Adler Opposes Termination Of CPSC Rulemaking On Flammability Of Residential Upholstered Furniture
September 8, 2021, CPSC.gov
“I voted against accepting this recommendation…because I thought staff should continue its work to develop a good standard on upholstered furniture flammability. I continue to oppose terminating this work notwithstanding Congress’s enactment of what is known as the SOFFA Act, which directed CPSC to adopt TB-117-20132 as a Commission standard,” Adler said in a statement.

UC Davis Pediatric Physicians Warn Of Button Cell Battery Danger
June 29, 2021, Daily Democrat
Button cell batteries, found in many toys, watches and remote controls, can do serious internal damage if accidentally swallowed. UC Davis pediatric emergency physicians warn families to keep these batteries secure and out of children’s reach. “One of the most frightening emergencies we see are children who accidentally swallow these small batteries. Within moments of ingestion, the current from the battery can start burning through your throat, and that can kill you,” Jonathan Kohler, medical director of pediatric trauma at UC Davis Children’s Hospital said.

Collaboration Overload Is Sinking Productivity
September 13, 2021, Harvard Business Reviews
Collaborative work is up 50% over the past decade to consume 85% most people’s work weeks. The pandemic caused this figure to take another sharp upward tick. These invisible demands are hurting efforts to become more agile and innovative.

Business and Manufacturing: CPSC – Best Practices
2021, cpsc.gov
In addition to meeting the legal requirements…you should take additional steps to ensure that your products not only meet or exceed the requirements of federal safety laws, but are also designed to manufacture as safely as possible.

Second Stage Of Quad Bike Safety Regulations To Come In October
September 7, 2021, The Western Australian
A dangerous Australian farms vehicle is about to become safer, with the 2nd stage of a mandatory standard. Despite 14 deaths in the past decade, quad bikes had not been subject to a safety standard until the 1st stage of new regulations took effect.

Back To School For Administrators: New K-6 Ban List And Laws Regulating Art Supplies
September 8, 2021, JD Supra
As schools reopen and in-person learning resumes, schoolteachers and administrators should be aware of laws regulating the purchasing of art supplies in schools. Here is a review of some of these laws.

Study Shows TV, Furniture Tip-Overs Send A Child To An ER Every 46 Minutes
September 9, 2021, Family Safety & Health
TV or furniture tip-overs resulting in a child needing emergency care occurred every 46 minutes in the U.S. in 2019, according to the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children’s Hospital. Using data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System, researchers found that an estimated 560,200 children were treated for injuries from furniture tip-overs over the past three decades.

Eighth Circuit Deeps Two Product Liability Class Actions Off The Road
September 8, 2021, JD Supra
The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Eighth Circuit published two opinions last month in companion class actions alleging defects with off-road vehicles. With its decisions, the court held that purchaser plaintiffs must allege more than an increased risk of experiencing a defect-related injury in the future. Rather, plaintiffs must allege that a defect has manifested itself in the products they purchased.

Money, Mimicry And Mind Control: Big Tech Slams Ethics Brakes On AI
September 8, 2021, Reuters
In September last year, Google’s cloud unit looked into using artificial intelligence to help a financial firm decide whom to lend money to. It turned down the client’s idea after weeks of internal discussions, deeming the project too ethically dicey because the AI technology could perpetuate biases like those around race and gender. Since early last year, Google has also blocked new AI features analyzing emotions, fearing cultural insensitivity, while Microsoft restricted software mimicking voices and IBM rejected a client request for an advanced facial-recognition system.

Korean Safety Code Amended To Permit Sale Of Modular Home Electronics
September 9, 2021, Korea Bizwire
The government has set afoot efforts to promote the sale of modular home electronics products, aimed at enabling consumers to freely attach or detach specific functions or change external appearances of home electronics products just like they do for furniture. The Korean Agency for Technology and Standards said Wednesday it will revise the operational guidelines of the Electric Appliances and Consumer Product Safety Management Act to allow companies to release modular home electronics items.

Helmets On E-Scooters: Italy Plans New Safety Rules After Boy’s Death
September 5, 2021, The Star
Following the death of a child in an e-scooter accident in Italy, the mayor of Sesto San Giovanni introduced a helmet requirement and a speed limit for the e-scooters. This would make Italy one of the few places requiring a helmet on an e-scooter.

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

Loungers And Nursing Pillows Linked To Recent Infant Deaths
September 1, 2021, Consumer Reports
7 deaths are tied to loungers and nursing pillows made by Boppy, a maker of baby products, says a Consumer Reports analysis of government data. This is a year after the Consumer Product Safety Commission said not to let babies use lounging pads.

Analysis: When Consumer Reports Tests Bike Helmets
August 31, 2021, Consumer Reports
CR tests helmets once a year, and a lot of interesting stuff happens between the time the helmets arrive in the lab and the moment updated ratings are published on the CR website. Here’s a peek at some of the most slammin’ tests CR does.

6 Strategies For Exhausted Working Parents
September 1, 2021, Harvard Business Review
Working parents are depleted. Every single one of the dozens of working moms and dads the author has coached in the past several weeks voiced some version of the “I’m driving on empty” feeling. Here are 6 techniques to reset and build momentum.

560,000+ Kids Treated For Tip-Over Injuries In 30-Year Span
August 27, 2021, Healio.com
From 1990 to 2019, an estimated 560,203 kids were treated for injuries sustained when a piece of furniture tipped over, an analysis showed. Over 11,500 incidents in CPSC’S NEIS were treated for injuries in 2019, researchers wrote in Injury Epidemiology.

Space Heater Safety Guide: Keep Your Feet Cozy – Don’t Start A Fire
August 31, 2021, CNET
If your heating system can’t keep your house warm, a space heater might be the solution. But make sure you’re using it safely! The Consumer Products Safety Commission says space heaters are responsible for more than 25,000 house fires every year.

One-Year Extension For UK Products To Implement UKCA Marking Confirmed
August 26, 2021, IFSEC Global
The UK Government has confirmed that UK businesses will be given an extension to implement UKCA marking, the new product safety marking in the UK, following several appeals from industry associations including the Fire Industry Association and BSIA.

Amazon Donate Emergency Aid Supplies To Communities Affected By Hurricane Ida
September 2, 2021, Valdosta Daily Times
Amazon announced the rapid delivery of over 140,000 relief items from its Disaster Relief Hub to help humanitarian aid partner, Save the Children, respond to Hurricane Ida’s widespread damage. Amazon donated critical emergency supplies to support Save the Children as the organization helps devastated communities begin to recover as quickly as possible. Amazon will donate more relief supplies as other humanitarian aid partners assess needs and request additional support.

Understanding The Ever-Evolving, Always-Surprising Consumer
August 31, 2021, McKinsey & Company Podcast
With consumer behavior changing rapidly—and, often, in unexpected ways—companies must get better at anticipating and responding to new consumer needs and preferences. McKinsey & Company experts explain how.

Dystopian Or Necessary? This Company Can Stop Dangerous E-Scooters Remotely
September 1, 2021, Fast Company
E-scooter company Link decided to take direct aim at unsafe and inconsiderate riding behaviors by launching a new system in its scooters that tracks rides, reprimands riders for unsafe behavior and can slow or stop a ride that’s deemed a high risk.

Global Standards, Product Recall In The Digital Trade
August 28, 2021, Manila Bulletin
There are 5 key elements recognized essential in ensuring consumer safety: ensure traceability across the chain, optimize recall readiness, combat counterfeiting, provide proper labeling and ensure compliance with safety regulations and standards.

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

New Peloton Treadmill Features “Safety” After Recalls
August 24, 2021, Reuters
Peloton has relaunched the Tread, as it looks to put behind a costly recall of its exercise machine. The launch was initially scheduled for May but was delayed as the company worked with the Consumer Product Safety Commission to build extra safety features.

200,000 Hoverboard Battery Pack Recall For Risk Of Fire
August 25, 2021, WMAZ
More than 200,000 hoverboard battery packs sold by major retailers are being recalled due to potential fires or explosions. The Consumer Product Safety Commission said the recall is for lithium-ion battery packs in the Hovertrax 2.0.

Recognizing Deception: How To Spot A Lie
August 24, 2021, Knowledge@Wharton
What gets in the way of decisions most often? Overconfidence. It makes us think we’ve got the information we need, and that our past successes translate into success for the future. It also blind us to the fact that we’re bad at detecting deception.

The Best Face Masks For Kids According To Experts
August 20, 2021, WebMD
One essential back-to-school item for kids this fall is a face mask — the CDC and the American Academy of Pediatrics recommend them — but finding one that’s actually protective for a child is not a straightforward task, as many parents can attest.

Sedgwick Brand Protection Releases Latest U.S. Recall Index Report
August 19, 2021, Yahoo Finance
According to the Sedgwick recall index report, consumer advocates and U.S. lawmakers are maintaining pressure on regulators to crack down on unsafe products, making it more important than ever for companies to prepare for increased scrutiny and reputational risks that come before, during and after a product recall or in-market remediation.

E-Scooters To Be Banned From London Parks Over Safety Concerns
August 25, 2021, Time Out
Electric scooters finally made their way to London streets (legally) back in June when TfL launched a new hire scheme trial. However, that pilot has hit a snag with the Royal Parks charity banning the vehicles from their wards.

August 2021 Wrap-Up of Federal and State Chemical Regulatory Developments
August 20, 2021, JD Supra

Congress Presses Forward On PFAS Measures
August 20, 2021, National Law Review
In the face of accelerating EPA and state regulatory activity on per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, Congress is pressing forward with measures that would address or impose limitations on these “forever chemicals.” More than thirty such legislative measures are currently pending in Congress covering a number of subjects related to PFAS including, but not limited to, those involving military uses, funding assistance, detection and research, product stewardship, site remediation, and regulatory mandates.

European Union: Productwise 3-2-1
August 23, 202, Mondaq
This month it’s all about moves to regulate cybersecurity under the EU Radio Equipment Directive, proposed reforms of UK consumer laws (with collective redress and harsher penalties in scope), update on CPSC nominations, e-labelling in the EU, the CPSC’s notice of proposed rulemaking on furniture stability and looking back at the General Data Protection Regulation three years on with 10 key developments you should know.

Proposition 65: Proposed Amendment Would Restrict Use Of Short-Form Warning
August 24, 2021, JD Supra
California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment proposed an amendment to the content and conditions of use of Prop 65 short-form warnings. The proposal, which has not yet been adopted, would provide businesses one year (from its date of adoption) to comply with the amendments. So while businesses do not need to take immediate action, businesses that use Prop 65 short-form warnings may need to reexamine their short-form warnings in the likely event the amendment is adopted.

UK In Brexit Climbdown As Safety Rule Deadline Extended
August 24, 2021, The Guardian
The UK government has pushed back a deadline for the launch of post-Brexit product safety standards by allowing companies to follow EU rules until 2023, in the latest climbdown. Manufacturers will have an extra year to start using the new UKCA mark.

ACCC: Quad Bikes Meeting New National Safety Standards
August 23, 2021, ABC Rural
Over 80% of quad bikes assessed under a new national safety standard were compliant, says the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. The ACCC said 84% of quad bikes assessed were compliant with the 1st stage of the national safety standard.

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

There’s A New Push To Ban The Sale Of Crib Bumpers
April 21, 2021, Motherly
The Safe Cribs Act would require the Consumer Product Safety Commission to enforce a nationwide ban on crib bumper use.  “This bill would ensure deadly and dangerous crib bumpers are pulled off store shelves,” Senators Blumenthal and Portman, bill sponsors said.

Pixie’s Fidgets Magnetic Balls Line Recalled Over Choking Fears
August 18, 2021, The Australian
The popular children’s product has been recalled over fears it can cause kids to choke to death if they accidentally swallow it. The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission recalled the children’s toy, citing choking hazard risks. The amount of small, high-powered magnets in the product exceeded the maximum allowable set by the ACCC’s previous permanent ban on the magnets, a statement from the watchdog said.

How To Work With Someone Who Creates Unnecessary Conflict
August 17, 2021, Harvard Business Reviews
Disagreements on a team aren’t necessarily bad. But you want to watch out for unhealthy conflicts; animosity when there’s a “conflict entrepreneur” on your team. The author suggests actions to take to identify these people and mitigate their impact.

Mom Seeks Increased E-Scooter Safety After Child Is Hospitalized
August 14, 2021, ABC News 7 Pittsburgh
A Pennsylvania mom is calling for stricter safety measures for Pittsburgh’s Spin e-scooters. The scooters are bright orange and easy to get rolling. Riders must be at least 18. Spin officials are working with police to stop underage scooter riding.

“Think Safety First” As Kids Head Back to School
August 17, 2021, CPSC.gov
As schools reopen this fall, the Consumer Product Safety Commission is urging parents and students to “Think Safety First.” Every year, thousands of kids are hurt while playing sports, or as they walk, bike, skateboard or scooter to and from school.

Product Safety Leadership Program Features “How To” Approach For Managing Issues
August 2021, EIN Presswire
A new education program designed for consumer product safety professionals features academic instructors and established leaders in consumer product companies explaining to program participants how they met challenges in their careers and went on to succeed. The Saint Louis University program consists of 9 webinars beginning Sept. 23 and ending Oct. 5, 2021. Program tuition has been reduced by $1,500 for each participant through a grant from Amazon.

Full D.C. Circuit Asked To Hear Challenge To Infant Bath Seat Rule
August 17, 2021, Reuters
Petitioner Lisa Milice, represented by Jared McClain of the New Civil Liberties Alliance, has asked the full D.C. Circuit U.S. Court of Appeals to revive her challenge to a recent Consumer Product Safety Commission standard for infant bath seats on the grounds that the standard was not made available to the public and that a panel wrongly dismissed her case as time-barred.

Some Argue Beach Rental Home Elevators Are An Accident Waiting To Happen
August 3, 3021, WRAL
A 7-year-old boy’s death in North Carolina could spark a change in state law. Weston Androw died on the Outer Banks last month in a residential elevator accident. An elevator that, by law, doesn’t require annual inspections like commercial elevators.

Spin Scooters And E-Bikes Will Now Be Shown In Google Maps
August 16, 2021, Future Car
Locating a scooter or e-bike from Ford’s Spin has become easier, as the platform will include a global integration with Google Maps, Ford says. Customers using Google Maps will now see available Spin scooters and e-bikes along the route in real-time.

New Initiative To Set Benchmarks, Standards For AI In Education Globally
August 15, 2021, University World News
This week saw the launch of the EdSAFE AI Alliance, an initiative to develop benchmarks and standards to measure the quality of new AI in education technologies worldwide. The organisers have called for researchers and experts in the field to become involved in an open global process to help shape a future of equitable and trustworthy edtech tools.

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

Amazon Will Pay Up To $1,000 For Injuries Caused By Sellers’ Goods
August 10, 2021, Los Angeles Times
Amazon says it will pay customers for injuries caused by goods from its third-party sellers, a guarantee following numerous lawsuits seeking to hold the largest online retailer responsible for dangerous products purchased from its digital shelves.

Child Falls Through Home Elevator Shaft In Potomac
August 11, 2021, WUSA9.com
Montgomery Fire & Rescue says the child fell from the third to the first floor and was injured but is expected to survive. The Consumer Product Safety Commission says 22 people, mostly children, have died in home elevator accidents since 1981.

3 Questions To Help Your Team Solve Problems
August 13, 2021, Harvard Business Review
When a team struggles, it’s tempting for a boss to provide answers. But, it’s better to ask questions to help the team find answers itself. Here are 3 questions to ask: 1) What do you recommend? 2) How can we test that? 3) What do you need from me?

Can Anyone Buy A BB Gun? Navigating The Legalities
August 11, 2021, Field & Stream
There are no federal laws regulating the transfer, possession, or use of BB guns. They are, however, regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission and subject to general statutory limitations involving “substantial product hazard[s]” and articles that create “a substantial risk of injury to children.”

London E-Scooters To Be Given Artificial Noise To Help Blind People
August 11, 2021, LBC
E-scooters could get artificial noises added to them to help blind people, Transport for London has said. This comes amid concerns about the safety of blind people, who may be vulnerable to e-scooter incidents on the pavement due to their quietness.

Once Banned Magnets Again Sending Kids To ER
August 2021, kare11.com
The magnets were once banned by the Consumer Product Safety Commission. But a court overturned the ban in 2016, and in the years since injuries have skyrocketed. The CPSC says at least 4,500 children have been hospitalized in the last decade.

Acting Chair Adler Statement Approving The Public To Submit Comments On Humane Society Petition For Pet Rule
July 27, 2021, cpsc.gov
Although living pet animals sold through retail outlets don’t necessarily come immediately to mind when one looks at the definition of a “consumer product” under section 3(a)(5) of CPSA, I am persuaded that the words of the statute are broad enough to include these pets. Accordingly, I vote to approve the publication of a Federal Register notice that permits the public to submit comments on the petition with the hope that an inquiry might be made regarding the appropriateness of using section 27(e) as the agency’s regulatory approach rather than sections 7 and 9.

Button Battery Injuries In Kids Rose 93% In First 7 Months Of Pandemic
July 12, 2021, Fox News
A Consumer Product Safety Commission report published in January reported the spike in children ages 5-9. It said that while most injuries involved ingestion, some included foreign body issues, as when a battery was stuffed into an ear or nose.

Artificial Intelligence And Automated Systems Legal Update (2Q21)
August 11, 2021, Gibson, Dunn
This 2Q21 Artificial Intelligence and Automated Systems Legal Update focuses on these key regulatory efforts, and also examines other policy developments within the U.S. and EU that may be of interest to domestic and international companies alike.

How A China Expansion Is Helping Fuel Kids2 Innovative Growth
August 11, 2021, Global Atlanta
Amid all the bluster about competitive conflict with China and noise about reshuffling global supply chains, one Atlanta consumer products company is doubling down on the country, both as a market and a sourcing hub for its worldwide expansion.

More Than 400,000 Dehumidifiers Recalled In Canada For Fire Risk
August 6, 2021, cbc.ca
Up to 413,915 dehumidifiers sold under various brand names are being recalled in Canada because of a risk of catching fire. Health Canada and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission issued a voluntary recall involving more than 2.5 million of the appliances. All affected models were made by New Widetech.

Australia: Mandatory Standards For Aquatic Toys
August 2021, ACCC
The Consumer Goods (Aquatic Toys) Safety Standard 2020 sets out the mandatory requirements for the design, construction and warning information for aquatic toys. The requirements are intended to reduce risk of serious injury or death to children.

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

Fisher-Price Recalls 4-1 Rock ‘n Glide Soothers After Four Infant Deaths
June 3, 2021, cpsc.gov
The Consumer Product Safety Commission and Fisher-Price are announcing the recalls of the Fisher-Price 4-in-1 Rock ‘n Glide Soothers and 2-in-1 Soothe ‘n Play Gliders.  There have been reports of four infant deaths in the 4-in-1 Rock ‘n Glide Soother between April 2019 and February 2020.

Generac recalls portable generators due to finger amputation and crushing hazards
July 29, 2021, cpsc.gov
An unlocked handle can pinch fingers against the generator frame when the generator is moved, posing finger amputation and crushing hazards. The generators have gasoline-powered engines that are used to generate electricity for use as backup power.

Analysis: Recent CPSC Lawsuits Could Have Significant Ramifications for Forcing Product Recalls On Companies
July 27, 2021, Adlawaccess.co
The CPSC, an agency that rarely litigates, flexed its litigation muscles not once, but twice, recently filing complaints against Amazon and Thyssenkrupp Access Corp., to force both companies to conduct recalls. Both are administrative complaints.

Changing Views: How Companies Manage Product Recalls
September 1996, Harvard Business Review
Product recalls strategies have attached attention for decades. In 1996, the Harvard Business Review featured a user guide for managing product recalls. Companies learned hard lessons during that period.

How To Talk About Your Mental Health With Your Employer
July 30, 2021, Harvard Business Review
Up to 80% of people will experience a mental health condition in their lifetimes. Though managers, direct reports and colleagues are more vulnerable than ever due to the blurring of the personal and professional lines, the stigma can still be large.

Dimensions Kids Bike Helmet With Bluetooth Speakers Fails Safety Test
July 28, 2021, ConsumerReports
Consumer Reports is rating Dimensions Kids Bike Helmet With Bluetooth Speakers a “Don’t Buy: Safety Risk” after it failed tests during routine evaluations designed to assess how well a helmet would remain in place to protect a rider during a crash.

Opinion: California’s Proposition 65 – The Safe Drinking water And Toxic Enforcement Act Of 1986
July 28, 2021, Lexology
California’s Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act of 1986 is one of the most onerous chemical control statutes in the nation. It prohibits businesses with 10 or more employees, including those that merely ship products into California, from: Exposing people in California to listed chemicals without a “clear and reasonable” warning; and Discharging or releasing listed chemicals to “sources of drinking water” in the state. Though Prop 65 does not apply to businesses with less than 10 employees, exempt businesses should consider providing compliant warnings or notifying their customers to avoid indemnity demands from retailers for products in their stores or sold online.

Reboarding And The New Adventure Of Going To Work
July 30, 2021, Forbes
Sixteen months into the pandemic, we head into potentially the second largest social experiment ever undertaken as people head back to the office. We will have to relearn one another and the process of working in proximity.

Monsanto Told To Pay teachers $185M Over Chemical Exposure
July 29, 2021, Rochesterfirst.com
Three Washington state teachers who sued Monsanto over exposure to fluorescent lights have been awarded $185 million. The teachers who worked in Monroe, WA, said they suffered brain damage from exposure to PCBs in the schools’ fluorescent lighting.

The Product Crisis: Staying Ahead By Planning Ahead
July 2021, Jones Day
Product “crises” are bigger, more expensive and complex each year. Every company must consider that it will one day face a product crisis. Having a plan in place before the crisis strikes is key to a company’s ability to emerge successfully.

One Million Masks For NHS Fail High-Grade Safety Tests
July 29, 2021, BBC
A million masks supplied to NHS as high grade did not meet the correct level of protection, tests showed. The masks also had invalid CE safety markings. The British Medical Association said it was “scandalous” staff had been put at risk.

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

CPSC Asks airbnb, Vrbo, Others To Issue Home Elevator Warnings After Child’s Death
July 20, 2021, The Hill
The federal agency responsible for consumer product safety sent a letter to Airbnb, Vrbo and other vacation rental companies urging them to issue warnings and take other measures to address safety issues associated with some home elevators. The request from the Consumer Product Safety Commission comes after a 7-year-old died earlier this month after apparently getting crushed by an elevator installed in a beach rental house in North Carolina.

Analysis: White House Nominates Third CPSC Commissioner
July 14, 2021, National Law Review
After five months of silence regarding its choices to lead the Consumer Product Safety Commission, the Biden Administration has now unveiled all three of its CPSC nominees in less than two weeks, with its July 13 announcement of the intent to nominate Richard Trumka, Jr., as a Commissioner. The White House previously announced it would nominate Alexander Hoehn-Saric, to be a CPSC Commissioner and the agency’s chairperson and Mary Boyle as a Commissioner.

Research: Why Rejected Internal Candidates End Up Quitting
July 22, 2021, Harvard Business Review
Internal job applicants who are rejected often end up quitting. Research indicates they are nearly two times as likely to leave their organizations compared to those who were either hired for an internal job or had not applied for a new job at all.

CPSC Rulemaking For Proposed Clothing Storage Furniture
July 22, 2021, Furniture, Lighting & Decor
The Consumer Product Safety Commission released a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking for clothing storage furniture. A home furnishings group said most clothing storage furniture on the market would not meet the minimum stability requirements in the rule.

‘Giant Can Of Worms’: Amazon’s Battle Against Product Recalls Is On
July 22, 2021, Bloomberg/Yahoo
The Consumer Products Safety Commission decision to sue Amazon could clarify a question that has long befuddled courts and state legislatures: Who is responsible when a product bought from the world’s largest online retailer hurts or kills someone?

Experts Say Time To Harmonize Artificial Intelligence Principles
July 22, 2021, Science|Business
Initiatives to regulate AI have sprung up around the world, spearheaded by the likes of the OECD and UNESCO. It‘s time to harmonize and consolidate, a conference on AI ethics held under Slovenia’s presidency of the EU Council heard this week.

‘It’s A Death Trap’: Parents Slam Peloton For Not Having Sensors Or Safety Guards On Treadmill
July 23, 2021, Daily Mail
The parents of a four-year-old boy who suffered horrific third-degree burns after getting sucked under a Peloton treadmill say the recalled device is a ‘death trap’ and have slammed the company for not having sensors or safety guards.

The “Promoting Competition” Executive Order: How Can Companies Comply With A “Right to Repair”?
July 22, 2021, JD Supra
President Biden’s Executive Order “Promoting Competition in the American Economy,” sets out a policy to encourage market competition by encouraging cooperation between federal agencies and creating the White House Competition Council. The Council will bring together the heads of various federal Departments and agencies to coordinate enforcement against industries that are over concentrated, monopolized, or exhibit actions that amount to unfair competition.

Enabling An Intelligent Planet Through IoT Automation
July 20, 2021, Beta News
Automation made possible by the Internet of Things provides the framework and infrastructure necessary for the creation of an intelligent planet. Technologies such as smart sensors, artificial intelligence, machine learning and edge computing are enabling advances in many diverse industries and areas of modern society. These technologies and the systems they produce promise to transform the way we live and work as the 21st century progresses.

California Lawmakers Advance Bills To Ban ‘Forever Chemicals’ In Kids’ Products, Food Packaging
July 22, 2021, EWG
CA lawmakers are advancing legislation that would significantly boost efforts to remove the toxic “forever chemicals” or PFAS from consumer products. The state Senate is poised to vote on bills to prohibit them in kids’ products and food packaging.

Opinion: Legislature Must Strengthen Toxic Free Kids Act
July 22, 2021, The Register-Guard
If the legislature wants to protect health and equity, it must support the expansion of the Toxic Free Kids Act. Legislators should bring this bill back and pass it in 2022 to confirm their commitment the needs of the most vulnerable.

New TSCA Section 8(d) Rule Adds 50 Chemicals To Reporting Requirements
July 20, 2021, National Law Review
Section 8(d) of the Toxic Substances Control Act (TSCA) had been effectively a dead provision of TSCA for over a decade. EPA has just revived it by adopting an immediate final rule mandating the submission of health and safety studies on 50 chemical substances by September 27, 2021. The rule applies to chemical manufacturers (and importers) of the 50 substances, as well as petroleum refiners. The 50 substances are the 20 High-Priority Substances for which EPA is conducting risk evaluations and 30 organohalogen flame retardants for which CPSC has requested testing.

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

CPSC Sues Amazon To Force Recall Of Hazardous Products Sold Online
July 14, 2021, CPSC
The Consumer Product Safety Commission filed an administrative complaint against Amazon.com to force the company to accept responsibility for recalling potentially hazardous products sold online. The complaint charges that the specific products are defective and pose a risk of serious injury or death to consumers and that Amazon is legally responsible to recall them. “Today’s vote to file an administrative complaint against Amazon was a huge step forward for this small agency,” says Acting Chairman Robert Adler. “But it’s a huge step across a vast desert—we must grapple with how to deal with these massive third-party platforms more efficiently, and how best to protect the American consumers who rely on them.”

Another Child Dies In Home Elevator Accident, Days After Regulators Pushed For Recall
July 14,2021, Washington Post
A 7-year-old boy was killed in a home elevator accident at a rental home in North Carolina three days after federal regulators pushed another major elevator manufacturer to fix a similar problem. The boy was discovered trapped between the bottom of the elevator car and the upper door frame. His neck was crushed, after he appeared to have gotten caught between the moving elevator’s inner accordion door and an outer door.

Having Tough Conversations About Returning To The Office
July 16, 2021, Harvard Business Review
The only thing that’s certain about the upcoming return to the office is that there will be a lot of uncertainty. Not only will your team be working differently, but your customers, suppliers and partners will be, too.

Button Battery Injuries In Kids Rose 93% In First 7 Months Of Pandemic
July 8, 2021, Fox News
Product-related injury visits to the ER dropped in the first 7 months of the pandemic. Those involving batteries saw a 93% increase. A Consumer Product Safety Commission study reported a spike in kids aged 5-9, with most injuries involving ingestion.

New Report Says Hazardous Goods Found For Sale After Inspectors Pulled During COVID-19
July 14, 2021, USA Today
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has discovered widely ranging hazards among products now for sale after it “secretly” stopped inspections during the pandemic. But the CPSC still has not answered questions from lawmakers about the risks to consumers from its decision to send its port inspectors home for nearly six months, says a new report to Congress.

IKEA Kid’s Furniture May Be Tied To illegal Russian Logging
July 15, 2021, nbcnews
Ikea is likely to have sold children’s furniture for years made from wood linked to illegal logging in Russia, where rampant tree-cutting threatens forests crucial for the planet’s climate, says a new report by a nonprofit environmental group.

As Family Vacations Resume, CPSC Warns of Safety Hazards in Vacation Rental Homes
July 13, 2021, CPSC
As COVID-19 restrictions are lifted, millions of Americans are traveling this summer. The Consumer Product Safety Commission is reminding consumers to look for critical safety features when staying in vacation rental homes. Travelers should make sure their vacation rental home has smoke alarms, carbon monoxide alarms, fire extinguishers, in addition to pool safety and home elevator safety features, if applicable.

Maine Becomes First State To Sign Extended Producer Responsibility Law For Packaging
July 14, 2021, National Law Review
This month, Maine became the first state to sign Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) legislation into law for plastics and packaging materials, and Oregon may soon follow. This reflects a growing momentum towards EPR legislation nationwide. Several of these state bills require producers to pay for a portion of the costs of recycling materials that they put into the market.

Dutch Investigators: New Year’s Fire Shows Safety Standards Needed For Furniture
July 14, 2021, NL Times
There needs to be stronger fire safety recommendations and requirements when it comes to commercially available furniture, the Dutch Safety Board (OVV) concluded in a report published recently. The lack of such fire regulations regarding furniture endangers safety in residential buildings, the study showed. The report was part of the inquiry into fire on New Year’s Day 2020 in Arnhem that caused the death of a father and his four-year-old son.

Safety Is The First Rule When Riding ORV’s In Wyoming
July 15, 2021, KGAB AM
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission started keeping track of the number of deaths involving ATV’s in 1982. A report was released a couple years ago that gave the total number of deaths in each state, Washington DC and Puerto Rico due to ATV’s with 3, 4 or more wheels. The report spanned from 1982 to 2017 and Wyoming came in near the bottom of the list at #47 with 71 lives were lost. Texas was at the top of the list with 831 lives lost. In Wyoming, thousands of ORV’s are purchased every year and on a daily basis you can see them on trailers, in trucks or riding around trails and roads. Safety measures are put in place to keep the deaths, injuries and accidents down.

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