Peloton Accidents Spark Push To Change Product Safety Law
April 22, 2021, The Verge
House Democrats introduced a bill, the Sunshine in Product Safety Act to make it easier for the CPSC to warn people about unsafe products. The act would repeal part of a 49-year-old law that limits what information the agency can release publicly.

Peloton Stumbles As Competitor Attracts Funding, Media Attention
April 29, 2021, Motley Fool
After a year of growth, Peloton has hit a new hurdle following a recent wrangle with the CPSC. The exercise company’s shares have dropped more than 40% since January highs.

Why You Shouldn’t Engage With Customer Complaints On Twitter
April 29, 2021, Harvard Business Review
What do you do when a customer tweets something negative about your company? Many businesses pursue a strategy of proactive, public engagement. But new research suggests publicly responding to customer complaints can actually have a negative effect.

UK Government To Review Product Safety And Liability Laws
April 28, 2021, JDSupra
UK government announced the intention of reviewing and strengthening the UK’s product safety laws to ensure that they are fit for the 21st century. Business Minister Paul Scully spoke of a “new, modern product safety regime which will unleash the creative potential of our businesses while keeping consumers safe.”

Consumers Should Spring Into Safety With The “New Normal”
April 28, 2021, CPSC.com
Now with spring upon us, flowers in the garden are not the only things blooming. Milder temperatures mean more of us will head outdoors for recreation and do-it-yourself home projects involving power tools, yard equipment and sports gear. The CPSC encourages consumers to remain vigilant about avoiding hazards while at home, at play or at school. Whatever the activity, the CPSC cautions consumers, always Do It Safely (D-I-S).

Another Court Gets On (hover) Board With Online Marketplace Liability For Defective Products
April 28, 2021, The National Law Review
In a recent development, California’s Court of Appeal determined that Amazon could be held strictly liable for injuries a consumer suffered from a defective hoverboard she bought from the retailer, even though Amazon neither manufactured nor sold the product.

UL Institute Toolkit To Help Specify Furniture To Reduce Flame Retardant Exposure
April 28, 2021, Chemical Insights
A Chemical Insights, an Institute of Underwriters Laboratories, in conjunction with the Sustainable Furnishings Council, released a toolkit designed to help interior designers specify and select residential upholstered furniture that reduces exposure to flame retardant chemicals. The toolkit, based on the recently released UL 118F Guidance Document, is a set of actionable guidelines that follows years of Chemical Insights’ research into human exposure to flame retardant chemicals as well as processes for reducing furniture flammability and residential fire hazards.

The Pandemic Trade-Off’: Some Parents Are Reassessing Which Kids’ Activities Feel Safe
April 16, 2021, The Washington Post
The collective easing of anxiety around skateboarding may be more in line with statistical realities, according to national data from the CPSC. Responding to growing parental concern about X Games sports, the agency in 2002 published a study comparing youth skateboarding injury rates with those of other sports. The findings showed that skateboarding was, statistically speaking, much safer than basketball: Skateboarders had an injury rate of 8.9 per 1,000 participants, while basketball players’ injury rate was 21.2 per 1,000 players.

Under New Administrator Michael Regan, EPA Closes Loophole On Toxic PFAS
April 28, 2021, The Progressive Pulse
Manufacturers of perfluorinated compounds, also known as PFAS, will no longer be allowed to use a special exemption that allowed hundreds of these toxic substances to be fast tracked into the marketplace. The EPA is closing the “low-volume” loophole. It allowed industries that agreed to limit their manufacture of chemicals, including PFAS, to no more than 22 tons per year to request a shortened 30-day scientific review instead of the traditional 90 days.

Urgent Warning After WA Child Consumes Hand Sanitizer
April 29, 2021, Mirage (AU)
An urgent safety warning has been issued by Consumer Protection after a six-year-old child who had consumed hand sanitizer was admitted to a Perth hospital. Commissioner for Consumer Protection Lanie Chopping said parents and carergivers of children should be extra vigilant as children often mistake the bottles of sanitizer for food or drink.

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Peloton’s Clash With CPSC Over Treadmill Safety Threatens To Tarnish Brand
April 20, 2021, CNBC
A public dispute with the CPSC over safety and a video of a child being dragged under a treadmill are threatening the Peloton brand, but Peloton said it has no intent to recall its Tread+, despite calls from regulators and politicians to do so.

CPSC Takes The First Step To Expand Enforcement
April 21, 2021, National Law Review
The CPSC signaled its intent to increase enforcement of its product safety regimen by seeking to double its current $135m budget. Increased funding will support vigorous compliance activities including civil penalty enforcement.

Why AI That Teaches Itself To Achieve A Goal Is The Next Big Thing
April 21, 2021, Harvard Business Review
What’s the difference between the creative power of game-playing AIs and predictive AIs most companies use? How they learn. The AIs that thrive at games like Go, creating never before seen strategies, use an approach called reinforcement learning.

Furniture Group Seeks Improvements To STURDY Act Legislation
April 20, 2021, Furniture Today
The AHFA said that the latest version of legislation aimed at reducing tip-over incidents will face another impasse unless changes are made to the bill in its current form. The Act would require the CPSC to develop a mandatory stability standard for clothing storage units such as dressers and chests.

BOOM: Glass Shower Doors Explode At NC Couple’s Home
April 20, 2021, Fox 8 News
A North Carolina couple is warning about a bathroom blast that sent glass shards shattering. According to the CPSC between 2012 and 2016 (the last years statistics were available) 2,300 people went to the ER due to their shower door glass shattering.

Bill To Ban Crib Bumpers Introduced In Congress
April 21, 2021, Consumer Reports
Bipartisan legislation would ban the sale of crib bumpers, which pediatricians have long said are unnecessary and pose a deadly risk to sleeping babies. The bill, called the Safe Cribs Act, would also make it illegal in the U.S. to manufacture, distribute or import crib bumpers.

Safety Concerns Prompt CR To Remove Peloton Tread+ From Its Ratings
April 21, 2021, Consumer Reports
Consumer Reports has temporarily removed the Peloton Tread+ from its treadmill ratings and is longer recommending the product. This move comes as a result of an urgent safety warning that the CPSC issued April 17.

The Toy Association Marks World Intellectual Property Day
April 21, 2021, The Toy Book
As the global business community prepares celebrates World Intellectual Property Day, stopping toy counterfeits from entering the U.S. — and ending up in the hands of innocent children — continues to be a top priority for The Toy Association and its members.

Made In USA Settlement For Chinese Imports
April 20, 2021, Retail & Consumer Products Law Observer
Gennex Media LLC has settled FTC charges of false, misleading or unsupported advertising claims that their “Brandnex” promotional products were “all or virtually all” made in the U.S., despite the fact that the items were wholly imported from China.

EU Lays Out Plan For Risk-Based AI Rules To Boost Trust And Uptake
April 21, 2021, Tech Crunch
EU lawmakers presented a risk-based proposal for regulating high risk applications of AI in the bloc’s market. The plan includes prohibitions on a small number of use-cases considered too dangerous to people’s safety or citizens’ fundamental rights.

Draft EU Regulation For AI Proposes Fines Of Up To 6% Of Total Annual Turnover
April 21, 2021, Morrison Foerster\
After presentation of a “European Approach to Artificial Intelligence” by the EC, a draft regulation to safeguard fundamental EU rights and user safety was published. It provides fines of up to EUR 30m or 6% of annual turnover, whichever is higher.

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Statement Of Acting Chairman Adler On Passage Of 2021 Mid-Year One Plan
March 25, 2021, cpsc.gov
“I am so pleased by the Commission’s passage of the first of our two-part 2021 Mid-Year Plan today. As I see it, Mid-Year One clarifies CPSC’s strong and ongoing commitment to diversity and equity in all aspects of our mission. In effect, this plan approves enhanced efforts for developing specific approaches that identify and address product hazards disproportionately affecting minority communities and underserved populations.”

CPSC FY 2021 Mid-Year Review
March 10, 2021, cpsc.gov
In the attached memorandum, the Executive Director summarizes staff’s Midyear Review recommendations to align the FY 2021 Operating Plan with the FY 2021 enacted appropriation, and presents options to allocate future unexecuted balances, should balances be available, to support existing project work.

What Does It Mean To Be A Manager Today?
April 15, 2021, Harvard Business Review
Managers used to be selected and promoted based on the ability to manage and evaluate performance of employees. But 3 transformative trends are challenging definitions of the manager role: Remote work, automation and changing employee expectations.

New Study: Where And Why Fatal E-Scooter Crashes Occur
April 15, 2021, The Ridgefield News
About 30 people in the United States have been killed riding electric scooters since 2018. Most – 80% – were hit by cars at intersections

Ethical Principles For Using Data
April 10, 2021, Analytics Insight
Data ethics is about control and sustainable utilization of data. Data ethics describes a behavior code, often focused on what is wrong and what is right. This encompasses the following: Data management, algorithms, and corresponding practices.

CPSC To Clarify New Furniture Flammability Regulation
April 14, 2021, National Law Review
The CPSC has proposed a Direct Final Rule implementing the new federal upholstered furniture flammability standard. The Rule, published on April 9, 2021, would codify California’s TB 117-2013 flammability standard as mandated by Congress.

EU To Ban ‘Indiscriminate Surveillance’ In Leaked AI Plans
April 13, 2021, Euractive.com
As part of the draft regulation on a ‘European approach for artificial intelligence,’ the EU executive proposes to ban AI technologies that are used for “indiscriminate surveillance applied in a generalized manner to all natural persons without differentiation.”

United State: Productwise 3-2-1, April, Product Safety 2021 Review
April 14, 2021, Mondaq (Cooley)
This month it’s all about the review of the UK product safety framework, three new pieces of EU guidance, CPSC’s Mid-Year One plan, consultations launched in the EU and the UK on proposals to make products more sustainable, proposed new EU rules on batteries and the importance of thorough pre-market review procedures.

American Association Of Pediatrics Says Rare Earth Magnets Are Dangerous Around Children
April 13, 2021, Galveston Daily News
The American Academy of Pediatrics wants says rare earth magnets can cause serious injuries or death if children swallow them. The CPSC banned the sale of these strong magnets in 2014, but the ban was removed in 2016. Since then, the National Poison Data system has reported an increase in major injuries to children who swallow the magnets.

Recall Round-Up: March 2021
April 13, 2021, National Law Review
The Fifth Circuit recently issued an opinion concluding that the CPSC violated the APA when it issued a final rule in 2017 limiting phthalate content in children’s products. The Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA) bans children’s toys and child care articles containing more than 0.1 percent of several phthalate chemicals because of concerns that ingestion can have harmful health effects on children. Phthalates are used to make soft and pliable plastics, such as vinyl. The CPSIA also directed the agency to promulgate a final rule regarding phthalates. In 2017, the CPSC issued a final rule expanding the list of phthalates covered by the ban.

Empower Your Employees To Create A Culture Of Safety: Here’s How
April 12, 2021, Association of Equipment Manufacturers
It’s important to remember, that in addition to ensuring your safety policies are up to date, companies need to consider their employee’s state of mind. As a friend of mine recently told me: “After trying to initially understand and adhere to all the health guidelines from last year, businesses are worried that everyone is now becoming complacent.”

Lawmakers Introduce Bipartisan Bill To Combat PFAS
April 13, 2021, Fox 17 News
A bipartisan bill has been introduced that would establish a national drinking water standard for PFAS, classifies PFAS as hazardous enough to permit the EPA cleanse contaminated sites across the U.S., and places an industrial discharge limit.

CPSC Warns That Youth ATVs Don’t Meet “Mandatory Safety Standards”
April 13, 2021, Penn Live
The CPSC says not to allow children to use Maxtrade’s Coolster youth ATVs. According to the commission, the 3050-C and 3050-B models do not meet its “mandatory safety standard” and pose a risk of a high-speed crash that can result in injury or death.

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CPSC To Hear Mom’s Testimony About Button Battery Danger
April 7, 2021, KCBD TV
Lubbock mother Trista Hamsmith will testify before the CPSC about the dangers of button batteries. Hamsmith’s child died after swallowing a button battery from a remote control in Dec, 2020. She suffered burns to her throat, esophagus and vocal cords.

EU Commission Proposes New Regulation For Sustainable Batteries
April 5, 2021, Global Compliance News
The EC published it’s new Sustainable Batteries Regulation proposal. The proposal represents a sweeping overhaul of the existing regulatory framework including potentially significant implications for manufacturers, producers, importers and distributors of batteries and products using batteries.

Have We Taken Agile Too Far?
April 9, 2021, Harvard Business Review
Agile is a powerful process, but many organizations take it too far and use it to avoid careful planning and preparation. As Amazon has shown there is a better result combining it with “working backwards,” to make up for agile’s shortcomings in the early stages.

Curtain Cord Tragedy Prompts Call For Improved Safety
April 1, 2021, New Zealand Herald
A coroner has released details of the death of a toddler hung and fatally strangled by a curtain cord – saying while the case is horrifying and traumatic for her family, sharing what happened could prevent future deaths.

California Bill Would Ban ‘Forever Chemicals’ In Kids’ Products
April 8, 2021, ewg
A bill banning PFAS from a wide range of children’s products passed out of the California Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee. The bill would assure parents that a wide variety of baby and kid’s products are free from PFAS.

Motorcycle Group Urges Review Of Helmet Safety Standard
April 7, 2021, CNA
The Singapore Motorcycle Trade Association called for a review of the helmet safety standard after proposed increases in penalties were announced for selling or importing non-approved helmets. The bill would raise fines for both first-time and repeat offenders.

Verizon Recalls Mobile Hotspots Sold To Schools, In Stores
April 9, 2021, Associated Press
Verizon is recalling 2.5 million Ellipsis Jetpack mobile hotspots imported by Franklin Wireless in San Diego after reports of overheating and of minor burns. The CPSC said the lithium-ion battery in the hotspots can overheat, posing fire and burn hazards.

Managing In An Anxious World: Leading Through Anxiety
May 11, 2020, Harvard Business Review
How can you lead with authority and strength when you feel anxious? How can you inspire and motivate others when your mind and heart are racing? And if you hide the fear in an attempt to be leaderlike, where does it go?

California Regulators Propose New Regulations to Limit Use of “Short Form” Prop 65 Warnings
April 5, 2021, National Law Review
Recently, the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) has proposed amendments to the format requirements for Proposition 65 warnings that will require companies to re-assess the sufficiency of their current warnings. Prop 65 provides two forms of “safe harbor” warnings. If a warning label conforms to the statutory specifics, it is deemed to shield the company from liability.

Five Things To Remember Before, During And After A Recall
April 7, 2021, O’Dwyers
At some point, every company that produces consumer or commercial products will face questions or a crisis related to the effectiveness or safety of what they sell. Product recalls are quite common, with thousands occurring due to mandates from state and federal regulators. Already in 2021, the CPSC has issued over 100 recalls and market withdrawals to date. If not handled properly, they can hurt brand reputation and sales, impact unrelated products and benefit competitors. While recalls are by definition unexpected, organizations can take steps to shorten their duration and lessen their impact. Here are five things to remember before, during and after an incident.

Consumers Say Compact Logos Signal Product Safety
April 6, 2021, Eureka Alert
Compact type in logos can encourage favorable brand evaluations by signaling product safety, says a new study from Boston College and Indian Institute of Management Udaipur, who reviewed the opinions of 17,000 consumers.

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Prop 65 Bounty Hunters Barred From Filing Acrylamide Lawsuits; Potential Implications For Other Chemicals
March 31, 2021, Arnold & Porter
In a landmark ruling with implications for the future of Proposition 65 enforcement, the US District Court for the Eastern District of California has preliminarily enjoined any person from filing or prosecuting lawsuits seeking cancer warnings for acrylamide on food and beverage products sold in California. The ruling stops hundreds of enforcement actions in their tracks, bodes well for the ultimate end of Proposition 65 acrylamide lawsuits and has implications for other listed chemicals.

Recalls In Review: Exercise Equipment
March 30, 2021, Retail & Consumer Products Law Observer
Demand for exercise equipment soared last year. As more people buy equipment, we will likely see an increase in injuries associated with such products. The CPSC estimates about 22,500 treadmill-related injuries were treated at U.S. ERs in 2019.

Be More Realistic About The Time You Have
March 23, 2021, Harvard Business Review
It’s no surprise that many of us overload our workday. And, at the end of the day, we’re stunned to find that work remains unfinished. We’re convinced we’ll be able to achieve the extraordinary in an ordinary day. This is called “magical thinking,” and it can cause you to disappoint others, miss deadlines, feel depleted and lose your inspiration.

The CPSC Digs In On Artificial Intelligence
March 31, 2021, JDSupra
American households are increasingly connected internally through the use of artificially intelligent appliances. But who regulates the safety of those dishwashers, microwaves, refrigerators and vacuums powered by artificial intelligence? At a virtual forum attended by stakeholders across the entire industry, the CPSC reminded us all that it has the last say on regulating AI and machine learning in consumer product safety.

Toy Group Applauds INFORM Legislation To Protect Consumers
May 23, 2021, The Toy Association
The Toy Association praised introduction of the bipartisan INFORM Consumers Act. The Act would modernize consumer protection laws and require online marketplaces to collect and verify sellers’ basic business information.

Taiwan Foundation Urges Safety Regs For Toys For Pets
March 31, 2021, Taipei Timers’
More than half of 26 randomly selected pets’ toys sold in Taipei and New Taipei City were not properly labeled, while seven presented a choking hazard, according to the Consumers’ Foundation. It is urging the government to set standards for pet toys.

Mexico Creates A Code of Ethics For E-Commerce Suppliers And A Digital Trust Seal
March 29, 2021, National Law Review
The Federal Bureau for Consumers’ Protection (PROFECO) issued an official communication announcing the creation of a Code of Ethics for E-Commerce, in order to standardize transactions carried out through electronic means in Mexico. The purpose of this Code is to establish parameters and guidelines for suppliers who offer, distribute, sell, lease or grant the use of goods and services through digital means, thus seeking to protect consumer rights, promote a culture of responsible consumption, self-regulation and ethical and responsible digital advertising.

Kids’ Advocates Say Mandated Furniture Standards Needed
March 31, 2021, CBS News
Last year saw an increase in recalls of unstable dressers and other furniture that posed a deadly risk to children, according to new findings that advocates say bolster the case for proposed legislation that would mandate standards, currently voluntary, to prevent tip-overs. Of 63 children’s products recalled in 2020, 11 involved furniture at risk of tipping over, according to an annual analysis of children’s products recalled by the CPSC.

New Consumer Survey of Nearly 8,000 Grocery Shoppers Reveals Ecommerce Shift In The Post-Pandemic Retail Era
March 31, 2021, GlobalNewswire
US grocery consumers have flocked online at a rate never seen previously due to the Covid pandemic — with time savings being the primary motivating factor rather than Covid-related safety concerns. However, the store is far from dead. Consumers are increasingly favoring a blended store-online grocery shopping approach. These are just a few of the key insights from a new consumer survey from PowerReviews, a leading provider of ratings and reviews and User-Generated Content solutions.

Safe Kids Worldwide And Amazon Announce New Partnership To Help Keep Kids Safe From Preventable Injuries
March 31, 2021, Business Wire
Safe Kids Worldwide and Amazon announced today a new partnership dedicated to educating consumers and protecting kids from preventable injuries such as traffic injuries, falls and burns. Over the coming year, Safe Kids and Amazon will host a series of events across the country for new parents to learn about infant and child safety topics, including helmet and bicycle safety, car seat safety and safe sleep practices.

Smart Toys: Your Child’s Best Friend Or A Creepy Surveillance Tool?
March 31, 2021, World Economic Forum
Smart toys use AI to learn about the child user and personalize the play or learning experience for them. They can learn a child’s favorite color, song, and learn to recognize that child and other familiar people in that child’s life. While this may sound futuristic, there are many smart toys that already provide these capabilities. The market for these toys is rapidly expanding and will grow to $18 billion by 2023.

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Tesla Solar Panel Whistleblower Interviewed In CPSC Probe
March 22, 2021, CNBC
The Consumer Product Safety Commission is considering as evidence a former Tesla employee’s complaint about how the company managed and communicated about fire risks and defects in its solar installations, CNBC has learned from documents received through a Freedom of Information Act request.

Acting Chair Adler Praises Passage of 2021 Mid-Year One Plan
March 25, 2021, CPSC
“As I see it, Mid-Year One clarifies CPSC’s strong and ongoing commitment to diversity and equity in all aspects of our mission. “In effect, this plan approves enhanced efforts for developing specific approaches that identify and address product hazards disproportionately affecting minority communities and underserved populations,” Adler said. The Plan’s part one approved.

Persuading The Unpersuadable
March, April 2021, Harvard Business Review
We live in an age of polarization. Many of us may be asking ourselves how, when people disagree with or discount us, we can persuade them to rethink their positions. The author, an organizational psychologist, has spent time with a number of people who succeeded in motivating the notoriously self-confident Steve Jobs to change his mind and has analyzed the science behind their techniques.

Statement Of Commissioner Elliot Kaye On The Ongoing Urgent Need To Ensure Safe Infant Sleep
March 17, 2021, CPSC
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has made some promising advancements with its safe sleep work in recent years and is working on a number of additional rulemakings this year. But much remains to be done to address this persistent hazard in our space.

One Child Dies, One Child Injured In Separate Peloton Tread+ Accidents
March 22, 2021, Club Industry
A child died as the result of a recent incident related to Peloton’s Tread+ product, according to a letter from CEO John Foley posted on the company’s website. The CPSC posted on its Twitter page that it is investigating the incident.

‘Buyer Beware:’ Ads Hide PFAS Cookware Risks
March 25, 2021, E&E News
Consumers trying to avoid toxic chemicals in nonstick cookware face convoluted advertising claims that can confuse even the most well-informed. Misleading advertising claims make it hard for consumers to find PFAS-free options for pots and pans.

Could Your Manufacturing Business Be Impacted By PFAS?
March 23, 2021, National Law Review
PFAS is the environmental issue manufacturers across many sectors need to pay attention to now. They are getting a lot of attention now because of potential negative environmental impacts. That attention is in the form of regulation, remediation obligations, and potential lawsuits, which means potential increased risk and liability that manufacturers need to proactively assess.

Window Safety Tips For Families With Children
March 24, 2021, Times of Oman
Windows let in light and fresh air and can provide breathtaking views, but it’s vital to observe window safety, especially when young children are in the home, say experts.

Will Marketplaces Become Legally Liable For What They Sell?
March 26, 2021, RetailWire
Purchasing from online marketplaces can be a gamble for customers. Now the state of California wants to put responsibility for the safety and quality of products sold through these platforms more squarely on the shoulders of operators. A new bill, introduced to the California State Assembly last month, would impose strict liability on online retailers that communicate sales offers or facilitate transactions with third parties, according to The National Law Review.

Recall Issued On Suzuki Quad Bikes Over Lack Of Safety Information
March 25, 2021, Beef Central
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) has issued a recall notice on 490 Suzuki Australia quad bikes sold in Australia, stating that they were sold without appropriate safety information and reflectors. “The products do not comply with the Consumer Goods (Quad Bikes) Safety Standard 2019,” the notice states. “The quad bikes have not been fitted with the required reflectors, compliance certificate labels and hang tags. Required information is missing from the owner’s manuals.”

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Two Tip-Overs In A Week Highlight Continued Threat Of Unstable Furniture
March 17, 2021, Consumer Reports
The incidents, including one death, occurred as Congress considers the “STURDY” Act, a bill meant to make furniture safer. Between 2000 and 2019, 351 people died from tip-overs involving furniture, according to a recent report from the CPSC.

Kids’ ER Visits For Swallowed Magnets Soared After U.S. Lifted Sales Ban
March 18, 2021, Health Day
Calls to U.S. poison centers about incidents involving children and high-powered magnets surged more than 400% after a court overturned a ban on the magnets, according to a new study from Nationwide Children’s Hospital in Ohio.

Why Experience-Led Companies Win (Video Quick Take)
March 17, 2021, Harvard Business Review
What we uncovered with the research is we actually think we’re entering an era of a renaissance of sorts, an experienced renaissance. And in this era, a new category of leadership will emerge.

Child Dies After Accident With Peloton Treadmill
March 18, 2021, The Washington Post
Peloton says a child died after an accident with a company treadmill. Peloton did not give many details, but said they know of “only a small handful of incidents” where a child was hurt involving its treadmills. The CPSC is investigating.

Duracell Joins With Pediatric Group To Promote Lithium Coin Battery Safety
March 16, 2021, KULR8.com
Duracell announced that it is teaming up with The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) to help educate parents and caregivers about the importance of lithium coin battery safety to help prevent accidental ingestions.

Will US Lawmakers Rein In Marketplace Counterfeits?
March 16, 2021, Retail Dive
Holding intellectual property rights violators accountable and ensuring that American innovators and creators have a full and fair opportunity is critical for both physical and online markets. This, according to Robert Lighthizer, U.S. Trade Representative.

CPSC: Keep Your Family Safe As dangerous Storms Spread Across Much Of The Country
March 17, 2021, cpsc.gov
As dangerous winter weather moves across the United States, including blizzards in Western states, tornadoes in Southern states and severe weather in Gulf states, the CPSC is warning consumers to protect themselves against carbon monoxide poisoning and fires. Consumers need to be especially careful during a loss of electrical power. Many use portable generators and other devices for sources of power and heat, exposing themselves to increased risk of carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning and fire.

Nothing Personal, But Ethical AI Is Our Strongest Weapon In Data Privacy Wars
March 18, 2021, Forbes
Scary ‘surveillance society’ headlines that vilify artificial intelligence (AI) distract from this technology’s equally powerful ability to protect our personal data. Researchers are exploring how AI-fueled anonymization tools can keep data models intact and in compliance with both government regulations and consumer expectations for trusted business. The simple truth about AI is that when used responsibly, it doesn’t have to force a costly bargain between personalization and privacy.

March 2021: Wrap Up Of Federal And State Chemical Regulatory Developments
March 2021, JD Supra

Toddler ‘Burned’ When Laundry Capsule Bursts
March 17, 2021, The Daily Mail
The mom said she turned her back for a split-second when the curious toddler picked up an ‘inviting’ multicolored pod, which she believes he mistook for a ‘squeezy toy’. The pod burst and the blue liquid covered his face and body.

If You Take This Medication: The CPSC Has A New Warning For You
March 18, 2021, Best Life
The CPSC announced that manufacturer Genentech had recalled approximately 14,000 units of prescription drug Evrysdi. The medication, used to treat spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) in children and adults, was packed in such a way that the bottles can leak and may lead to inadvertent exposure to the skin or eyes.

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Acting Chair Adler To Congress: CPSC “Current Funding Is Woefully Inadequate”
March 2021, USA Today
Sent to the House Appropriations Committee, this letter and the accompanying “Reinventing CPSC” document, speaks to Acting Chairman Adler’s passion for expanding agency funding. This would enable more funding for investigative staff in the areas of e-commerce, AI, selling through 3rd party vendors and internet-related topics.

Congress Adds $50m To CPSC Budget For Safety Checks On Toys
March 10, 2021, USA Today
Congress has embedded $50m to protect Americans from dangerous and deadly products in the $1.9 trillion stimulus bill bolstering a new mandate for stronger surveillance of the nation’s ports following an investigation that exposed major safety lapses during the pandemic.

How Has The Past Year Changed You And Your Organization?
March 10, 2021, Harvard Business Review
The pandemic represents a time of trial that cultural anthropologists call a liminal experience. We’ve each been tested differently. The challenge ahead, which is an opportunity, is to figure out how to come back together revitalized and stronger.

Daylight Saving Time: Spring Into The New Season With Safety
March 10, 2021, CPSC
March 14 marked the beginning of Daylight Saving Time when consumers turned their clocks one hour forward. As consumers welcome the new season, the CPSC wants you to add safety to your spring routine by changing the batteries in smoke and carbon monoxide (CO) alarms.

In 4 Days CBP Officers Seize Counterfeit Items Worth Over $290K
March 10, 2021, U.S. Customs and Border Protection
This month, the U.S. Customs and Border Protections officers at the port of St. Louis have seized a plethora of counterfeit items: six designer handbags, 21 designer outfits, 148 championship rings and 286 $100 bills. If the items were real, they would have been worth over $293,000.

UK Government To Modernize Product Safety Laws For The 21st Century
March 11, 2021, UK.gov
The UK now has full control of its product safety laws and can set its own rules in the best interests of British businesses and consumers. The UK government is considering how to ensure its product safety regime reflects recent innovations, new consumer products and cutting-edge technologies like AI and 3D printing.

Statement Of Commissioner Elliot F. Kaye On The CPSC’s Plan To Create An E-Filing Program For Imported Consumer Goods
March 2021, CPSC

Consumer Product Injuries: During The COVID-19 Pandemic (CPSC poster)
March 2021, CPSC
Data from Consumer Product Safety Commission Report, “Effect of Novel Coronavirus Pandemic on Preliminary NEISS Estimates.” January 2021. Report and COVID Safety Checklists available for download at CPSC.gov

The Big 3: Why Phthalates Should Be Restricted Or Banned From Consumer Products
March 10, 2021, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health
Russ Hauser, Frederick Lee Hisaw Professor of Reproductive Physiology and professor of environmental and occupational epidemiology, discusses a recent paper he co-authored with colleagues from Project TENDR (Targeting Environmental Neuro-Development Risks) that outlines the health dangers of chemicals called ortho-phthalates and calls for their elimination in consumer products.

Ready To Move Up The Ladder? 16 Ways To Show The Boss
March 11, 2021, Forbes
To advance in your career, you’ll need the support of managers and senior leaders. Of course, the larger your organization, the harder it can be to get noticed by decision makers with the power to promote you into a position of leadership.

HBR Management Tip: Financial Targets Don’t Motivate Employees
March 2021, Harvard Business Review

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CPSC Report Details COVID-19 Impact On Last Year’s ER Visits
March 4, 2021, cpsc.gov
The report is the first glimpse into injury patterns from the first 7 months of the pandemic. It is an overview of changes observed in reports from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System from March-September 2020.

Pandemic Causes Shifts In ER Visit Causes And Patterns
March 4, 2021, The Washington Post
The pandemic saw a dramatic shift in how Americans got hurt last year, according to a study from the CPSC. Sports injuries collapsed. Injuries from fireworks, bicycles and home power tools soared. Overall, ER visits were flat.

What To Do When Your Employee Is Totally Checked Out
March 5, 2020, Harvard Business Review
It’s frustrating when a team member mentally checks out. In some cases, this person does only the bare minimum. In others, they miss meet important deadlines or they drop the ball on critical projects. How can you determine what’s going on and decide how to address it.

EU Safety Gate Helps Take Dangerous Products Off The Market
March 2, 2021, The European Sting
The EC published its annual report on Safety Gate, the EU rapid alert system for taking dangerous non-food products off the market. The report shows actions are growing annually, reaching a new record number of 5,377, compared to 4,477 in 2019.

Sedgwick Brand Protection’s 2021 State Of The Nation Recall Index
March 2021,Sedgwick Brand Protection
In 2021, expect the COVID-19 to continue impacting regulatory oversight and enforcement activities for the first half of the year. The US report includes 5 considerations that companies should plan for.

CPSC Must Redo Rule Banning Chemicals From Kids’ Toys
March 1, 2021, Reuters Westlaw
A unanimous three-judge panel of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals remanded to the CPSC its rule prohibiting the manufacturing and sale of certain children’s toys and care articles saying that the Agency “procedurally erred,” in conducting its rulemaking responsibility.

Overheating Issues Prompt Recall And Replacement Of Australian Battery Storage Systems
March 1, 2021, Energy Storage News
LG Energy Solution, formerly known as LG Chem, is offering free replacements to customers for some of its battery energy storage systems sold in Australia due to potential defects that could cause overheating. A number of energy storage system (ESS) home batteries equipped with lithium battery cells from specific production lots produced during the period March 2017 to September 2018 “may overheat and catch fire,” a listing on consumer watchdog Product Safety Australia’s website said.

UNEP Study Finds Harmful Chemicals In 25% Of Childrens’ Toys
March 3, 2021, LISD
The UN Environment Programme (UNEP) has published a report that finds 25% of children’s toys contain harmful chemicals. Chemical additives are used in plastic toys and other plastic products to provide specific levels of hardness or elasticity. Many of these chemicals can harm children’s health, according to the study. The researchers recommend these substances be phased out in toys and replaced with safer alternatives.

Consumer Product Safety Enforcement To Heat Up Under Biden Administration
March 4, 2021, JD Supra
More aggressive enforcement actions and increased regulatory activities under the Biden Administration are here. In President Biden’s first weeks, he is making good on his promise to reverse course from the previous administration’s product safety agenda.

Democrats Demand More Government Regulation On Furniture
March 1, 2021, Reason
“The furniture industry has been allowed to self-regulate for too long—and with tragic consequences, as a child is injured by tipped furniture every 17 minutes,” said Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D–Conn.) in introducing the Stop Tip-Overs Of Unstable, Risky Dressers On Youth Act. The legislation would require the CPSC to develop more rigorous standards for dressers and other free-standing “clothing storage units” to prevent them from tipping over.

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

CPSC Expected To Ramp Up Enforcement Of Regulations
February 24, 2021, National Law Review
President Biden is expected to nominate a new CPSC commissioner and chair. This will bring the CPSC’ leadership to its full 5-person strength. It will also allow the CPSC to usher in a new era of increased regulation and more aggressive enforcement.

Prescription Drug Blister Packages Recalled Due To Risk Of Poisoning
February 25, 2021, CPSC
The products were labeled and distributed by Dr. Reddy’s for institutional use only. They were distributed by 3rd party wholesalers to retail pharmacies and could have been dispensed to consumers. The packaging is not child resistant.

How To Stay Optimistic (When Everything Is Awful)
February 25, 2021, Harvard Business Review
These are trying times for optimists. COVID deaths are tragically high. Job growth is stubbornly low. Many of our colleagues are feeling stressed, exhausted, angry. The author offers advice to help make you and your colleagues more optimistic.

Recalls In Review: Power Tools
February 24, 2021, Retail & Consumer Products Law Observer
The CPSC has regulated power tools at a consistent rate since the 1990s, conducting at least 93 recalls of power tools since 2001. This analysis covers recall data, civil penalties and types of products over a 20-year period.

“STURDY” Bill Meant To Stop Furniture Tip-Overs Reintroduced
February 24, 2021, Consumer Reports
The bill, introduced by Rep. Jan Schakowsky (D-IL), would require the CPSC to create a mandatory federal rule that would ensure furniture stability. Advocates charge that voluntary standards are inadequate.

Spin To Launch Disability Awareness Module For Scooter Riders
February 24, 2021, Intelligent Transport
E-scooter company Spin has announced a partnership with non-profit London Vision to educate Spin riders on safe riding and etiquette to help protect vulnerable pedestrian groups in the areas in which the e-scooter provider operates.

Toy Warning: Parents Can Check Kids’ Toys For List Of 126 Potentially Harmful Chemicals
February 24, 2021, The Sun
Parents can check their children’s toys to see if they’ve been made with potentially harmful chemicals. It comes after a study by the United Nations found 126 chemicals in hard, soft and foam plastic toys that could cause long-term illnesses in children. In total, UN Environment researchers found the dangerous chemicals in a quarter of childrens’ toys based on existing studies.

The Chemical BPF Can Be Linked To Children’s Cognitive Development
February 24, 2021, Medical Xpress
Researchers at Karlstad University, Uppsala University and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York have found that exposure to bisphenol F (BPF) during early pregnancy can be linked to poorer cognitive function in children at seven years of age.

KULR And CSA Group To Develop New Battery Safety And Testing Procedures For Canada
February 25, 2021, EIN Presswire
KULR Technology Group, Inc., a leading developer of next-generation lithium-ion battery safety and thermal management technologies, announced a joint collaboration with the CSA Group (formerly the Canadian Standards Association), a leading standards development organization and a global provider of testing and certification services, to develop a new battery safety and testing procedure to be titled: C22.2 No. 350 Test Method for Safety and Performance of Thermal Barriers For Use in Batteries and Battery Based Energy Storage Systems.

New EU Battery Rules Support A Sustainable Energy Industry
February 23, 2021, PV Magazine
The European Commission proposal 2020/353 (Batteries Regulation) is more than 100 pages long and comprises 79 articles, 14 annexes, and about 30 pieces of secondary legislation. As one of the first product-specific legislative proposals under Ursula von der Leyen, the Batteries Regulation is a key element in the implementation of the European Green Deal. The EU classifies batteries as a strategic value chain and puts them at the core of its economic and technological leadership initiatives. With the goal of establishing a competitive ecosystem based on innovative and sustainable batteries made in Europe, the continent’s Strategic Action Plan on Batteries already foresaw in 2017 a new legislative setting designed to “ensure consistency with the EU’s broader enabling and regulatory framework.”

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