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.

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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.

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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.

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CPSC Sues thyssenkrupp Access Corp. Over Hazard In Home Elevators
July 7, 2021, CPSC
To prevent children from serious injury or death, the Consumer Product Safety Commission filed an administrative complaint against thyssenkrupp Access Corp. alleging its residential elevators contain defects that present a substantial product hazard.

CR Says: Consumer Product Safety System Is Broken
July 6, 2021, News 4 Jax
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 dangerous products.

When To Take On Tasks That Are Outside Your Job Description
July 8, 2021, Harvard Business Review
You see an important task that needs to be done, but it isn’t your responsibility. Should you do it? For some, the answer is “Of course!” For others, the answer is a resounding no, not due to laziness but fear of stepping on another’s toes.

Colorado Governor Signs Law Banning Single-Use Plastic Bags
July 7, 2021, ICIS
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis recently signed a bill, banning single-use plastic bags and expanded polystyrene foam takeout containers at most retail stores and restaurants starting in 2024. The law allows exemptions for shops with 3 or fewer locations.

US Groups Back Principles For Chemical Ingredient Disclosure
July 8, 2021, Chemical and Engineering News
US businesses, state regulators, and health advocacy groups are endorsing principles for disclosing chemical ingredients in products. With the exception of substantiated trade secrets, the principles call for companies to disclose all ingredients they intentionally add to their products. They also ask manufacturers to disclose any incidental components, breakdown products, or by-products that pose known or suspected hazards to human health or the environment.

Study Finds 2400 Hazardous Chemicals Used In Making Plastics
July 6, 2021, C&EN
More than 10,000 additives, processing aids and monomers are used to make plastics, with about 2,400 identified as potentially hazardous, according to the results of a comprehensive new study by researchers at a Swiss institute.

Man Caught With Dangerous Fake Toys, Including Peppa Pig And Minions dolls
July 7, 2021, Manchester Evening Standard
A businessman caught four times with fake and unsafe toys has been fined more than £5,000. More than 1,100 items seized by trading standards officers were found to be either counterfeit or did not meet safety standards. They included knock-off Peppa Pig, Minions, Disney and Thomas the Tank Engine dolls, fake Samsung charging cables and other plastic toys which exceeded legal limits of chemicals.

A Guide To Safer Kids Biking
July 7, 2021, Positively Scottish
Summer is here, which is the perfect time for bike riding, whether it is around your neighborhood, a trail, or a park. Parents worry about their kids’ safety when they head out. Are they careful with traffic? What do they do when they get hurt?

The New And Improved Prop 65? Maybe, Maybe Not 
July 6, 2021, The Corvallis Advocate
Have you shopped for jewelry, cosmetics, furniture, or exercise equipment recently? If so, you have most likely come across a Proposition 65 warning sticker.  If you are unsure of whether the warning label should keep you from buying a product, you are not alone. California’s Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) proposed changes to the California-based law earlier this year that have arguably added to the confusion.

The World’s Biggest Fashion Brands Remain Reliant On Plastics
July 8, 2021, Fashion United
Despite pledges to create a sustainable future, global fashion brands continue to rely on plastic synthetic fibers. A report by Changing Markets says these fibers are fueling plastic waste and the climate crises due to the fossil fuels needed to make them.

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Biden Taps House Aide To Chair U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
July 2, 2021, Yahoo Finance
President Joe Biden plans to nominate a senior lawyer for a U.S. House of Representatives committee to chair the CPSC, along with a lawyer at the agency for another commissioner slot, the White House said. Biden announced that he intends to nominate Alexander Hoehn-Saric, a Democrat who is chief counsel for the Energy and Commerce subcommittee on communications and consumer protection to head the CPSC. The Democratic president also plans to nominate Mary Boyle to the commission. She is the CPSC’s current executive director and has spent more than a decade at the agency in senior positions.

EU Digital-Era Upgrade May Include Hefty Fines For Online Markets
July 1, 2021, Euronews.next
To avoid children’s dolls being hacked or phone chargers catching fire, the EU is pitching a revamp of product safety rules for the digital era. It will require online marketplaces to remove unsafe products without undue delay or face hefty fines.

Senate Bill Could Lead To CPSC Pilot Program On Artificial Intelligence
June 25, 2021, ZDNet
The U.S. House recently approved and sent to the Senate a bill to form a pilot initiative to use artificial intelligence to vet consumer product safety. The bill provides for a “pilot program” to examine use of artificial intelligence by the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

How To Bring Your Conscience To Work (podcast)
June 8, 2021, Knowledge@Wharton
“To be a person of conscience — to bring your conscience to work, to bring your values to work and make a commitment to acting on them — is an essential leadership skill,” Wharton Professor Richard G. Shell says.

Paris Threatens To Ban E-Scooters After Woman’s Death
June 30, 2021, The Straits Times
Paris has threatened to ban e-scooters if operators don’t comply with speed limits and other rules after a pedestrian was killed by 2 riders. Some 15,000 devices are available in the city. They are supposed to travel less than 20kmh with only 1 rider.

UC Davis Pediatricians Warn Of The Dangers Of Button Cell Batteries
June 29, 2021, Daily Democrat
Pediatricians say keep button batteries secure and out of children’s reach. Jonathan Kohler, MD, UC Davis Children’s Hospital said, “Kids who swallow these batteries may require emergency surgery and can have devastating long-term injuries.”

Best Recall Practices: Part 3 – Consumer Goods
June 2021, Sidley
In part three of this series on product recalls, the authors focus on the rules governing recalls and withdrawals of consumer products from the EU and Swiss market. They examine the recall procedures, set out in Directive 2001/95/EC on general product safety (GPSD), its related guidance set out in the Commission Decision for the notification of dangerous consumer products.

Experts Warn Of Carbon Monoxide Dangers Amid Power-Outages
July 1, 2021, ClickOn Detroit
During power outages, people turn to portable generators to keep their lights and appliances working — but the Consumer Product Safety Commission is warning people that if generators aren’t used properly, they can cause serious consequences.

Opinion: Rethinking Plastics
July 1, 2021, University of Delaware
Plastics now are everywhere in our lives, providing low-cost convenience and other benefits in countless applications. They can be shaped to almost any task, from wispy films to squishy children’s toys and hard-core components. They have shown themselves vital in medicine and have been pivotal in the global effort to slow the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic over the past 16 months. Plastics seem indispensable these days. Unfortunately for the long-term, they are also nearly indestructible.

New UK ‘Right To Repair’ Standards Come Into Effect
July 1, 2021, Belfast Telegraph
Manufacturers must make home products such as washing machines easier to repair under the new standards. They are now legally obliged to make spare parts available to consumers for the first time so that electrical appliances can be fixed easily.

Four Imperatives For Managing In A Hybrid World
June 28, 2021, Harvard Business Review
As more companies turn to a hybrid work model a year into the pandemic, what challenges are leaders likely to face when managing people both in the office and remotely? Interviews with 38 executives in Nordic countries point to four main tensions.

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House Passes Two Bills Promoting Safer Children’s  Products
June 23, 2021, Consumer Reports
Lawmakers recently voted to approve the STURDY Act, to prevent furniture tip-overs, and the Safe Sleep for Babies Act, to ban inclined sleepers and crib bumper pads. Both bills passed with broad bipartisan support.

User “shock”: Peloton Safety Update Costs $40 A Month
June 23, 2021, Motherboard
Tread+ users got a shock in their inbox recently. After the treadmill downloaded an update Peloton said was designed to make the device safer, users reported they could no longer run on it without paying Peloton a $39.99 per month subscription fee.

How HP Turns Business Catastrophes To Their Advantage
June 17, 2021, Harvard Business Review
What does it take for your organization to stay afloat when an unexpected wave hits and to turn it to your advantage? The author describes a 3-part framework for resilient growth that helped HP emerge after potential business-ending challenges.

New ‘Safety By Design’ Toolkit To Help The Global Tech Industry
June 21, 2021, ZDNet
The Australian Office of the eSafety Commissioner, charged with promoting online safety education, is rolling out ‘safety by design’ tools to arm the global tech industry with a way to incorporate safety into their products, services and platforms.

CPSC: Elevators In Vacation Rental Homes Can Pose A Deadly Hazard
June 24, 2021, CPSC
Vacation rental homes are a popular alternative to hotels and motels during the pandemic. As restrictions are lifted, the Consumer Product Safety Commission reminds travelers to take safety with them, when renting homes with residential elevators.

CPSC Commissioner Feldman And National Fireworks Association Promote Safe July 4th
June 24, 2021, National Fireworks Association
Commissioner Peter Feldman and Steve Houser, President of the National Fireworks Association (NFA) jointly released a video reminding Americans to celebrate the Fourth of July with consumer fireworks safely. “Each year, the Commission plays an important role in making sure the consumer fireworks used at your neighborhood gatherings and backyard barbecues are safe,” Feldman said.

Footage Of Amazon Destroying Thousands Of Unsold Items In Britain Prompts Calls For Official Investigation
June 23, 2021, Washington Post
British lawmakers are demanding a meeting with Amazon’s country manager after an investigation in Scotland revealed thousands of unsold or returned items, including televisions, books, sealed face masks and laptops, being destroyed by the company.

China Releases A New National Standard For Restricted Chemical Substances In Consumer Products
June 23, 2021, Market Screener
The Standardization Administration of China issued its national standard GB/T 39498-2020 Guidelines for the use and control of key chemical substances in consumer products which became effective on June 1, 2021. This is a new national standard and is included in China’s No. 26 announcement on newly approved national standards in 2020.

Charging Electric Scooter To Blame For Townhouse Fire
June 23, 2021, WTOP News
A malfunctioning battery in a charging electric scooter sparked a recent townhouse fire that displaced 7 residents. Fire investigators are still trying to identify the model and manufacturer of the scooter and are following up with the CPSC.

Managing Safety Performance
June 23, 2021, OHSonline
Excellence in safety can only be achieved through a strategy-driven, performance-based safety management process. The challenge is how to devise a safety process that will enable the organization to impact performance holistically in order to achieve excellence. Safety should be fully integrated into the organization’s operations and outcomes should be aligned with business goals. As a result, the safety process will become integrated into the very fabric of the organization.

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Civil Lawsuit Filed Over 2018 Deaths Of Two Children
June 17, 2021, WLOS-ABC
Two parents want justice for their children’s deaths in Jackson County North Carolina. They filed a federal complaint in Asheville against AMSAFE Commercial Products and Shield Restraint Systems, a manufacturer of safety restraints.

Opinion: Fisher-Price Recall Shows Why Company Actions And Values Should Be In Sync
June 11, 2021, Forbes
Fisher-Price’s recall of their 4 n’ 1 Rock ‘n Glide Soother underscores again why business leaders need to ensure the actions of their companies are in sync with corporate values. Failure to do so can damage the image and reputation of companies and organizations.

Becoming A More Critical Consumer Of Information
June 10, 2021, HBR
Trust is our most important foundation for navigating a complex, data-filled world. And yet, an ADP Research Institute study shows that having a high level of trust in our colleagues and organizations is at its lowest level in recent memory.

First A Recall, Now A New Problem For Peloton Owners: Hacks
June 16, 2021, 4029tv.com
Peloton users are being warned of a new security threat relating to the touchscreen on their Bike+.  In a recent report cybersecurity company McAfee discovered a vulnerability that allows hackers to access Peloton’s bike screen and potentially spy.

UK: Counterfeit Amusement Toy Suppliers Sentenced To Jail
June 17, 2021, North Yorkshire County Council
Suppliers of fake and unsafe toys to east coast amusement arcades were sentenced at York Crown Court today after pleading guilty to offences of selling and having in possession for distribution over 240,000 counterfeit children’s products.

Florida Child Hospitalized After Swallowing Magnetic Balls
June 16, 2021, WRCB TV
A 2-year-old Florida boy is in the hospital with complications from swallowing part of a toy composed of small magnetic balls. The child found the pieces of the toy, commonly known as a Buckyball that one of his siblings brought it home from school.

1 In 3 Americans Still Practice Unsafe Storage Of Laundry Products
June 17. 2021, Happi
For National Safety Month, American Cleaning Institute (ACI) urges consumers to store liquid laundry packets in original packaging to help deter poisonings. ACI data shows a need for continued education and awareness about liquid laundry packets.

How To Practice Responsible AI (Audio)
June 16, 2021, Harvard Business Review

The “Everywhere Chemical” : Might Phthalates Become The Next PFAS?
June 16, 2021, JD Supra
Phthalates are chemicals found in a wide range of consumer and industrial products, and public consciousness regarding the health risks they pose is quickly mounting. As demonstrated in the case of PFAS, growing public concerns about chemical exposure can result in the widespread adoption of disparate regulatory standards and create unexpected litigation risks. Some phthalates are already subject to regulation under federal environmental statutes, and some states have recently taken measures to restrict the use and disposal of phthalates.

NAO: UK Product Safety Regulator Slow To Respond To Magnets’ Danger
June 16, 2021, Sky News
Britain’s product safety regulator has been slow to respond to dangers such as those posed by mini magnets because it lacks the data and intelligence needed to assess risks, an NOA report has found.

Pew Research: Worries About Developments In AI
June 16, 2021, Pew Research Center
It would be quite difficult – some might say impossible – to design broadly adopted ethical AI systems. A share of the experts responding noted that ethics are hard to define, implement and enforce. They said context matters when it comes to ethical considerations. Any attempt to fashion ethical rules generates countless varying scenarios in which applications of those rules can be messy. The nature and relative power of the actors in any given scenario also matter. Social standards and norms evolve and can become wholly different as cultures change. Few people have much education or training in ethics. Additionally, good and bad actors exploit loopholes and gray areas where ethical rules aren’t crisp, so workarounds, patches or other remedies are often created with varying levels of success.

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Lawmakers Renew Calls To Explore Tech To Protect Consumers
June 10, 2021, NexGov
The bill, including its AI and Consumer Product Safety provision, would require the Consumer Product Safety Commission to develop a pilot program to explore using technology to pinpoint product hazards or track relevant trends, among other pursuits.

CPSC Report Shows Child Drownings Remain High; Most Fatalities Are Children Under Five
June 8, 2021, CPSC
The annual drowning and submersion report released by the Consumer Product Safety Commission reminds families to make water safety a priority, particularly as they return to community pools and resume warm-weather activities near water. Child drownings remain the leading cause of unintentional death among children ages one to four years old.

Employees Are Lonelier Than Ever. How Employers Can Help
June 9, 2021, Harvard Business Review
Loneliness comes with many negative side effects. Increasing face-to-face interaction may be beneficial for some, but it’s not always enough to create strong interpersonal bonds among colleagues. Here are 5 ways to help lonely employees.

CPSC Publishes Report On Artificial Intelligence And Machine Learning
June 3, 2021, Retail & Consumer Law Observer
A CPSC report on AI and ML in consumer products highlights recent CPSC staff activity, proposes a framework for evaluating the potential safety impact of AI and ML and makes several recommendations that the CPSC can take related to AI and ML

Recall Roundup: May 2021
June 9, 2021, National Law Review
In the world of consumer products, the month of May was all about infant sleep products. The CPSC recently approved a new federal standard for infant sleep products for infants up to five months of age It reflects the fact that inclined sleepers, bassinets, and in-bed sleepers that have been linked to multiple infant deaths.

Health Canada Regulates Harmful UV, Ozone Devices That Could Harm People
June 8, 2021, KTW This Week
Health Minister Patty Hajdu says most companies selling UV wands and lights promising to kill viruses must have products approved and stop claiming they can destroy COVID-19. Hajdu signed an interim order to regulate the devices for the first time.

Amazon Successfully Presses To Leave Consumer Protections Out Of Senate China Bill
June 9, 2021, Washington Post
When the Senate recently passed the Inform Consumers Act to counter China’s growing economic clout, it excluded a measure designed to protect online shoppers from counterfeit and dangerous products after aggressive lobbying led by Amazon.

Prepare Now To Avoid Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
June 8, 2021, ABC Newsll
A big storm often causes power outages and an increased risk of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning. CO is odorless and colorless and the CPSC says causes over 400 deaths each year. Some are caused by portable generators used when people lose power.

Manufacturers Group Pushes For Country-Of-Origin Labelling
June 7, 2021, Industry Week
Americans have a reason to be apprehensive about e-commerce giants. These companies are lobbying against legislation to require country-of-origin labeling for any product sold on the Internet to help consumers make more informed online choices.

Consumers Are Facing More Risk Than Ever Due To Fake Products
June 9, 2021, Irish Technical Times
Counterfeits represent 6.8% of EU imports worth EUR 121 billion, according to a joint study by the EUIPO and the OECD. They can pose serious health and safety risks to consumers, notably due to exposure to hazardous chemicals.

E-scooters ‘Not Safe’ Without Audible Signals
June 8, 2021, BBC
The RNIB (Royal National Institute of Blind People) said e-scooters posed potential risks to blind and partially sighted people because “they are fast-moving, difficult to detect and are often ridden on the pavement despite this being illegal”.

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CPSC Bans Unregulated Baby Sleep Products Tied To 90 Deaths
June 2, 2021, Washington Post
By a 3-1 vote, the Consumer Product Safety Commission banned a number of infant sleep products. The rule requires products for sleeping babies to meet the mandatory federal standards for cribs, bassinets, bedside sleepers and play yards.

CPSC Urges Understanding Of ATVs And ROVs And Of Paved Road Risks
June 2, 2021, CPSC.gov
The CPSC urges consumers to understand the risks and undertake necessary safety measures before riding ATVs and other off-highway vehicles. The dangers are real and include overturning, collision and occupant ejection. The CPSC says there were about 1,700 ATV-related fatalities and 445 ROV-related fatalities reported from 2015-2019.

5 Myths About Flexible Work
June 5, 2021, Harvard Business Review
Executives often worry that they’ll open Pandora’s box and set a dangerous precedent if they allow employees to work flexibly. Perhaps a silver lining of the pandemic will be that corporate leaders have overcome their fears of offering flexibility.

Australia Introduces Button And Coin Battery Standards
June 2, 2021, Product Safety Australia
The Australian Government has introduced 4 mandatory standards to reduce the risk of death and injury from the use of button and coin batteries. The standards apply to both button cell and coin cell batteries, and to the products that include them.

Disruptive Technologies To Look Out For In 2021
June 3, 2021, Analytics Insight
These disruptive technologies have become an integral part of our lives and are causing massive changes in traditional business models. On that account, here are some examples of the disruptive technologies that have recently made the headlines.

Recalls In Review: Mattress Recalls
May 28, 2021, Retail & Consumer Products Law Observer
Since 2005 about 40 recalls of mattresses and mattress-related products have taken place. The peak year of 2015 includes 7 total recalls.

Half Of Brits Want E-Scooter Restrictions
June 3, 2021, ITS International
More than half of UK survey respondents want electric scooter licenses introduced if public use of the vehicles is made legal. This reflects public concerns for safety, according to JMW Solicitors, which carried out the survey.

Fire Officials Say Replace Recalled Smoke Detectors Now
June 1, 2021, Patch
Fire officials say recalled smoke detectors in homes could be a much more serious problem than we might realize. The only way to be certain a smoke and/or CO detector was not part of the recent recall is to compare the serial numbers.

A Glimpse Into The Art Of Leadership And The Science Of Management
June 2, 2021, CEO World
There is a fierce war taking place on the organizational battlefield. It is a conflict that stirs a heated debate and sparks the interest of people worldwide. It is the battle between the ideas of leadership and management. Both sides of the fight are inaccurate and understanding the nuances between the two will optimize your organization’s effectiveness.

Milwaukee Is First Market To Test Scooter Sidewalk Tracking Technology
June 3, 2021, Wisconsin.com
Sidewalk riding was probably our largest concern during the 2019 pilot study, said Milwaukee Department of Public Work. Now a new pilot study begins, and it’s designed to see how the city can implement scooters as a means of transportation safely.

Consumers Warned: Stop Using Ace Youth ATVs Due To Crash Hazard And Violation Of Federal Mandatory Safety Standard
June 2, 2021, PR Newswire
The CPSC and EGL Motor Inc., are warning consumers to stop using EGL Motor’s ACE D110 youth ATV immediately, to avoid serious injury or death. These youth (age 6 and older) ATVs do not meet federal safety standards.

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