off the bottles, including 18 reports of minor injuries and one report of an eye injury requiring medical attention.

BBB Unit Recommends Moose Toys Include Disclosures And Adult Supervision
March 16, 2022, BBB National Program
The Children’s Advertising Review Unit (CARU) of BBB National Programs recommended that Moose Toys modify its television and YouTube advertisements promoting the Little Live Pets Gotta Go Turdle and its product packaging. BBB recommends a clear and conspicuous disclosures that children should not eat the purple aqua-sand Turdle food.

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Tip-Over Hazard Prompts Recall Of About 1700 Danby Ranges
March 9, 2022, Consumer Reports
The Danby Company recalled about 1,700 ranges that can tip over if something heavy, such as a pot of food, is placed on an open oven door. The tip-overs can occur if the range’s anti-tip bracket is not secured properly or installed at all.

CPSC: Daylight Saving Time Is More Than Just A Clock Change
March 10, 2022, CPSC.gov
The Consumer Product Safety Commission reminds consumers that safety starts at home by changing the batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. CPSC estimated an annual average of 362,000 unintentional residential fires, resulting in about 2,400 deaths, 10,400 injuries and $7 billion in property losses each year from 2016 – 2018 The National Fire Protection Association estimates that 57 percent of deaths occur in homes with no or non-working smoke alarms.

How To Stop Overthinking And Start Trusting Your Gut
March 10, 2022, Harvard Business Review
Intuition is frequently dismissed as mystical or unreliable — but there’s a deep neurological basis for it. The author offers strategies to learn how to leverage your intuition as a helpful decision-making tool in your career.

CPSC Guidance: Third-Party Testing Laboratory Accreditation
CPSC.gov
All manufacturers and importers of children’s products must certify in a Children’s Product Certificate that their children’s products comply with all applicable children’s product safety rules. Third-party testing means testing performed by a third-party accredited laboratory that CPSC has accepted to perform the specific tests for each children’s product safety rule.

UK Office For Product Safety And Standards Publishes Enforcement Data
March 8, 2022, National Law Review
The OPSS has published details of its enforcement actions during April 2021-September 2021. Actions related to product safety included orders for forfeiture and destruction, compliance notices and mandatory withdrawal and recall notices. Relevant businesses included businesses based in Great Britain, but also a significant number of online sellers based in China.

Major E-Scooter Warning After Dramatic House Fire
March 10,2022, OffalyExpress
A Dublin family had a lucky escape when a recently purchased e-scooter caught fire when being charged. It had only been used once and was bought new from China. The fire service has warned that there are some fire risks in charging li-ion batteries.

Vietnam: Proposed Changes Under The Draft Law On Protection Of Consumers’ Rights
March 4, 2022, Global Compliance News
The Ministry of Industry and Trade recently published the draft law on Protection of Consumers’ Rights. The Draft Law includes a number of proposed changes to the existing product liability and consumer protection framework. If adopted, the Draft Law may have major impacts on the business of companies whose products are produced or sold in Vietnam.

New UK Study Highlights Need For E-Scooter Helmet Research
March 9, 2022, What Car?
New research conducted by Imperial College London has highlighted the risks of head injuries from e-scooter falls – and the need for further work to develop safety tests for helmets specifically for e-scooter riders.

Major UK Law Changes To Protect People From Scam Adverts Online
March 8, 2022, GOV.UK
Social media sites and search engines will be forced to stamp out fraudsters and scammers on their platforms as the government strengthens its internet safety laws. The move comes as the government also launches a consultation as part of a wider overhaul of how online advertising is regulated in the UK.

Counterfeit Products Are Everywhere; Here Are Tips To Avoid Buying Any Of Them Online
March 11, 2022, U.S. PIRG
U.S. Customs and Border Protection officials said that between Oct. 1, 2020, and July 30, 2021, they made 22,849 seizures – spanning a variety of counterfeit products – worth $2.5 billion. While $2.5 billion seems like a large number in seizures, it’s just a drop in the bucket, with counterfeits costing the global economy an estimated $500 billion each year. When analyzing Fiscal Year 2020, CBP listed these products as the top health and safety products seized. When counterfeited, these products could cause serious injury.

ACCC Releases Its 2022-23 Compliance Enforcement Priorities
March 10, 2021, GT Law
On March 3 outgoing Chair of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) Mr Rod Sims announced the ACCC’s 2022-23 Compliance and Enforcement Priorities in his annual address to the Committee for Economic Development Australia (CEDA).

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Fitbit Smartwatches Present Burn Hazard; 1.7 Million Recalled
March 2, 2022, CNN
The voluntary recall exclusively involves Fitbit Ionic smartwatch models, which contain a lithium-ion battery that can potentially overheat and pose a burn hazard to consumers, according to the Consumer Product Safety Commission. The CPSC said there had been at least 115 reports of the watch overheating and 78 reported cases of burn injuries. Two of those reports included cases of third-degree burns and four reports included cases of second-degree burns. The agency said the recall impacts one million devices sold in the United States and an additional 693,000 that were sold internationally.

CPSC Issues Final Rule To Establish A Safety Standard For Crib Mattresses
March 1, 2022, Market Screener
On February 15, 2022, the Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a final rule for a safety standard for crib mattresses. This regulation includes full-size and non-full-size crib mattresses, as well as after-market mattresses for play yards and non-full-size cribs. It addresses these hazards: Suffocation; entrapment; laceration; and SIDS.

How Data Can Make Better Managers
March 2, 2022, Harvard Business Review
Computational Leadership Science (CLS) allows managers to anticipate, address, mitigate and benefit from the waves of disruption an organization will experience in the future. This article addresses 3 examples in which CLS provides value.

CPSC Rejects Request For Extension Of Tip-Over Rule Comments
March 3, 2022, Furniture Today
The Consumer Product Safety Commission voted to deny a request for an extension of the public comment period on the agency’s Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for Clothing Storage Furniture. AHFA critical of the rejection.

President Biden Threatens Big Tech Over Its “National Experiment” On Children
March 1, 2022, Vox
President Biden believes America, and especially its young people, are experiencing a mental health crisis. According to his State of the Union address, social media is one of the root causes. In his speech, Biden promised to “hold social media platforms accountable for the national experiment they’re conducting on our children for profit.”

Scots Dad Wants ‘Outright Ban’ After Button Battery Burned Hole In Son’s Heart
February 26, 2022, The Sun (UK)
A dad whose baby was killed by a button battery burning a hole in his heart is calling for the pill-sized power cells to be banned. He insists plans to make them safer do not go far enough to prevent another child dying.

Proposition 65 Notices Of The Month: January 2022
March 2, 2022, JD Supra
As compared to prior months, the start of the new year was relatively “slow” in terms of the number of Proposition 65 Notices of Violation that citizen plaintiff groups issued alleging new Prop. 65 violations. It is not uncommon for the total number of Notices issued each month to exceed two or three hundred. However, in January 2022, citizen plaintiff groups issued one 188 Notices. While 188 Notices is still a significant number of alleged violations, there will likely be even more Notices issued in the coming months.

An Update To The “Blue Guide” On The Implementation Of EU Product Rules
March 1, 2022, Cooley
First published in 2000, the Blue Guide is a key guidance document which helps with the interpretation and understanding of EU product rules, based on the New Approach and the New Legislative Framework for the marketing of products.

10 Recommendations For Safer Micromobility
March 2, 2022, FleetEurope
Micromobility is here to stay and will become an increasingly normalized part of any corporate mobility policy. But how safe is it, and how can fleet and mobility managers make it safer? Here are 10 recommendations.

People Want To Get Phones And Appliances Fixed—But Often, They Can’t
February 28, 2022, Consumer Reports
Just 16% of Americans who had a phone break in the past 5 years say that the most recent time they fixed it at home or got it repaired professionally. This according to a nationally representative survey conducted in late 2021 by Consumer Reports.

Blog: Mind-Reading For Managers: Nine Keys To Engagement And Retention
March 2, 2022, Association for Talent Development
Research shows that the key to employee retention is manager quality, connection to staff and comprehension of what the team needs to stay. Leaders must deliver on those expectations or manage them appropriately. Here are 3 points to back this up.

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New CPSC Report On Portable Generators And Carbon Monoxide Supports Mandatory Rulemaking Process
February 23, 2022, YahooEntertainment
As part of the process to issue a new mandatory rule, the Consumer Product Safety Commission has released a report that includes the agency’s analysis of the effectiveness of two industry voluntary standards in mitigating portable generator carbon monoxide poisoning hazards and a review of compliance in the marketplace with these two standards.

Analysis: A New Roadmap For Reining In Social Media Companies Is Gaining Steam
February 23, 2022, Washington Post
For years, U.S. policymakers have been railing against social media companies for allegedly stoking divisions and facilitating the spread of noxious content on their sites, with little to show for it beyond distant threats of regulation. These efforts have largely taken a single form: proposals to roll back the protections that shield tech companies from lawsuits over their users’ posts, known as Section 230. But there are signs of growing momentum for a different approach, focused instead on channeling regulators’ consumer protection powers.

How To Respectfully Discuss Contentious Issues At Work
February 23, 2022, Harvard Business Review
A recent study shows that people feel unsafe about speaking their minds at work, particularly on contentious topics. To feel more confident and less fearful about speaking up with your peers, the author offers these tactics that you can use.

CPSC Business Education: How To Create A Children’s Product Certificate (Video)
January 2022, CPSC.gov (video)
This video, Part 2 of the Consumer Product Safety Commission video series on creating Children’s Product Certificates (CPCs), is featured on YouTube. Part 1 of the series can be seen at this link:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pDaMfCJicLc&t=19s

Wheelchair Users And Fire Safety
February 20, 2022, Safety+Health
Creating a safe evacuation plan means all employees should be accounted for in it – including workers who use a wheelchair. “By understanding their special evacuation needs, people with limited mobility and first responders can improve their chances of evacuating their workplace or home safely,” the United Spinal Association says. “The main goal is to get persons with limited mobility to a ‘safe area’ until the fire department arrives.”

Peloton Still Investigating How Bikes Rusting From The Inside
February 23, 2022, Business Insider
While many bikes were fixed, seven employees from three different states said some bikes affected by rusting were knowingly sent to customers as the company struggled to keep up with soaring demand and lack of supply at the time.

Recall Alert: Zeno Infant Walkers Fail To Meet Federal Safety Standards
February 21, 2022, Fox13 Memphis
The walkers can fit through a standard doorway and are not designed to stop at the edge of a step as required by the federal safety standard. The leg openings allow the child to slip down until the child’s head can become entrapped at the neck.

Increased Use Of Cleaning Products Leads To A Rise In Kids’ Poisonings
February 21, 2022, NJ101.5
More young kids are at home for virtual learning and parents home focusing on several priorities at once. This is leading to less supervision and an increased number of calls to poison control about kids being exposed to cleaning products.

Taking Fake Toys Offline: Proactive Measures To Reduce Counterfeits And Unsafe Toys Sold On Online Marketplaces</strong>
2021, The Toy Association (white paper)
In 2019, the Toy Association issued its White Paper, The Real Threat of Fake Toys. This 2020 paper reviews the three factors contributing to counterfeit toys sold online and expands on the proposed solutions.

Government To Scrap Age Limit For E-Scooters In Ireland
February 23, 2022, SiliconRepublic
The Government has approved amendments to the Road Traffic and Roads Bill 2021, which will see the removal of an age limit for e-scooter ownership and the establishment of a new office to oversee Ireland’s EV infrastructure growth.

Honoring Our Heroes
SPSP Website
SPSP makes a permanent home for the salute poster at its website.

New CPSC Chair Tells ICPHSO Conference “Failure To Report Will Not Be Tolerated”
February 16, 2022, Retail & Consumer Products Law Observer
Chairman Hoehn-Saric discussed the agency’s ongoing work in addressing certain hazards, old and new, including, clothing storage units; cribs; magnet sets; window coverings; adult portable bed rails; portable fuel containers; infant products; and batteries. He remarked that the CPSC will use its authority to the fullest and to keep Americans safe and that failing to report to the agency [pursuant to Section 15(b) of the CPSA] “will not be tolerated.”

Pair Of Websites Provides Consumers Vital Product Recall And Complaint Information
February 14, 2022, WTVG Action News Toledo
The Consumer Product Safety Commission issues hundreds of safety recalls each year. It’s possible you have a recalled product in your home and don’t even know it. There are two websites you can use to find out whether something you just bought, or have owned for years, has either been recalled or reported as potentially dangerous.

How To Interrupt Someone’s Workday — Without Annoying Them
February 22, 2022, Harvard Business Review
Interruptions are a fact of life — but do they have to be unpleasant? A recent study found that 31% of workplace interruptions are actually experienced positively and offers six strategies to help anyone become a better (that is, less annoying) interrupter.

Etsy Reminds Sellers Of Product Safety Compliance
February 14, 2022, eCommerce bytes
Etsy recently reminded sellers that they are ultimately responsible for the safety and compliance of their products, and it provided information and resources to help sellers comply with legal requirements. Etsy focused on product safety requirements for art materials and craft supplies, but its post serves as a reminder to all sellers on all platforms to stay up-to-date on local, state, and federal laws, especially around product safety, which sellers may not routinely think about.

Amazon’s New Distributor Status Means Safety ‘Headache’ Ahead
February 15, 2022, Bloomberg Law
Amazon.com Inc. is a “distributor” of many products sold on its web marketplace, responsible for reporting safety hazards and recalling dangerous products, a federal agency judge ruled. This determination that may forecast major financial and logistical obligations for it and other e-commerce companies.

Furniture Industry Groups Request Comment Extension On Proposed Stability Standard
February 15, 2022, Furniture Today
The American Home Furnishings Alliance and the Home Furnishings Association have requested an extension of the comment period on the proposed safety standard for clothes storage furniture. They want more information to be able to give a meaningful response.

Firefighters File Multiple Lawsuits Over PFAS In Gear, Foam
February 16, 2022, Bloomberg Law
A group of 19 firefighters in Massachusetts and New York allege in two separate lawsuits that 3M and 23 other companies knowingly made and sold products containing “forever chemicals” that placed the plaintiffs’ health at risk. The case is the latest in a growing number of lawsuits from firefighters’ attorneys citing concerns that the chemicals, per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, or PFAS, found in their protective jackets, pants, and other gear and specialized firefighting foam increase their risk of cancer, liver damage and a host of other illnesses.

Senate Online Safety Bill Gives Children More Control Over Social Media
February 16, 2022, Yahoo Finance
Concerned about child safety, Sens. Marsha Blackburn and Richard Blumenthal have introduced the Kids Online Safety Act. It gives kids more control over their safety on social media and sets stricter guidelines for the companies in question.

Dangerous Toys Seized At UK Port
February 15, 2022, KCC Media Hub
Businesses bringing toys into the UK are being warned to check that those goods meet strict safety standards so young children are not put at serious risk – and importers don’t get a penalty for bringing unsafe products into the country.

Three-Quarters Of UK Parents Let Children Ride E-Scooters In The Street Despite Ban
February 17, 2022, Birmingham Live
A new survey, by personal injury experts Hodge, Jones and Allen, has found 85 % of parents who have bought one are happy for their child to use scooters in public areas and 75% on the street. And, 38% don’t ensure their child wears a helmet.

Honoring Our Heroes
SPSP Website
SPSP makes a permanent home for the salute poster at its website.

CPSC Sues Leachco Over Suffocation Hazard From Defective Infant Loungers, Seeks Notice And Refund To Consumers
February 9, 2022, CPSC.gov
Following reports of two infant deaths, and a refusal to undertake a voluntary recall, the Consumer Product Safety Commission has filed an administrative complaint regarding the Podster, Podster Plush, Bummzie and Podster Playtime infant loungers manufactured by Leachco, Inc. of Ada, Oklahoma. This lawsuit comes on the heels of a Commission finding on January 20, 2022, that public health and safety necessitated warning the public of the suffocation hazard presented by the Podster.

Tip-Over TVs Kill Kids Every Year Despite $20 Fix
February 8, 2022, CBS News
People looking for a bigger screen or better picture quality may not recognize the tip-over risk for TVs, a hazard that can be dangerous — and sometimes deadly — for children. The good news? There’s a relatively simple and inexpensive fix.

Six Signs It’s Time To Leave Your Job
February 8, 2022, Harvard Business Review
At some point, we all experience moments when we must decide to let go of something that once offered us purpose. Decisions like a career change should be approached thoughtfully. Here are six signs it may be time to change your current career.

Society Of Product Safety Professionals Names New Officers And Board Members
February 13, 2022, Consumer Protection News Today
The Society of Product Safety Professionals (SPSP) has elected new Officers and Board Members consistent with the group’s By-Laws. The new president, Shelia Gottschalk, is product integrity manager for Hallmark Cards. Sheila replaces outgoing president John Barrera, Senior Director of Product Quality for Best Choice

Consumer Reports: How To Choose A Bike Helmet For A Child
February 8, 2022, Consumer Reports
Every day, an average of over 500 children with bike-related injuries are treated in emergency departments, says a CR analysis of injury data from 2006 to 2015. Those wearing helmets were less likely to have head and neck injuries, the study says.

Retailers cut £7bn in supply chain clean-up
February 10, 2022, Barclays
A report from Barclays Corporate Banking shows that the imperative to be more sustainable and ethical is now being felt financially across the supply chain. Over a fifth of retailers (21%) that Barclays surveyed have cut ties with suppliers in the last year because they’re not meeting required standards.

Consumer Product Safety Commission Issues Notice Of Proposed Rulemaking For Magnets
February 8, 2022, MarketScreener
On January 10, 2022, the US CPSC approved publication of a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for a safety standard for Magnets. The proposed rule aims to reduce the risk of death and injury associated with ingestion of one or more high-powered magnets, especially to children and teens.The proposed rule will apply to consumer products that are designed, marketed, or intended to be used for entertainment, jewelry (including children’s jewelry), mental stimulation, stress relief, or a combination of these purposes, and that contain one or more loose or separable magnets.

US-China Competitiveness Bill Sparks Battle Over E-Commerce
February 10, 2022, The Hill
Etsy, eBay and other e-commerce firms are lobbying lawmakers to strip the Shop Safe Act out of the bill to bolster U.S. competitiveness with China. They warn it would force most online marketplaces to close, leaving only giants like Amazon.

UL Commits $1.8 Billion To Safety Science Research
February 7, 2022, PR Newswire
With this commitment, Underwriters Laboratories will expand the scale and scope of research into emerging safety risks. UL will also launch a new nonprofit organization to advance standards development and public advocacy activities for the enterprise

Baby In UK Dies After Swallowing Button Battery
February 10, 2022, Which? News
UK consumer advocate Which? is warning parents to take care that products using button batteries are properly secured or kept away from kids. It follows the tragic death of a one-year-old, who died after swallowing a button battery from a toy teddy.

Sidewalk Detection And Safety Monitoring: A ‘Watershed’ For Micromobility
February 8, 2022, Smart Cities Dive
A vexing problem in micromobility has always been vehicle behavior. That’s especially true as so many cities are realizing how important pedestrians are and pursuing more public space and recognizing that walking cities are healthy in so many ways.

Restricting Organohalogen Flame Retardants Could Reduce Product Safety/Performance
February 9, 2022, American Chemistry Council
Research shows specific flame retardants in electronic casings do not present risk to human health or the environment. But, claims by some individuals and organizations, and newly proposed and enacted policies, might lead you to believe otherwise.

Honoring Our Heroes
SPSP Website
SPSP makes a permanent home for the salute poster at its website.