CPSC Head Says People Mistakenly Assume Consumer Products Are Safe
February 2, 2022, CBS News
Just because a product is for sale doesn’t mean it’s safe, says the man leading the Consumer Product Safety Commission. “I do know in talking to people, they often think because it’s on the shelves, it’s been pre-approved by the government, which is not the case,” said CPSC Chair Alexander Hoehn-Saric. He urged consumers to do their homework before making purchases. “It’s easy and fast to check for recalls and obtain product safety information,” he said, pointing to government websites saferproducts.gov and cpsc.gov as reliable sources.

Your Guide To A Safe Sound Baby Nursery
February 3, 2022, Consumer Reports
A baby’s room can be comfy and cozy and safe above all. You don’t have to sacrifice comfort to create a safe sleep space. You just need to think creatively about how to achieve it.

Create Learning Pathways To Close Your Company’s Skills Gap
February 2, 2022, Harvard Business Review
How can you guide your workforce to the skills and competencies both you and they need? The answer is the learning pathway: a sequence of activities, often from different sources and in different formats, to develop needed skills and behaviors.

40 Schools In Galway To Take Part In E-Scooter Safety Course
January 31, 2022, Connacht Tribune
Pupils in 40 schools across Galway are set to take part in Ireland’s first e-scooter safety course. The program is designed to educate transition year and after school students on safe riding practices for the use of shared e-scooters.

CPSC Injury And Fatality Report Shows, Despite Some Progress, Need For TV And Furniture Tip-Over Prevention Remains Strong
February 3, 2022, CPSC.gov
A new Consumer Product Safety Commission report on furniture, TV and appliance tip-over injuries and fatalities, presents an analysis of hospital injury department treatment. Between 2018-2020, an estimated annual average of 22,500 Americans required hospital emergency department treatment for tip-over injuries, nearly 44% of whom were under 18. The report found that since 2000, there have been 581 tip-over fatalities involving furniture, TVs or appliances, of which 472 were children.

Analysis: CPSC’s Aggressive Enforcement In 2021 Signals Increased Regulatory And Product Liability Risk For Retail Industry
February 3, 2022, National Law Review
The Consumer Product Safety Commission ramped up its enforcement efforts in 2021, raising regulatory and litigation risk for the retail industry. 2021 saw the return of civil penalties after a two-year hiatus and also brought the first-ever criminal prosecution of a company for failure to report a product defect under the Consumer Product Safety Act.

Consumer Product Safety Commission Amends Proposed Clothing Storage Unit Rule To Prevent Tip-Overs
February 2, 2022, JD Supra
On Jan. 19, 2022, the CPSC voted to publish its notice of proposed rulemaking for clothing storage units in the Federal Register. During its meeting, the CPSC approved two proposed amendments. The first involved a provision to prevent manufacturers from stockpiling noncompliant products before the rule’s effective date. The second involved a reduction in the compliance timeline from 180 days after promulgation to 30 days after promulgation.

Perrigo, California Cut Deal To Lower Lead In Store-Brand Baby Formulas
February 2, 2022, Reuters
Perrigo Company and two subsidiaries agreed to limit the amount of lead in the baby and toddler formula to settle a four-year-old lawsuit brought under Prop 65, California’s right-to-know chemicals warning law, said state Attorney General Rob Bonta.

Many States Seek To Regulate PFAS, Other Chemicals In 2022
February 3, 2022, Bloomberg Law
Nearly 3 dozen states will consider 210 bills addressing new laws and policies to tighten regulation on toxic chemicals in 2022. PFAS will dominate the chemical agenda, according to a report from the Safer States advocacy group.

E-Scooters With ‘Smart Technology’ Set For UK Can Stop When Riding Recklessly
February 2, 2022, Globe Circulate
The technology, designed to make the devices safer, comes as companies try to prove that they are not dangerous. More than 50 UK cities currently operate e-scooter trials from hire companies in the hopes they could help reduce traffic and emissions.

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CPSC Approves New Federal Safety Standard For Crib Mattresses To Provide A Safer Marketplace
January 26, 2022, Yahoo Finance
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has approved a new federal mandatory safety standard that will ensure crib mattresses, as well as after-market mattresses used in play yards and cribs, are safer for babies. By the fall of 2022, crib mattresses and after-market mattresses used in play yards and portable cribs, will be required to meet the new federal safety standard which addresses several hazards, such as lacerations from coil springs and excessively soft mattresses.

Thousands Of Unsafe Toys, Cosmetics And Electrical Items Seized By UK Standards Officers In 10 Months
January 25, 2022, Gloucestershire Live
More than £732,000 worth of consumer goods including toys, cosmetics and electrical items which pose a health risk have been seized by Trading Standards officers in Gloucestershire. This includes 7,511 toys for young children with sharp edges or choke hazards, play putty with traces of heavy metal and 4,000 items of women’s clothing which had sharp edges to fastenings. The officers also seized more than 5,145 electrical goods including spin dryers which work with the door open.

Celebrate To Win: Plan To Leverage Accomplishment
January 26, 2022, Harvard Business Review
Celebration is an important opportunity to cement the lessons learned on the path to achievement and to strengthen relationships between people that make future achievement plausible. Here are four moments that can be used to celebrate meaningfully.

Pediatricians: Kids Should Wear Helmets While Sledding
January 25, 2021, Philly Voice
A study published last November in the Clinical Journal of Sports Medicine found more than 220,000 people were treated in emergency departments for sledding-related injuries between 2008 and 2017. Almost 70% of these patients were age 19 or younger.

‘Young Kids At Risk’: Bathroom Dangers And How To Spot Them
January 28, 2022, Yahoo Sports
Nationwide Children’s Hospital says more than 43,000 kids receive emergency treatment for bathtub or shower injuries every year. More than two-thirds of drowning deaths at home occur in the bathtub. Here’s how these injuries and deaths can be prevented.

Behind The New Mattress Standard; NJ Mom’s 7-Year Fight
January 28, 2022, NJ.com
A NJ mother whose infant died while sleeping has won her battle to get the federal government to ban certain baby mattresses. The Consumer Product Safety Commission agreed to publish a final rule on aftermarket mattresses that are sold separately from cribs and play yards.

Overview Of CPSC Labeling Requirements
January 2022, CPSC.gov
Various labeling requirements apply to consumer products based on product type, specific design and component parts and the age group for which it is intended. Here is a summary of common Consumer Product Safety Commission labeling requirements.

Year Of The Knockoff (Podcast)
January 25, 2022, Retail & Consumer Product Law Observer
ACC Chicago’s Podcast, It’s All Hearsay, is a podcast where lawyers give current news, practical tips and real stories on legal issues relevant to in-house attorneys.

E-Scooter Simulations Highlight Head Injury Risk From Falls
January 25, 2022, Tech Xplore
New Imperial College London research highlights head injury risks to e-scooter riders from falls. The simulations provide early evidence that could help sharpen safety regulations about speed limits, helmet and wheel design and pothole management.

NY Lawmakers Propose Federal Fire Safety Reforms
January 25, 2022, NBC News 4 New York
Sen. Schumer and Rep. Torres say their 4-point plan includes critical measures needed to prevent the kind of tragedy and loss seen in the recent Bronx high-rise fire and to “help advance a culture of safety in housing and in consumer products.”

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Consumer Product Safety Commission Issues Warning On Infant Loungers
January 21, 2022, ABC Action News Philadelphia
The CPSC issued an urgent warning for parents last week, telling families to stop using the Podster and Bummzie infant loungers. The alert comes after reports that a 17-day-old baby and a four-month-old died while they were in one. “We’ve found the Leachco Podster creates a risk of suffocation, and we are urging people to stop using it,” said Alex Hoehn-Saric, CPSC chair.

Elevator Union Commends CPSC For Protecting Children From Residential Elevators
January 19, 2022, ConstructionDive
Elevator Constructors Union President Frank Christensen said in response to the recent recall announcement from three residential elevator companies: “Our union commends the Consumer Product Safety Commission, groups like Kids in Danger, and other industry stakeholders, for spearheading the effort that led three companies to recall tens of thousands of in-home elevators. This recall is a significant first step and will help protect innocent children.”

Designing Your Company’s Sustainability Report
January 14, 2022, Harvard Business Review
This article introduces the sustainability reporting matrix. It can help companies focus on sustainability reporting standards and ratings that are most closely aligned with their strategic requirements and the information needs of stakeholders.

California Increases PFAS Listings Under Proposition 65
January 17, 2022, JD Supra
California formally listed PFOS “and its salts and transformation and degradation precursors” as carcinogens and PFNA and its salts as reproductive toxins under Prop 65. Companies now have one year to determine whether to add or modify Prop 65 warnings for any products that contain any of the compounds covered by the listings.

Advocate’s Report: More Than 6,000 Product Safety-Related Injuries, Illnesses In 2021 Recalls
January 20, 2022, ConnPIRG
A new analysis, “Product Recalls, Often Too Little, Too Late,” from U.S. PIRG challenges legal loopholes in the law. The PIRG Education Fund analysis suggests how to strengthen the CPSC to prevent hazardous products from ending up in our homes.

UK: Warning Over Toys That Could Give Children Cancer
January 17, 2022, Wiltshire Gazette & Herald
Wiltshire Trading Standards issued warnings not to buy or use 3 products, made in China, which pose serious health risks. These include a toy which could cause cancer. Backpacks and band percussion toys are among those marked for immediate recall.

How To Protect Your Child From Noise-Induced Hearing Loss
January 19, 2022, South China Morning Post
Electronic devices have led to more sound exposure from an early age. In the past, loudspeakers were more common and it was easier to manage the volume. Today, kids often use headphones and earphones, so it’s more challenging to monitor the volume.

Sacramento Family Calls For Redesigned Product After Kitten Suffocates In Flip-Top Kitty Litter Bucket
January 19, 2022, CBSlocal
A CA family blames the death of their kitten on a bucket of kitty litter. They want to warn others about the dangers of the bucket’s flip-top lid. The FDA oversees things like pet food, but not kitty litter. The Consumer Product Safety Commission oversees products that can harm people, but not pets.

How China Intervened In A Maryland Effort To Ban Lead From Children’s Products
January 19, 2022, The Diplomat
2008 marked one of the earliest examples of the Chinese government’s direct intervention on a state bill, through aggressive use of a WTO mechanism.

How Design Can Be Used To Keep Kids Safe Online And Off
January 18, 2022, Design Week
Keeping kids safe requires a slew of safeguarding tools and systems. Increasingly, designers are finding that their work can be an important part of this network, be it through the developing of software, online interventions or hardware solutions.

Shovel Snow Safely This Winter
January 17, 2022, Southwest Times
Shoveling snow can increase the risk of injury and it’s surprising how often such injuries happen. The Consumer Product Safety Commission says in 2018, 137,000+ people needed medical assistance for injuries from shoveling snow or using snowblowers.

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CPSC Chairman Discusses Plans For Agency’s Future
January 7. 2022, NBC 4 Washington
NBC 4 Consumer Reporter Susan Hogan spoke with new Consumer Product Safety Commission Chairman Alexander Hoehn-Saric about his plans to protect people from dangerous hazards that continue to find their way into the market.

New York Governor Signs First-In-Nation Restrictions On Toxic Flame Retardants
January 5, 2022, Safer Chemical, Healthy Families
New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed into law a groundbreaking bipartisan bill restricting the use of flame retardants in furniture, mattresses, and electronic displays. New York is now the first in the U.S. to also include a prohibition on organohalogen flame retardants in electronic enclosures, such as televisions.

10 Tactics To Keep Your Meeting On Track
January 5, 2022, Harvard Business Review
Many leaders think their jobs end when a meeting starts or they serve as recorders or “agenda police.” Here are 10 tactics to help leaders make sure critical points are discussed effectively and efficiently, so meetings accomplish their mission.

Toy Makers Sue To Stop Rules Under Oregon’s Toxic-Free Kids Act
January 5, 2022, KGW8
Children’s product manufacturers asked a federal judge to halt provisions of Oregon’s Toxic-Free Kids Act that ban certain chemicals in some toys sold in the state. The suit says the state can’t preempt federal law, which regulates the chemicals.

UK Breaking News: Toy Fair WILL Take Place As Planned
January 5, 2022, Toy News
Toy industry leadership in the UK has been nervously watching the impact of the pandemic in recent weeks. They are relieved to note that “given government has not changed the conditions under which the fair (take) can take place, we look forward to delivering a great Toy Fair 2022 at Olympia and to welcoming the industry.”

Recalled Air Conditioners Cause Of One Death
January 5, 2022, BGR
Royal Sovereign International and the Consumer Product Safety Commission issued the air conditioner recall after receiving 11 reports of fires or smoke during use. The incidents resulted in over $1 million in property damage, 2 injuries and 1 death.

Ensure Child Safety Around The House
January 7, 2022, Lowaevelder
Every year, more than 2,200 kids die from home injuries. Suffocation, drowning, fires, burns and falls account for many of these. All can be avoided by taking appropriate measures. Child-proofing a home can go a long way in preventing accidents.

Scooter Helmet Laws Pit Safety Against Accessibility
January 6, 2022, SmartCitiesDive
After unceremoniously yanking shared e-scooters off city streets in November, Miami city commissioners just as suddenly voted to restore them two weeks later with one major new caveat: All riders will have to wear helmets.

Irish Online Shoppers Warned Over Charger/Adapter Hazard
January 5, 2022, The Irish Sun
The Competition and Consumer Protection Commission warned the Irish public about a charger and an adapter being sold on Wish.com. Users may be at risk of an electric shock and are advised to stop using these electronics.

SGS: Ukraine Publishes Draft Resolution On Toy Safety To Further Align With The EU
January 7, 2022, Market Screener
Ukraine has issued a draft resolution on toy safety. If approved, the new law will enter into force six months after its publication in the Official Journal. Since its publication, the Technical Regulation has implemented provisions from the TSD – strengthened migration limits for aluminum and chromium (VI), as well as restricting formaldehyde in certain toys.

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11 New Laws That May Affect Your Business In China Starting January 1, 2022
December 31, 2021, China Briefing.com
Multiple new laws and regulations that affect doing business in China came into force on January 1, 2022. Foreign investors and businesses engaging in elder care, cosmetics, food and beverage and import/export should pay special attention.

Asus Motherboard Is Burning Up Due To A Manufacturing Flaw
December 31, 2021, Gizmodo
Asus is apparently working with the Consumer Product Safety Commission to label the replacement program as an official recall; once it goes through, the fiery motherboards can be shipped off. Web surfer says “sudden hard shutoff” flags the problem.

Lawyers: ‘Buckle Up’ For PFAS Regulation, Litigation In 2022
December 29, 2021, Bloomberg Law
Industries are advised to brace for more federal moves next year to reduce and control “forever chemicals,” including plans by the EPA to propose water and waste regulations for two substances. States may take steps to eliminate use of PFASs.

Best Of Ideacast: What Sets Successful People Apart
December 2021, Harvard Business Review
Heidi Grant, a motivational psychologist, has studied successful people and what makes them tick. She and Sarah Green Carmichael discuss the behaviors of high achievers and how to incorporate them into your own life and work.

UK: Prime Minister Pledges To Build On Brexit Achievements In 2022
December 31, 2022, UK Government
The trade agreement, which came into effect a year ago, is the world’s biggest zero-tariff, zero-quota free trade deal. It allows UK businesses to trade freely with Europe while being able to seize new trading opportunities with countries around the world.

Crisis Communications: What Product Safety Managers Need To Know
December 2021, SPSP.org
The “Speaking of Talk: Communicating Product Safety” webinar series, January 25-February 1, features a rare look behind the scenes of product recalls during 2007-2008. David Kosnoff, Vice-President Quality Assurance for Hasbro, was in the middle of these events. He outlines expectations of a product safety manager during a crisis. This includes root cause analysis, corrective action planning, engagement of company and stakeholders, and briefing senior leadership so that they are fully informed. Registration is open for the free webinar series, made possible through the Society of Product Safety Professionals.

Industry Experts Lead New Course On Fundamentals Of Consumer Product Safety Management
December 2021, Business News Today
The 2022 Fundamentals in Product Safety Management program, designed for consumer product safety professionals seeking a broad understanding of the components of an effective compliance system, is now open for registration. This was announced by the Society of Product Safety Professionals. The program starts on March 15 and will be offered in a virtual video conference format for professionals in the United States and its major trading partners around the world.

Heating Equipment Is One Of The Leading Causes Of Home Fire Deaths
December 31, 2021, Sandhills Express.com
The National Fire Protection Association calls heating equipment a leading causes of home fire deaths. The group says keep anything that can burn is at least 3 feet away from heating equipment, like a furnace, fireplace, wood stove or space heater.

11 Month-Old Baby Choked To Death On A Balloon
December 29, 2022, The Sun
Ashleigh and Jesse Chapman faced a nightmare when their 11-month-old son died after choking on a balloon. Each day some 40 under-5s are rushed to hospital after choking or swallowing something dangerous says the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

Why Colorado Ski Slopes Are More Dangerous This Year
December 22, 2022, Westword News
According to the Ski Safety Act, which was passed by the Colorado Legislature in 1979 and then amended in 2006, people assume inherent dangers and risks when they ski — including snow conditions, terrain, impacts with clearly labeled man-made structures and collisions with other skiers. The law specifies, however, that “the term ‘inherent dangers and risks of skiing’ does not include the negligence of a ski area operator.”

Spain (Once Again) Taking The Initiative To Make Roads Safe. Helmets Will Be Mandatory For Electric Scooter Riders
December 31, 2021, The Bharat Express News
European roads are considered the safest in the world and Spain’s efforts are helping to ensure this. Alcohol ignition interlock devices in new passenger transport vehicles and mandatory helmets for electric scooter drivers are among the positive developments.

Bunk Beds Recalled After Two-Year-Old Found Dead
December 27, 2021, Valley Central.com
Angel Line of New Jersey and the Consumer Product Safety Commission have announced a recall of about 39,900 bunk beds with angled ladders. The CPSC says the bunk beds were recalled due to serious entrapment and strangulation hazards to children.

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CPSC Launches New Online Tool To Make It Easier For Businesses To Report Hazards And To Protect Consumers; Mandatory For Fast-Track Program In January 2022
December 20, 2021, CPSC.gov
Firms are required to report to the Consumer Product Safety Commission potentially hazardous products that they manufacture, distribute, import or sell. To encourage more online reporting of these potential hazards, CPSC will require firms to use a new, upgraded online reporting system for Fast Track recalls.

What Are The Most Common Toy-Related Injuries?
December 15,2021, KXAN
The CPSC reports an estimated 198,000 toy-related injuries were treated in ERs during 2020 including nine toy-related deaths. About 21% of the toy-related injuries were related to non-motorized scooters.

Make The Most Of One-On-One Meetings With Your Manager
December 23, 2021, Harvard Business Review
One-on-one meetings with your manager present valuable career opportunities. How can you make sure you’re getting the most out of them? Work with your manager to determine how meetings reflect your priorities and goals.

Fact Check: Lead Paint Was Banned Over Child Safety Concerns, Not Radiation Conspiracy
December 15, 2021, USA Today
The Consumer Product Safety Commission told USA TODAY the claim that lead paint was banned due to radiation is baseless. “The history of control of lead-based paint and other lead hazards is clear,” a CPSC spokesperson said.

Del Negro Keynotes “Communicating Product Safety” Free Webinar Series
December 2021, SPSP.org
Michael Del Negro, Vice President, Product Safety Compliance, Peloton Interactive, leads off the Society of Product Safety Professionals’ new webinar series. The series is scheduled for Jan. 25-Feb. 1, 2022. Del Negro will address framing and identifying potential safety concerns in communications with senior executives and internal company stakeholders. Registration for the free webinar series is open.

CPSC Awards More Than $1.3 Million In Pool Safely Grants
December 23, 2021, CPSC.gov
Consumer Product Safety Commission Chair Alexander Hoehn-Saric and U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (FL-23) announced today five awardees of a grant program aimed at preventing pool and spa drownings as well as drain entrapments.

Opinion: In An Era Of Unrealistic Expectations On Moms, Product Safety Is A Feminist Issue
December 21, 2021, Ms. Magazine
In an era of “intensive mothering,” as mothers are expected to optimize their child’s potential through enriching activities and carefully curated nutrition, responsibility for infant and child safety is often gendered as a mother’s primary task.

New Australian Safety Standard For Portable Non-Aerosol Fire Extinguishers
December 20, 2021, Mirage
A new mandatory safety standard for portable non-aerosol fire extinguishers, published by the Australian Government will improve existing performance and identification requirements, to reduce the risk of a fire extinguisher not operating correctly during a fire.

10 Biggest U.S. Product Recalls Of All Times
October 22, 2020, Berkley Group
Recalls are a nightmare for all involved. The consumers, investors, and companies involved can all agree—they hate recalls. Consumers often face the inconvenience of faulty products or much worse—injuries, illnesses, and even death. For manufacturers, suppliers or investors, product recalls can wreak havoc on brand reputations, bottom lines and share prices. Let’s look at the magnitude of damage caused by product recalls by reviewing some of the biggest cases in history published by Kiplinger.

CO Poisoning: A Rising Risk As Consumers Buy More Home Generators
December 24, 2021, JD Supra
If you or someone you know has concerns enough about extreme weather events and the electrical failures that too often accompany them to look into buying a portable generator, be sure to take great care to examine the pricey device’s safety features. Thousands of consumers have been poisoned or killed by carbon monoxide (CO) fumes from emergency household generators, according to ProPublica, the Pulitzer Prize-winning investigative site.

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Consumer Reports Investigation Finds Product Safety Warning System Is Broken
December 2021, Consumer Reports
When it comes to removing dangerous products from the marketplace, most of us assume that government regulators are able to move quickly to protect us. But that’s not always true. A new Consumer Reports investigation has found a broken system within the Consumer Product Safety Commission, leaving unsuspecting consumers vulnerable to injuries or even death from dangerous products.

Bouncy Castle Accident Kills 5 Children In Australia
December 16, 2021, Fox News
The Consumer Product Safety Commission bounce houses are “not without risk” with 12 deaths being reported to the agency from 2003-2013. The CPSC estimated more than 18,000 injuries associated with bounce houses which were treated in hospital ERs

IDEO’s Sandy Speicher Asks: What Is An Office Even For
December 17, 2021, Harvard Business Review
Sandy Speicher is CEO of IDEO, the consulting firm that helped revolutionize how the businesses think about innovation. She discusses how companies can design future workplaces and processes to thrive amid the disruptions of the past few years.

Product Recalls Across Industries Increased In Q3
December 14,2021, NU Property Casualty 360
The rate of product recalls increased during that Q3 compared with the prior 3-month period, says Sedgwick. Their Q3 analysis reports a slew of business challenges. They conclude increased regulator pressure will continue to drive recalls into 2022.

Speaking Of Talk: Make The Most Of Pop-Up Conversations And Meetings
You never know whether you’ll run into your CEO on an elevator or need a quick presentation for the product design group. Is your product safety message up to date? Sign up today for the latest thinking by industry leaders on Communicating Product Safety through SPSP’s free webinar series Jan. 25-Feb. 1.

Proposition 65: OEHHA Modifies Proposed Changes To “Short-Form” Warnings
December 14, 2021, National Law Review
OEHHA’s regulations provide an option for a “short-form” warning as an acceptable alternative to the revised requirements for consumer product exposure warnings. This option requires the hazard symbol, the word “warning” in capital letters and bold print — WARNING — and a reference to OEHHA’s website, but importantly does not require a company to name a listed chemical within the text of the warning.

Hong Kong Consults Over New Standards For Toys
And Children’s Products
December 15, 2021, Market Screener
On December 1, 2021, Hong Kong announced a one-month consultation on its proposal to adopt up-to-date standards for toys and six categories of Schedule 2 Products. This stems from revisions to international standards or standards adopted by major economies so that they are applied to products supplied in Hong Kong.

Opinion: Generators Poison Thousands Annually. The U.S. Has Failed To Force Safety Changes.
December 17, 2021, NBC News
Portable generators, which emit carbon monoxide, are among the deadliest consumer products. Two decades after the government identified the danger, people are left vulnerable by a system that lets the industry regulate itself.

Study Estimates Risk Of Chemicals In Products To Young Children
December 16, 2021, IISD Knowledge Hub
The study aims to develop a mouthing exposure model to predict migration into saliva, mouthing exposure, and related health risks from a range of chemical-material combinations in children’s products. The model represents a green and sustainable chemistry tool that industries can apply to assess whether the chemicals present in their products could pose a risk to children.

CPSC Issues Life-Saving Tips To Millions After Deadly Tornadoes
December 14, 2021, CPSC.gov
The Consumer Product Safety Commission urges consumers in state devasted by recent tornadoes to take steps to prevent further harm and reminds them to protect themselves against carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning and fires.

Silence Isn’t Golden: Failure To Report Consumer Product Safety Issues Results In Rare $91 Million Criminal Penalty.
November 5, 2021, Consumer Products Law
In one of the most significant developments in product safety law over the past decade, Gree Electric Appliances Inc. of Zhuhai, Hong Kong Gree Electric Appliances Sales Co. Ltd., and Gree USA Inc. have pled guilty to willfully failing to report to the Consumer Product Safety Commission under Section 15(b) of the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA). According to the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) and the CPSC, the Gree Companies knew their dehumidifiers were defective, failed to meet applicable safety standards, and could catch fire, but failed to timely report that information to the CPSC.

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Tesla Solar Roof Fires Subject Of Federal Investigations
December 8, 2021, Dive/Wire
The Consumer Product Safety Commission and the Security and Exchange Commission are investigating Tesla over solar panel fire risks, say reports from CNBC and Reuters. The issue would affect more than 60,000 residential and 500 commercial or government customers, Reuters says.

Company CEO Defends Instagram’s Safeguards
December 8, 2021, National Public Radio
Senators grilled the head of Instagram about the app’s effects on children, attempting to extract various commitments from the company. But Adam Mosseri defended the app, touting existing safeguards and some that the company plans to roll out.

Walgreens CEO: Put Phones Away And Listen To Employees
December 9, 2021, Harvard Business Review
Rosalind Brewer is one of only two Black female CEOs of Fortune 500 companies. Here, she talks about the challenges of walking into a new company or industry and projecting the confidence you need to be able to do your job from day one.

$30 Million Of Fake Handbags And Clothing Seized By CBP
December 5, 2021, WDJT-Milwaukee
US customs officers seized more than $30 million worth of fake designer handbags and clothing, Customs and Border Protection officials said. The 13,586 items, shipped from China, had an estimated recommended retail price of $30,437,775, CBP said.

Surgeons Urge Parents Not To Buy Toys Containing Magnets
December 8, 2021, Shropshire Star
The UK’s top pediatric surgeons have urged parents not to buy toys containing magnets following a dramatic rise in children needing operations after swallowing them. The Children’s Surgery Foundation issued the warning after a five-fold increase in children swallowing the small, increasingly powerful magnets in the last five years.

Adult Portable Bed Rails Recalled After 2 People Die
December 2, 2021, NPR
More than 496,000 adult bed rails have been voluntarily recalled due to the risk of entrapment and asphyxiation. In both reported deaths, the CPSC said the bed rails were not securely attached to the bed.

Seasons Change, But Fire And Carbon Monoxide Safety Is Year-Round: Warm Up To CPSC’s Tips For Staying Safe During Colder Weather
December 7, 2021, Yahoo Finance
The Consumer Product Safety Commission is warning to be vigilant about fire and carbon monoxide (CO) hazards in the colder winter months ahead. The dangers, although present across all populations, disproportionally affect certain communities. According to CPSC’s Residential Fire Loss Estimates report, African Americans have the highest rate of fire deaths, nearly twice the overall rate across the population. In addition, African Americans represent 22 percent of portable generator-related CO deaths, nearly 170 from 2010-2020.

Toy Association Executive Testifies At Senate Hearing On Toy Safety
December 2, 2021, The Toy Association
Joan Lawrence, Toy Association senior vice president of standards and regulatory affairs, recently testified at a Senate subcommittee hearing addressing product safety around the holidays. She spoke of the year-round commitment of The Toy Association and its members to toy safety and of their leadership in developing standards

Consumer Protection: 2021 Data On The EU Rapid Alert System
December 6, 2021, EU Reporter
Fresh data shows that more than 1,800 alerts between member state authorities have been circulated on the system. Most of these alerts concern motor vehicles or related products and toys. The most common risks related to dangerous products in 2021 were injuries (28%) or risks caused by chemicals (23%).

E-scooter Safety Campaign Rolls Out In Two Australian Cites
December 9,2021, Tasmanian Times
An e-scooter safety campaign is being rolled out as the new ‘micromobility’ hire systems are about to commence operation in Hobart and Launceston. The campaign will include short videos to remind users about responsible parking, no drink riding and wearing a helmet.

100’s Of Potentially Deadly Toys Removed From Australia’s Malls
December 10, 2021, International Business Times
A toy safety compliance blitz is underway in Australia as parents seek cheap presents. NSW Fair Trading officers formed ‘Operation Safe Toy’ to crackdown on playthings that put kids at risk – even raiding warehouses peddling the dangerous products. Hundreds of dodgy toys have already been stripped from shelves with some carrying hazards that may be difficult spot.

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