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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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