How the CPSC may recover from the shutdown
February 1, 2019, National Law Review (Schiff & Hardin)
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) has been reopened for a week – possibly a third of the window between government shutdowns – and things seem to be quickly returning to normal. The agency has released messaging campaigns on both generator safety and TV anchoring, taking advantage of bitterly cold weather and what football fans hope will be a bitterly contested Super Bowl. But behind this appearance of normalcy, a key remaining question is how the agency will approach what must be a significant backlog of product reports.
Thompson, Joyce float fire safety bill
January 28, 2019, Vallejo Times-Herald
Rep. Mike Thompson (D- St. Helena) and Rep. Dave Joyce (OH-14) announced on Monday they have reintroduced the Portable Fuel Container Safety Act, a bill that directs the Consumer Product Safety Commission to create a standard requiring Flame Mitigation Devices like flame arrestors to be used to prevent fire accidents.“Far too many tragic and deadly fires and explosions happen because fuel containers are not safe enough for everyday use. When my constituent Margrett Lewis brought this problem to my attention and shared her family’s powerful story, I knew that Congress needed to take action,” Thompson said.
Scooter injuries are a thing, and they’re sending people to the ER
January 25, 2019, The Verge
People are getting injured riding electric scooters — and most riders aren’t wearing helmets, new research says. The findings highlight the safety risks when infrastructure and regulation fail to keep up with a controversial and popular new transportation trend. Over the course of a year, at least 249 people visited two Southern California emergency rooms with broken bones, bumps, bruises, and head injuries — including brain bleeds — from scooter accidents, according to a paper in the journal JAMA Network Open. While most of the injuries were from riding the scooters, some pedestrians were injured when scooter riders crashed into them, and others tripped over scooters while walking.
Arsenic, lead give one more reason for kids to forgo fruit juice
January 30, 2019, Bloomberg
Fruit juice has been falling out of favor for its high sugar content and low nutritional value. Now parents have another reason to pull the plug: heavy metals. According to a study released by Consumer Reports, measurable levels of cadmium, inorganic arsenic, mercury or lead were found in every single one of the 45 juice products it tested from major brands sold across the U.S.
South Florida Man’s Cell Phone Caught Fire, Not Under Recall
January 31, 2019, NBC Miami
A South Florida man says he was walking along a canal when his mobile phone overheated and spontaneously caught fire.Jonathan Wright spoke with NBC 6 Responds days after he says his Samsung Galaxy S5 cell phone burst into flames. Wright’s Samsung S5 is not included in the 2016 Samsung Recall urging Galaxy Note 7 users to stop using their phones after reports of the phone’s Lithium-Ion batteries overheating and catching fire.
FEMA encourages residents to prepare for winter dangers; Tips from CPSC
January 31, 2019, Norwalk Reflector
As officials from the National Weather Service and the Federal Emergency Management Agency’s (FEMA) Region VII office continue monitoring the development of an arctic outbreak that could bring recording-setting cold temperatures to several cities throughout the Midwest, residents are encouraged to act now, preparing both their home, and families for whatever may arise. Visiting Ready.gov can help prepare for severe winter weather, to include this extreme cold we are about to experience.
Wary Dutch hire foreign vets for Brexit customs checks
February 2, 2019, Digital Journal
The Netherlands is hiring around 100 mainly foreign veterinarians to check imported animals and food from Britain in its latest contingency plan for a no-deal Brexit, the government said Friday. Most will be recruited from southern and eastern Europe as there are not enough qualified vets to spare in the Netherlands, and they will receive a crash-course in the Dutch language before being deployed. European Union countries are increasingly concerned that Britain will crash out of the bloc without a divorce agreement on March 29, meaning that customs checks and tariffs would automatically return.
Consumer launches council-by-council chemical disposal guide
February 1, 2019, Scoop Regional
Consumer NZ has compiled a nationwide guide on how to safely dispose of unwanted household chemicals, from cleaning products to weedkillers. Toxic, corrosive, flammable and explosive products – known as hazardous substances – carry warnings not to throw them out with the general rubbish, but don’t tell you what to do with them instead. Consumer NZ’s online guide lets consumers select their council and view details about its collection policies, as well as drop-off fees.
Amazon Joins Zigbee Alliance Reinforcing the Smart Home Communication Standard
January 29, 2019, voicebot.ai
Amazon is a big player in smart home. It sells a lot of smart home devices online and owns one of the largest product makers in Ring which the company acquired for $1 billion in 2018. Ring’s security Alarm Base Station supports Zigbee along with Z-Wave protocols. Amazon Echo Plus includes a built-in Zigbee hub. Given these facts, it is more surprising that Amazon was not already active in the Zigbee Alliance than the news this week that it had joined the board. Zigbee Alliance is supported by several other big names in consumer electronics and smart voice assistants including SmartThings (Samsung), Huawei, LG, and NXP among others.
Global Adhesive Equipment Market Outlook 2017-2026: Stringent Regulations from Agencies and REACH Radically Influenced the Market
January 24, 2019, EIN Presswire
Adhesive Equipment market accounted for $29.29 billion in 2017 and is expected to reach $55.44 billion by 2026 growing at a CAGR of 7.3% during the forecast period. Some of the important factors like increasing demand from end-user industries and government initiatives to promote packaging sector in emerging economies are anticipated to drive the market growth. However, stringent regulations from agencies and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) radically influenced the global market.
Report says EPA refuses to regulate two PFAS chemicals
January 29, 2019, witf.org
Pennsylvania lawmakers on Tuesday slammed the reported decision of the federal government not to regulate two chemicals that have been linked to cancer and other illnesses when present in drinking water.Politico reported Monday that the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has decided not to set enforceable health limits for PFOA and PFOS, two of the PFAS class of chemicals that are being increasingly strictly regulated by some states as more becomes known about their risks to public health.
