Bipartisan Bill Aims To Ban Potentially Hazardous Water Beads Sold As Children’s Toys
May 9, 2024, NBC News
A bipartisan bill, named “Esther’s Law”, was introduced in the U.S. Senate. It proposes a ban on the sale of water beads designed or marketed as children’s toys, sensory tools or educational or art materials. The bill is sponsored by Senators Tammy Baldwin (D-WI) Bob Casey (D-PA) and Susan Collins (R-ME). “Parents buy toys and educational materials for their kids with the understanding those products are safe for their children. Sadly, with water beads that is just not the case,” Baldwin said in a statement. The bill instructs the CPSC to establish the ban, since the agency has the authority to outlaw hazardous products to protect the public.

New UL Report: How E-Bike Awareness Gaps And Behavior Increase Battery Fire Risks
May 7, 2024, KTLA News 5
UL Standards & Engagement released a report that reveals e-bike and e-scooter owners’ alarming misunderstanding of the lithium-ion batteries that power their devices and the fire threat that they pose. Further, the report identified a series of dangerous practices, from unsafe charging habits to blocking exit paths in the event of a fire. “The massive growth of the e-bike and e-scooter market has not been matched by consumer safety education on these devices,” said Sayon Deb, director of primary insights at UL Standards & Engagement. This report comes on the heels of UL Standards & Engagement’s April 19 update of UL 2272, the Standard for Electrical Systems for Personal E-Mobility Devices. Read the Report

How To Present To An Audience That Knows More Than You
May 8, 2024, Harvard Business Review
What happens when you have to give a presentation to an audience that might have some professionals who have more expertise on the topic than you do? While it can be intimidating, it can also be an opportunity to leverage their deep and diverse expertise in service of the group’s learning. This article offers several tips for how you might approach a roomful of experts, including how to invite them into the discussion without allowing them to completely take over. It also advises how to pivot on the proposed topic when necessary.

State Level PFAS Regulations Are Coming: Are You Ready?
May 9, 2024, JD Supra
As the Environmental Protection Agency expands its regulation of per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a number of states have also taken steps to regulate the use, production, and sale of products containing PFAS. It is critical to understanding how a state defines PFAS and whether (and how) any of the requirements apply to your product. It’s complicated. Some states are legislating PFAS as a class using a very broad definition, while others are targeting specific PFAS chemicals. Commercial and industrial producers should be aware of any new obligations that may affect their business practices.

No, The Biden Administration Is Not Banning Portable Gas Generators
May 9, 2024, NBC News 12
Is the Biden administration banning portable gas-powered generators? In response to numerous carbon monoxide poisoning deaths and injuries caused by portable gas-powered generators, the Consumer Product Safety Commission proposed a rule in March 2023 that would regulate the carbon monoxide emissions and auto-shutoff sensitivity of new portable gas-powered generators. This regulation would not ban portable gas-powered generators, but would instead require manufacturers to meet new standards when manufacturing portable generators. The rule combines two preexisting industry standards that portable generator manufacturers can currently voluntarily follow.

Breaking Down Virginia Tech’s Helmet Ratings
May 7, 2024, SLOWTWITCH.com
By law, all bicycle helmets sold in the US must be certified by the Consumer Product Safety Commission If you look inside your helmet, you will find a sticker that attests to this certification. The CPSC testing is pass/fail and involves four tests, one of which is a drop test. The pass/fail threshold for the drop test is the point of skull fracture. As helmet consumers, all we know from the CPSC certification is that our helmet passed the minimum standard to be sold to us in the US and will hopefully prevent a skull fracture. However, we don’t know from the CPSC certification the extent to which any particular helmet reduces concussion risk. That’s where the Virginia Tech Lab comes in with much more involved and rigorous helmet testing.

$3.0m Available In Pool Safely Grants To Help Prevent Drownings And Drain Entrapment
May 10, 2024, cpsc.gov
The Consumer Product Safety Commission urges state, local, and tribal governments to apply for up to $3.0 million in grant funding for the Pool Safely Grant Program (PSGP or grant program). The two-year grants are to be used to reduce deaths and injuries from drowning and drain entrapment incidents in pools and spas. The PSGP is an essential part of CPSC’s national campaign to prevent drowning and drain entrapment. Drowning is one of the leading causes of death among young children. The grant awards will range from $50,000 to $400,000 each and is authorized through the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act (VGB Act).

How Resale Marketplaces Safety-Check Hard Goods Like Car Seats & Strollers
May 8, 2024, Modern Retail
Resale marketplaces like The RealReal and StockX must verify and authenticate shoes, apparel and other soft goods on a daily basis. But for platforms that sell open-box or secondhand hard goods — many of which have safety risks or expiration dates — vetting products becomes a more high-stakes game. Selling hard goods, however, can be challenging. Compared to soft goods, hard goods may require more frequent manual vetting. Here’s how three resale platforms approach vetting their products to ensure they’re safe to use.

Mega-Tac Adhesive Recalled; Failure To Meet Poison Prevention Packaging Act; No Recall Or Remedy Offered
May 9, 2024, cpsc.gov
The Consumer Product Safety Commission is warning consumers to stop using Mega-Tac Permanent Adhesive, Silicon Liquid Glue. The glue bottles do not comply with the child-resistant packaging requirements under the Poison Prevention Packaging Act (PPPA), posing a poisoning hazard to young children if ingested. CPSC issued a Notice of Violation to the importer Genesis Inc., of Puerto Rico, but the firm has not agreed to recall this product or offer a remedy to consumers. 

Commentary: Buying Fakes Hurts Americans, Helps Criminals
May 8, 2024, MyJournalCourier
Employees who make high-quality U.S. goods have to compete with reality TV, which is celebrating the counterfeit market that’s costing these workers jobs. Whether it’s name-brand jeans, designer handbags or a must-have child’s toy, there is a black market of counterfeits that pretend to be American-made products but are lower-quality knock-offs. For some shoppers, buying these fakes is a thrill. That’s the sentiment behind the ABC News Impact production picked up by Hulu: “Super Fakes: The Shadow World of Counterfeit Purses.” But whether it’s knockoff handbags or counterfeit car parts, the effects are the same: American workers lose market share, and American consumers wind up with potentially unsafe products.

First Sturdy Act Recall: Dressers Recalled For Violating Tipover Standard
May 2, 2024, Woodworking Network
The Consumer Product Safety Commission recalled the Mill Valley Junior, a six-drawer dresser that was sold exclusively at Rooms to Go. The recall was for violating a year-old, federally mandated tip-over standard. This is the first action CPSC has taken due to a violation under the STURDY (Stop Tip-overs of Unstable, Risky Dressers on Youth) standard since it went into effect last year. According to the CPSC notice, the recalled dressers, which were imported by LFN Limited and manufactured in Vietnam, are unstable if they are not properly anchored to the wall, posing serious tip-over and entrapment hazards.

CPSC: Stop Using Floatstep Dock Ladders Due To Risk Of Fingertip Amputation And Crushing Injuries; No Acceptable Recall Offered
May 2, 2024, cpsc.gov
The Consumer Product Safety Commission is urgingconsumers not to purchase or sell Floatstep Dock Ladders and to stop using and dispose of the dock ladders immediately. The dock ladders have pinch points which can cause fingertip crushes and amputations. Two people have suffered fingertip amputations while using the ladders in incidents in Kentucky in 2022 and Florida in 2018. The manufacturer, Atlantic Aluminum and Marine Products Inc., of Lantana, Florida, has not agreed to an acceptable recall of the dock ladders at this time.

Four Reasons Why Managers Fail
April 11, 2024, Harvard Business Review
Gartner research has found that managers today are accountable for 51% more responsibilities than they can effectively manage — and they’re starting to buckle under the pressure. According to data from a 2018 study, 54% are suffering from work-induced stress and fatigue and 44% are struggling to provide personalized support to their direct reports. Ultimately, one in five managers said they would prefer not being people managers given a choice. Further analysis found that 48% of managers are at risk of failure. This article offers four predictors of manager failure and offers suggestions for organizations on how to address them.

Gov. Polis signs bill strengthening Colorado’s ‘forever chemical’ product bans
May 2, 2024, The Hill
Colorado Gov. Jared Polis (D) signed into law a bill that will result in sweeping bans of “forever chemicals” across a wide range of consumer products. The law expands upon existing state legislation that prohibited the sale or distribution of certain products containing PFAS compounds, while laying out a specific timeline for the implementation of each ban. The compounds, of which there are thousands, are staple ingredients in industrial discharge, certain types of firefighting foam and many household items. 

 Bausch + Lomb recalls Project Watson dog eye wipes due to risk of bacteria, fungus exposure
May 2, 2024, KSBY 6 News
A recall was issued for Bausch + Lomb’s Project Watson dog eyelid wipes because of the risk that fungi and bacteria can begin to grow in the containers, posing a risk of infection for pets, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said. The company believes that when the package is opened, organisms can flourish in the container and can pose a risk not only to pets but to their human guardians as well, the consumer safety agency said. This risk is increased in those with weakened immune systems.

Bike Helmets Recalled: 140,000 And Counting Don’t Meet Safety Standards; 13 Separate Recalls
May 1, 2024, U.S. PIRG
Since Jan. 1, 2023, more than 140,000 bicycle helmets sold in the United States have been recalled because they didn’t meet federal safety standards. So far this year, from Jan. 1 through April 30, five brands of helmets have been recalled. During 2023, there were an additional eight, for a total of 13. During 2023 and 2024, eight were for children or youth. The total, so far, is 142,958 products recalled. All but one of the helmets were manufactured in China. All but one were modestly priced at $50 or less. Two of them were sold exclusively on Temu.com.

CPSC: Stop Using Floatwheel Self- Balancing Electric Skateboards; Fall And Crash Hazards; Chinese Maker Refuses CPSC Request For Recall And Product Information
May 2, 2024, cpsc.gov
The Consumer Product Safety Commission is warning consumers about the risk of death and serious injuries with Floatwheel’s self-balancing electric skateboards. Floatwheel, of China, has refused to agree to CPSC’s request for a recall and has refused to supply information to CPSC about the products. CPSC also advises that imports of the Floatwheel skateboards may be subject to enforcement action at U.S. ports to prevent their importation. The Floatwheel skateboards are currently sold on a Russian website for between $1,600 and $1,800.

Editorial: Indiana AG Rokita Right To Target Forever Chemicals
May 2, 2024, The Republic (Indiana)
Most everyone can appreciate the convenience of waterproof and nonstick products. But at what cost to public health and the environment? Indiana Attorney General Todd Rokita has filed a lawsuit against 22 companies in the state that, allegedly, have tried to conceal their longtime use of “forever chemicals” and the potential cost to human health. Defendants in the lawsuit include heavy hitters such as 3M Company, DuPont, Corteva, United Technologies and Carrier Global. Rokita is doing the right thing by holding almost two dozen companies operating in Indiana accountable for hiding those costs, allegedly, in order to sell their products.

The United Kingdom Intends To Recognize CE-Marked Weighing And Measuring Instruments Indefinitely
May 2, 2024, NIST
Before Brexit, products placed on the UK market had to comply with the EU directives and bear a CE mark (when applicable) to show compliance with these directives. After Brexit, the UK has implemented new UK regulations as a replacement for the EU directives. The UKCA mark was introduced as the new compliance mark for the UK market. The UK implemented a transition period ending on December 31, 2024, giving manufacturers and importers time to implement the new UK regulations into their business operations. However, on January 24, the UK government announced that it intends to legislate to continue recognition of EU requirements, including the CE marking, indefinitely for a range of product regulations this spring.

Connecticut Senate Targets More Products That Contain Pfas ‘Forever Chemicals’
May 2, 2024, CT News Junkie
The Connecticut Senate passed a bill that could ban the sale of many products that typically contain long-lasting, harmful chemicals that fall under a group called “PFAS.” The bill would ban the use of 14 products that contain the so-called “forever chemicals” – such as cleaning products, fabric treatments, and menstruation products. The ban on the sale of those products will be enacted on Jan. 1, 2028, with manufacturers being required to submit reports to the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection that include a description of a product and the amount of PFAS chemicals is in it. That requirement will go into effect on Jan 1, 2026.

Commissioner Trumka: “CPSC Revamps Chronic Hazards Guidelines, Making It Easier To Protect You From Toxic Chemicals In Your Home”
April 15, 2024, cpsc.gov
Commissioner Trumka: “The Commission unanimously approved new chronic hazard guidelines that improve the agency’s ability to protect you from toxic chemicals. After today, we can apply the latest methods in toxicology and use current scientific insight, including research and findings from other federal agencies, universities, and professional toxicologists. That is a major leap forward.

Joint Statement Of Commissioners Feldman And Dziak On CPSC Chronic Hazard Guidelines
April 15, 2024, cpsc.gov
The Consumer Product Safety Commission approved updates to its guidelines for assessing chronic hazards under the Federal Hazardous Substances Act. Under the guidelines, when industry and the Commission conduct such assessments, they should proceed according to sound science, accurate data, and best practices in the field.

China: New Products Under CCC Obligation Beginning May 2025/ July 2025
April 18, 2024, china-certification.com
On April 10, 2024, China’s Certification and Accreditation Administration published several major changes regarding the China Compulsory Certification (CCC) area in its announcement No. 09/2024. Among other things, the list of products subject to CCC will be expanded to include several new product categories that were previously not part of the scope. The CCC certification is a mandatory certification in China that ensures that certain categories of products meet national safety and quality standards before they can be sold or imported in China. Product tests in China and annual factory audits are part of the CCC certification. Here is a list of the products that are now subject to the CCC certification requirement, including deadlines to be observed.

Should You Quit Your “Meh” Job? Or Is It Salvageable?
April 19, 2024, Harvard Business Review 
Bad days at work are inevitable. In this article, the author shares advice from two experts on what to do if you’re stuck in the gray area of deciding whether your job is merely mediocre or downright soul-crushing. Among the questions to ask yourself the authors include these: 1) Is the workplace toxic? 2) Do you feel depleted? 3) Are you miserable or are you bored? 4) Is there anything about the job you enjoy?

California Legislature Aims Two More Nails At The PFAS Coffin
April 17, 2024, National Law Review
Two bills, quite different in scope but both aiming to further restrict the use or presence of per-and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in various products, are currently wending their way through the California legislature. One bill could affect all types of products on the market, while the other is narrowly focused on a single product category. Both bills, Senate Bill 903 and Assembly Bill 2525, have now been read twice and amended at least twice.

‘It Feels Like A Gamble’ – Bike Shop Sees Shimano Cranks Fail 5 Months After Passing Inspection
April 17, 2024, Cycling Weekly
The crank, one of around 2.8 million affected, failed without the rider knowing and was previously inspected by a mechanic at Surrey Hills Cycle Works. Business Owner Dave Farmer believes the only way to guarantee the safety of the affected Hollowtech II cranks sold between 2012 and 2019 is “constant inspection.” The European ‘free inspection program’ – vs a recall of affected cranks in the US – did not require all affected products to be replaced, something which Farmer considers a “gamble” on Shimano’s part. The approach was deemed a “very unusual approach to corrective action”, by a legal expert, in an interview with Cycling Weekly. 

Staying Safe Around Beach Umbrellas Just Became An Official Standard
April 19, 2024, EINPresswires
ASTM International’s Consumer Products Committee has developed a standard specification for Beach Umbrellas and Anchor Devices. Each year, approximately 3,000 individuals in the United States end up in emergency rooms due to accidents involving beach umbrellas. These injuries prompted a concerted effort by officials to make beach umbrellas safer. Beginning its work in November 2021, the American Society of Testing Materials (ASTM), with the help from engineers from the Consumer product Safety Commission have jointly announced the passage of ASTM F3681-24 safety standard aimed at safeguarding beachgoers from potential hazards posed by unstable umbrellas.

CPSC: Stop Using Chibebe Snuggle Pods Due To Suffocation Hazard; No Recall Or Remedy
April 18, 2024, cpsc.gov
The Consumer Product Safety Commission is warning consumers to immediately stop using the Chibebe Snuggle Pods because they pose a suffocation hazard to infants. The snuggle pods violate the infant pillow ban because of their flexible fabric covering, loose filling, and ability to easily flatten and conform to an infant’s body or face. CPSC issued a Notice of Violation to the manufacturer, Millisage LLC, d/b/a Chibebe, of Sheridan, Wyoming, but the firm has not agreed to recall these infant pillows or offer a remedy to consumers. 

Analysis: Will The EU AI Act Work? Lessons Learned From Past Legislative Initiatives, Future Challenges
April 17, 2024, International Association of Privacy Professionals
The EU Artificial Intelligence Act is not yet published in the Official Journal of the European Union. Yet its unquestionably disruptive value as the world’s first legislative effort to regulate AI is sparking a lot of debate. When creating the legislative framework, without a precedent to refer to, the European Commission chose the product safety framework, making it part of the so-called harmonization legislation regulating products circulating in the single market. The chosen structure for regulating AI in Europe not only has its own merits but also constitutes, in its final form, a novel approach at the intersection between technical product safety legislation and legislation intended to protect fundamental rights.

Federal Trade Commission Update: March 18 – 29, 2024
April 19, 2021, Retail Consumer Products Law

Consistency In Australian Helmet Laws Needed After Introduction Of New Safety Standards
April 18, 2024, AUSCYSLING
While a wider range of cycling helmets may soon be available in Australia, cyclists should think twice before rushing out to buy a new model. A potential increase in the range of helmets comes after the federal government recently adopted a recommendation of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission to recognize some international helmet standards. The decision will allow suppliers to import and sell helmets that comply with the latest voluntary Australian standard or comparable international standards, potentially expanding the range of helmets available to Australian riders. However, state and territory governments are yet to recognize the change.

Commissioners Feldman And Dziak: We Oppose The New “Value Of Statistical Life” Methodology
April 3, 2024, cpsc.gov
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has adopted a new cost-benefit methodology that needlessly places future Commission rulemakings in jeopardy.  CPSC will now calculate regulatory benefits using a “value of statistical life” (VSL) that counts the lives of people under 18 years old as being worth double those of anyone 18 or older.  This unprecedented policy rejects how every other federal agency conducts such analyses.  It is economically questionable and legally risky.  Rules that are struck down in court offer zero consumer protection.  Therefore, we oppose this change.

Commissioner Trumka: “Today’s Action Will Not Just Improve CPSC Rules – It Is A Model For All Government Agencies To Adopt”
April 3, 2024, cpsc.gov
Americans see great value in prioritizing children’s lives.  We do more, and spend more, to protect kids than we do to protect ourselves. Today, CPSC incorporates that reality into our decision-making in a way that will make it easier for us to pass rules to protect kids. CPSC now says we will value saving a child’s life twice as much as before.  And today’s action will not just improve CPSC’s rules—it is a model that every government agency can adopt and should. 

Defective Laundry Detergent Packages Recalled Nationwide Due To Serious Injury Risk
April 5, 2024, KSNT.com
The Consumer Product Safety Commission says 8.2 million laundry detergent packages are being recalled as they pose serious health risks to children. These include Tide Pods, Gain Flings, Ace Pods and Ariel Pods laundry detergent packets. They were sold through major retailers like Walmart, Family Dollar, Big Lots, CVS, Home Depot, Sam’s Club and Target along with Amazon.com. The danger with the recalled products lies with the outer packaging on the pods. This can split open near the zipper track, posing a hazard for children who might ingest the laundry detergent or expose it to their skin and/or eyes.

3 Career-Building Strategies For An Increasingly Complex World Of Work
April 5, 2024, Harvard Business Review
Most workers used to have fixed roles within a hierarchical organization, but today the nature of work is becoming fluid and dynamic. Project-based work and freelancing are increasingly common, and many roles are now defined by outcomes rather than hours spent at a desk. Success in this new work environment requires not only recognizing that this shift has taken place but also actively strategizing to leverage it to your advantage. It’s crucial, the authors argue, to adopt three key strategies: Leveraging digital platforms and networks; Utilizing open talent and freelancers as a secret weapon and; Harnessing the power of AI to augment your capabilities.

Analysis: The EU’s New Product Liability Directive
April 4, 2024, Clyde & Co.
The Product Liability Directive increases the liability of economic operators and explicitly includes AI systems. Companies that were not previously potential defendants will now be liable. The EU class action and other future EU directives are expected to further increase the liability risk for companies. The new presumption rules on product defects and causality, combined with the (far-reaching) disclosure obligations of defendants, make the defense of defendants even more difficult.

CPSC Hearing On 2025 And 2026 Agenda And Priorities
April 3, 2024, cpsc.gov
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has scheduled a public hearing on May 8, 2024, to hear stakeholders’ views on the Commission’s priorities for fiscal years 2025 and 2026. Held annually, this hearing allows the Commission to learn from industry members, experts, and consumer advocates while it starts to develop priorities and goals for the next two years. The hearing also gives industry members early insights into what products may be subject to new or updated safety standards in the near future.

2 Million Clothing Steamers Recalled After Dozens Of Burn Injuries
April 4, 2024, Pittsburgh Post Gazette
About 2 million Black & Decker-branded clothing steamers are now under recall after dozens of reports of burn injuries from hot water spewing out of the devices. Empower Brands is significantly expanding a previously announced recall of Black & Decker Model HGS011 Easy Garment Steamers. Nearly 520,000 of these steamers were recalled in November 2022. At the time, a repair remedy was offered — but there have been continued reports of burn injuries involving the repaired units since, the CPSC said. Empower Brands is now recalling another 1.6 million steamers to cover all units of the model, including those that were previously repaired, and offering full refunds instead.

USAID Partners With Standards Organization Of Nigeria To Reduce Lead Poisoning And Protect Nigerian Children
April 2, 2024, U.S. Embassy.gov
The U.S. Government through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and the Government of Nigeria, through the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON), have agreed to collaborate on mitigating lead poisoning in Nigeria.  They plan to enhance surveillance, regulation, and enforcement of standards related to consumer goods and paints in Nigeria. “USAID is committed to leading the Government of Nigeria’s mitigation efforts to save Nigerian children from further risk of lead exposure,” said USAID/Nigeria Mission Director, Melissa A. Jones in a meeting with SON Director General Dr. Ifeanyi Chukwunonso Okeke.

CPSC: Stop Using OmvedTherapies Baby Pillows Due To Suffocation Hazard; No Recall Or Remedy Offered
April 4, 2024, cpsc.gov
The Consumer Product Safety Commission is warning consumers to stop using the OmvedTherapies infant pillows because they pose a suffocation hazard to infants. The pillows violate the infant pillow ban because of their flexible fabric covering, loose filling and ability to easily flatten and conform to an infant’s body or face. CPSC issued a Notice of Violation to the manufacturer, Omved Lifestyle Pvt. Ltd., of India, but the firm has refused to recall these infant pillows or offer a remedy to consumers. 

CPSC: Stop Using True Brothers Fuel Bottles Due To Risk Of Poisoning, Burn, And Flash Fire Hazards; No Recall Or Remedy Offered
April 4, 2024, cpsc.gov
The Consumer Product Safety Commission is warning consumers to immediately stop using True Brothers refillable fuel bottles sold by Shenzhen Yinglong Industrial because they pose a risk of poisoning and burns to children due to lack of a child resistant closure, which violates the Children’s Gasoline Burn Prevention Act. CPSC issued a Notice of Violation to the seller Shenzhen Yinglong Industrial Co., Ltd. of China, doing business as LetSports, but the firm has not agreed to recall these fuel bottles or offer a remedy to consumers. 

France Votes To Ban ‘Forever Chemicals,’ Exempting Frying Pans
April 4, 2024, POLITICO
The French National Assembly unanimously adopted a bill aimed at restricting the manufacture and sale of products containing per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances — also known as PFAS or “forever chemicals.” The MPs, backed by the government, voted to exclude kitchen utensils from the scope of the text. Manufacturers of frying pans and saucepans — including the SEB group, which owns Tefal — are exempt from this ban.

Prop 65: Manufacturer Faces Lawsuit Over Allegedly Deceptive Marketing Of Children’s Products
April 2, 2024, yahoo.com
A lawsuit in California alleges that popular baby and toddler bibs are exposing kids to dangerous PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), while falsely labeling the product. The company labels claim that the product is “safety tested to meet or exceed all regulations.” The suit alleges that Bumkins Marvel and DC comic-themed bibs violate California’s Proposition 65, which requires companies to provide warnings about “significant exposures to chemicals that cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm.”

Feds Now Investigating The Houston Drowning Death In Hotel Pool
March 28, 2024, Click2Houston.com
The Consumer Product Safety Commission confirms they’ve launched a federal investigation into the drowning death of Aliyah Jaico at a Houston hotel pool. Investigators with the CPSC were at the pool to determine if a product regulated by the agency may be connected to the death and if the pool complied with the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act. The law aims to enhance the safety of swimming pools and spas. A recent inspection report by the City of Houston uncovered significant violations at the pool.

Remarks: CPSC Chair Hoehn-Saric Expresses Concern About Lack Of Clarity Over What New Budget Will Be
February 15, 2024, cpsc.gov
As he has said in other public meetings, there is a “lack of clarity” over what the agency’s new annual budget will be. Limited resources and uncertainty are slowing agency safety efforts. He told members of the American Apparel & Footwear Association that when the agency gets its final appropriations, ” I fear that it will reflect a decrease in our budget from last year, further complicating matters.”

The Most Common Type Of Incompetent Leader
March 30, 2024, Harvard Business Review
The popular media is full of examples of bad leaders in government, academia and business. But the most common kind of incompetent leader isn’t the ranting, narcissistic sociopath that might immediately come to mind. Rather, it’s the “absentee leader” — those in leadership roles who are psychologically absent from them. These people were promoted into management and enjoy the privileges and rewards of a leadership role but avoid meaningful involvement with their teams. 

Highest Number Of Nursery Product Recalls In Over A Decade And First Water Beads Recall Since 2013
March 27, 2028, Kids In Danger (KID)
Kids In Danger (KID) released a new report, Recall Radar: Nursery Product Recalls in 2023 Highest in Over a Decade, analyzing children’s products recalls in 2023. The Consumer Product Safety Commission recalled 26 nursery products. Eleven of these and 20 additional warnings were due to suffocation hazards as products violated federal safety regulations for infant sleep products. “Children’s product recalls are the highest in a decade,” said Dev Gowda, KID Deputy Director. “While this could be an indication the CPSC is working as intended and is recalling dangerous products effectively, policymakers should increase funding for the agency so it can adequately protect our families from unsafe products,” Gowda concluded.

Study Fnds Most Mothers Don’t Adhere To Safe Infant Sleep Guidelines
March 26, 2024, Sleep Review
A Pediatrics study delves into mothers’ perceptions and practices regarding the American Academy of Pediatrics’ safe sleep guidelines. While mothers acknowledge the recommendations, they find them impractical and resort to non-recommended practices to help their infants sleep. These practices include holding or rocking infants to sleep and using products not approved for sleep. The study authors suggest the need for interventions to educate parents about the risks and promote developmentally appropriate sleep strategies for infants.

PFAS In Children’s Products: State-By-State Regulations – March 2024
March 28, 2024, JD Supra
PFAS in Children’s Products is a major focus for state legislators across the country, prompting some of the most stringent PFAS restrictions in consumer products. Thus far, eight states have enacted legislation concerning PFAS substances in Children’s or Juvenile Products (“Children’s Products”). Seven additional states have proposed Children’s Products laws, and many of these are expected to continue to move through the legislative process in future months.

EU Rapid Alert System For Dangerous Non-Food Products – 2023 Results
March 28, 2024, Ministry of Trade and Industry
On March, 14, 2024, the European Commission published a report on the functioning of the Safety Gate Rapid Alert System for non-food products for 2023. The report includes statistical summaries of products that did not comply with the requirements of European Union legislation and were discovered by the market surveillance authorities of each EU Member State and EEC (European Economic Area) States during 2023. The report also includes brief information on Coordinated Activities on the Safety of Products, information on international cooperation in product safety and a reminder of the importance of online sale of products. 

CPSC: Stop Using Elide Fire Extinguishing Balls Due To Failure To Extinguish Fires And Risk Of Serious Injury Or Death; No Recall Or Remedy Offered
March 28, 2024, cpsc.gov
The Consumer Product Safety Commission is warning consumers about the risk of burns and smoke inhalation associated with the use of Elide brandfire extinguishing balls. These products can fail to extinguish a fire, which could lead to serious injury and death.  The products fail to meet the requirements of UL 299 Dry Chemical Fire Extinguishers and UL 711 Rating and Fire Testing of Fire Extinguishers, which are voluntary safety standards. Elide Fire USA has not agreed to recall these fire extinguishing balls or offer a remedy to consumers.

JPMA Cares Baby Safety University – Stroller Safety
March 2024, Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association
As families get outdoors to make memories together, they should follow the latest guidance on safely using on-the-go gear. Let’s make a day out and about so much more enjoyable for not only the little ones, but for mom and dad, too! While we use strollers often, it’s always a good idea to stay up-to-date on the latest safety tips.

Advocacy – Synthetic Turf Fields, Forever Chemicals, And The Safety Alternative: Organic Grass
March 27, 2024, Beyond Pesticides
A preliminary experiment conducted by Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility (PEER) reveals levels of toxic per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) on the skin of soccer players and coaches after playing on artificial turf fields. The Washington Post reported on March 12 on the PEER test results, which found PFAS levels increased on the skin in three out of four participants following soccer matches on artificial turf. In contrast, no similar increase was observed after games on natural grass fields. The presence of PFAS is alarming due to their association with several serious health issues, including cancer, birth defects, and developmental and immune deficiencies, among others.

Bill Banning Products Made With PFAS Moves Forward In New Hampshire
March 26, 2024, Concord Monitor
Mattresses, feminine hygiene products, food packaging and several other everyday items with added forever chemicals, may face a potential ban as a bill prohibiting their sale and distribution in New Hampshire progresses forward to the House of Representatives. Members of the House Finance Committee voted in support of House Bill 1649, which prohibits consumer products that are intentionally added with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in New Hampshire. If the bill passes, the ban will take effect in July 2028.

CPSC At ICPHSO: 2024 Enforcement Priorities
March 21-24, 2024, JD Supra
The Consumer Product Safety Commission was well represented at the International Consumer Product Health and Safety Organization’s annual symposium in last February Orlando. Agency representatives provided a number of insights to consumer product safety stakeholders. Throughout the symposium, they highlighted the agency’s priorities as presented in the agency’s 2024 Operating Plan, including planned final rules, planned proposed rules and enforcement priorities. In addition to final rules for ATVs and general wearing apparel that it issued earlier this year, CPSC plans to finalize proposed rules for gas furnaces, infant and toddler rockers, infant support cushions, nursing pillows, portable generators, table saws and window covering cords.

Part Two: CPSC at ICPHSO: Office of Compliance Activity

Part Three: CPSC at ICPHSO: E-commerce platforms

Part Four: CPSC at ICPHSO: Reese’s Law

and product safety responsibilities

and Mandatory eFiling Requirement

CPSC Chairman Hoehn-Saric Invited To Keynote 2024 Professional Certification Program At Virginia Tech
March 24, 2024, einpressire
Chairman Alexander Hoehn-Saric is the invited speaker to deliver the keynote address for the 2024 Consumer Product Safety Professional Certification Program at the opening session being held at Virginia Tech’s Research Center in Arlington, Virginia on August 29. The program’s 22-member instructor panel for 2024 includes experts covering areas including organization culture and ethics, risk assessment and hazard analysis, test labs, regulatory compliance, data management and artificial intelligence, product investigations, human factors, and product recall management. CPSC professional staff have been among the course instructors explaining their work at the agency since the Certification program was inaugurated in 2019. Chairman Hoehn-Saric looks to the product safety community for help in achieving the agency’s goals. “CPSC cannot achieve our safety mission alone,” he recently told the International Consumer Product Health Organization (ICPHSO) annual conference in Orlando, Florida.

CPSC Report: Deaths lLnked To Carbon Monoxide From Heaters And Generators Continue To Climb
March 21, 2024, Family Safety & Health
Heaters, portable generators and other related products have sparked an increasing number of carbon monoxide-related deaths, according to a new report from the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Using 2010-2020 data, researchers estimate that non-fire CO poisoning deaths associated with consumer products under CPSC’s authority rose to an all-time high of 254 in 2019. That total dropped to 211 in 2020, but still exceeds all estimated totals from the previous nine-year period. Generators (92) and portable heaters (33) were linked to the most CO deaths in 2020.

When You Know You Weren’t The First Choice For Your New Role
March 21, 2024, Harvard Business Review
It’s common to experience imposter feelings when taking on a new, more senior role. That negative self-talk can feel justified when you were originally rejected from the job. But you can use this second chance as an opportunity to become a better leader. The author presents four strategies to quiet the imposter syndrome voices in your head if you weren’t the first pick for the job.

Commissioner Boyle On Vote To Advance Proposed Rulemaking On Bassinets And Cradles
March 20, 2024, cpsc.gov
In part, Commissioner Mary Boyle’s statement reads, “The Commission has voted unanimously to advance a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking to revise the safety standard for bassinets and cradles. I thank CPSC staff for their work over many years to develop the array of strong safety standards for durable and infant toddler products that CPSC now has on the books.” She goes on to explain, “this latest effort builds on the statutory command that the Commission periodically reviews and revises. These standards ensure that they provide the highest level of safety for such products that is feasible.”

What You Should Do When You Own A Product That Has Been Recalled
March 19, 2024, My Northwest
The Consumer Product Safety Commission announced 323 product recalls last year, the most in seven years. Tens of millions of items, including toys, clothing and home appliances, were involved. When a company offers a refund, the information is entered into a new report. However, it can sometimes be difficult to collect the information. “These products are recalled for a wide range of risks, including fire burns, falls, cuts, choking, and suffocation as well as exposure to toxic chemicals,” Herb Weisbaum, contributing editor of checkbook.org told Seattle’s Morning News. “it’s really concerning if people don’t find out about them or pay attention and return the products or stop using them,” he said.

PeopleForBikes Developing Industry Comment On CPSC E-Bike Rulemaking
March 19, 2024, Bike Retailer
Industry group PeopleForBikes will work on a “comprehensive comment” in support of the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s decision to address e-bike injury risks with new federal rules. The commenting period will remain open until May 15. “This is the moment the bicycle industry has been waiting for and PeopleForBikes is prepared to respond to this critical call to action,” said Jenn Dice, PeopleForBikes’ president and CEO. PeopleForBikes said it planned to “develop a comprehensive comment in support of reasonable regulatory standards for electric bicycles. The organization’s goals include resolving the various open issues around this technology.”

CPSC: Stop Using Comfi Baby Infant Walkers Due To Fall And Entrapment Hazards; Violations Of Federal Safety Regulations For Infant Walkers; No Recall Or Remedy Available
March 21, 2024, cpsc.gov
The Consumer Product Safety Commission is warning consumers to immediately stop using and dispose of Comfi Baby Infant Walkers because they pose a risk of falls and entrapment to children. The products violate the federal safety regulations for infant walkers because they can fit through a standard doorway. They are not designed to stop at the edge of a step and have leg openings that allow the child to slip down until the child’s head can become entrapped. CPSC issued a Notice of Violation to the seller, All Merchandise, of Charlotte, N.C., but the firm is no longer in business to offer a remedy to consumers.

Key Considerations Regarding The Recently Passed EU Artificial Intelligence Act
March 14, 2024, Kramer Levin
The European Parliament has approved the regulation harmonizing rules on artificial intelligence (the AI Act). Stakeholders must comply with the AI Act due to its global reach, when it takes effect this year. The AI Act will be applicable to all providers, manufacturers, importers, distributors and deployers of systems integrating AI that are established in the EU, or, if registered outside the EU, that market their AI system or model in the EU. The AI Act will come into force within 20 days after its publication in the Official Journal of the EU.

Long Island Company Admits It Illegally Sold Chinese-Made Equipment To U.S. Military
Aprile 19, 2024, New York Daily News
A Long Island man has pleaded guilty to illegally selling Chinese-manufactured security and surveillance equipment to the U.S. military and passing off the wares as American-made. According to the feds, this creates potential security risks. Aventura Inc.’s customers included the Navy, the Air Force and the Department of Energy, but the “Made in USA” labels on their products were a lie. The products, which included items like networked security turnstiles and night-vision cameras, had known cybersecurity vulnerabilities, prosecutors said. Feds charged Aventura and the members of its senior management with fraud and other offenses in 2019. All of the individual suspects have already pleaded guilty.

Boeing Urges Employees To ‘Speak Up’ About Product Safety. But What Impact Does A Whistleblower Really Have?
March 20, 2024, KUOW
Whistleblower and former Boeing Quality Manager John Barnett was found dead last week from what the local coroner said appeared to be a self-inflicted gunshot wound. At the time of his death, Barnett, who had raised concerns about safety issues at Boeing’s North Charleston plant for years, was in South Carolina for a deposition in a retaliation lawsuit he filed against Boeing. Boeing created the “Speak Up” program in 2019 — after Barnett had left the company — to empower employees to flag concerns about product quality and safety through a confidential reporting channel. But according to a Federal Aviation Administration report published last month, the “Speak Up” program has yet to take hold among employees, who prefer to report issues to their managers directly.

House Republicans Use Final Spending Bill To End Attempts To Restrict Gas Stoves
March 22, 2024, Washington Examiner
House Republicans included a one-line provision in the final appropriations that would prevent the Biden administration from banning gas stoves. In the minibus, a policy rider states that none of the appropriated funds “may be used to promulgate, implement, administer, or enforce any regulation issued by the Consumer Product Safety Commission to ban gas stoves as a class of products.” The debate around a proposed ban on gas stoves dates back to 2022 after the Consumer Product Safety Commission floated a future ban and changes in standards for natural gas stoves after several studies linked the product to an increased risk of childhood asthma. 

Adams Administration Launches New E-Bike Public Education Campaign In NYC
March 20, 2024, New York DOT
New York City Mayor Eric Adams and New York City Department of Transportation (NYC DOT) Commissioner Ydanis Rodriguez today launched “Get Smart Before You Start,” a new multi-platform marketing campaign to educate New Yorkers on how to safely operate e-bikes. The campaign will work in tandem with innovative street redesigns and targeted enforcement to reduce injuries and fatalities. The campaign includes advertising on TV, radio, print and digital news outlets, as well as on social media, in subway ads, and on LinkNYC kiosks.

Senators Welch, Blumenthal And Markey Urge CPSC To Implement Stricter Safety Measures To Protect Infants And Toddlers
March 15, 2024, VermontBiz
U.S. Senators Peter Welch (D-Vt.), Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), and Ed Markey (D-Mass.) sent a letter to the  Consumer Protect Safety Commission Chair Alexander Hoehn-Saric urging the CPSC to pursue a recall for Mattel’s Fisher-Price Infant-to-Toddler Rocker and the similarly-designed Kids2 Bright Starts Rocker, both of which have been linked to numerous infant deaths. The Senators also pressed CPSC to more aggressively protect infants from the risks associated with rockers as it develops the first federal safety standard for infant and infant-to-toddler rockers. “CPSC has the authority to recall products from the market that pose a substantial hazard to consumers’ safety. We urge you to act now and work toward securing a recall of the Infant-to-Toddler and Bright Starts rockers from the market. We cannot continue to stand by as unsuspecting parents and innocent babies are put in preventable danger,” the Senators urged. 

Read The Letter

Europe’s World-First AI Rules Get Final Approval From Lawmakers. Here’s What Happens Next
March 14, 2024, PBS News Hour
European Union lawmakers gave final approval to the 27-nation bloc’s artificial intelligence law, putting the world-leading rules on track to take effect later this year. Lawmakers in the European Parliament voted overwhelmingly in favor of the Artificial Intelligence Act, five years after regulations were first proposed. The AI Act is expected to act as a global signpost for other governments grappling with how to regulate the fast-developing technology. “The AI Act has nudged the future of AI in a human-centric direction, in a direction where humans are in control of the technology and where it — the technology — helps us leverage new discoveries, economic growth, societal progress and unlock human potential,”  According to Dragos Tudorache, a Romanian lawmaker who was a co-leader of the Parliament negotiations on the draft law.

Harnessing Imagination To Drive Innovation
March 14, 2024, Harvard Business Review
The decay of rules-based trade means that companies can no longer find growth as easily by expanding to new locations or expanding demand through low-cost single point sourcing. In this context, companies seeking growth must develop innovative offerings to expand demand. These offerings are, essentially, products of imagination — conceiving of and realizing new possibilities — a challenge that companies struggle with. In this article, the authors present a six step-cycle that is at the foundation of a corporate “imagination machine.

Statement Of Commissioner Mary T. Boyle On Electric Bike Advance Notice Of Proposed Rulemaking
March 14, 2024, cpsc.gov
I am pleased the Commission recently voted unanimously to issue an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) to address the risk of injury associated with the mechanical hazards of electric bikes. This is an important step forward in evaluating e-bikes holistically, an effort that extends beyond the vital work the Commission is conducting in a separate rulemaking related to batteries and battery fires across a number of micromobility products, including e-bikes. Data from the agency’s most recent report on micromobility deaths and injuries paints a picture of increasing e-bike injuries and fatalities attributed to collisions, braking and user control issues.

CBP Seizes 280 Unsafe Toddler Travel Beds And Baby Playpens
March 14, 2024, Customs and Border Protection
Customs and Border Protection (CBP) announced the seizure of 280 toddler travel beds and baby playpens for Consumer Product Safety Act violations.  The China-based shipment was appraised at a domestic value of about $11,000. Upon inspection, CBP officers seized 88 toddler travel beds and 192 baby playpens for safety violations of infant sleep products and infant play yards. “Our partnership with Customs and Border Protection is a critical piece in protecting consumers by stopping hazardous products before they end up on store shelves or in consumers’ homes,” said Jim Joholske, Director, Office of Import Surveillance for the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.”

No More Delays To PFAS Cleanup, State Department Of Ecology Tells Spokane Airport
March 13, 2024, The Spokesman-Review
After several extensions and five months of negotiations, the Washington State Department of Ecology is telling the Spokane International Airport it will not accept any more delays for the initial stages of PFAS contamination cleanup. Alerted to the airport’s PFAS exposure in 2023, Ecology began negotiations with the airport in October. Initially supposed to take place over 60 days, Ecology extended this process three times over five months at the airport’s request. In a letter to the airport, Ecology said further delays and negotiation are “not in the public’s interest,” and denied a request for another 60-day extension.

Keeping EU Consumers Safe:  Cosmetics Top The List Of Products Notified In Safety Gate In 2023
March 14, 2024, European Commission
The European Commission published its annual report on Safety Gate, the European Rapid Alert System for dangerous non-foods products. The report covers alerts notified in 2023, as well as the corresponding follow-up actions taken by national authorities of the EU Member States, Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein. In 2023, cosmetics was the most frequent type of product notified as posing a health risk. Last year marked the highest amount of alerts recorded since the launch of the system in 2003, which speaks to its increasing effectiveness and the crucial role it plays.

Advocacy: Toxic Lead Levels In Fashion Accessories At Two Retailers
March 14, 2024, KTVU Fox 2
A report called “Toxic Fashion” released by CEH, the Center for Environmental Health, said their investigators found high levels of lead in fashion accessories sold by two retail chains, Ross and Burlington. “What we found is handbags, belts, wallets, shoes, whether they’re leather or faux leather disproportionally have high levels of lead,” said Kizzy Charles-Guzman, CEO of the Center for Environmental Health. The report says lab tests showed hundreds of items, under a wide range of brand names, had lead levels above 300 parts per million, compared to the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s safety limit of 100 parts per million for children’s items.

Read the Report

Rhode Island Senate Committee Advances Firearm Storage Legislation
March 12, 2024, WPRI.com
The R.I. Senate Judiciary Committee passed legislation that would require gun owners to safely store their firearms when not in use. The proposal states that firearms must be either kept in a locked container or equipped with a tamper-resistant mechanical lock that renders the weapon inoperable. The legislation would make the unsafe storage of firearms a civil offense punishable by a fine of up to $250 for the first offense and $1,000 for the second. Subsequent violations would be punishable by up to six months in prison and fine of up to $500.

CPSC: Stop Using XHJRI Braided Crib Bumpers Due To Suffocation Hazard; Violation Of The Ban On Crib Bumpers; No Recall Or Remedy Offered
March 14, 2024, cpsc.gov
The Consumer Product Safety Commission is warning consumers to stop using braided crib bumpers sold by XHJRI-US, because they pose a suffocation hazard to infants. The crib bumpers are banned by the federal Safe Sleep for Babies Act. The Safe Sleep for Babies Act declared crib bumpers a banned hazardous product as of November 12, 2022. CPSC issued a Notice of Violation to the seller, XHJRI-US, of China, but the firm has not agreed to recall these crib bumpers or offer a remedy to consumers.

CPSC: Stop Using Faddare Extension Power Cords Due To Shock And Fire Hazards; No Recall Or Remedy Offered
March 14, 2024, cpsc.gov
The Consumer Product Safety Commission is warning consumers to immediately stop using Faddare 16.4-Foot Extension Power Cords because they have undersized wiring, posing shock and fire hazards. The extension cords do not comply with the wire gauge requirements of the mandatory federal safety standard for power cords.  CPSC notified the seller, Great Effort of China, but the firm has not responded to requests for a recall. 

Introduction: What Is Supply Chain Management?
March 13, 2024, Foley & Lardner LLP
Supply chain management is the combination of art and science to coordinate the flow of goods and services from the point of origin to the point of consumption, in the most efficient and cost-effective manner possible. But supply chain management is not only about moving products from point A to point B. Some of the keys to successful supply chain management are optimizing every step (or link) in the supply chain, including forecasting demand, managing inventory levels, streamlining production processes, and mitigating. In essence, supply chain management is the invisible hand that keeps our shelves stocked, our businesses running smoothly and our lives moving forward seamlessly.