These School A/V Carts Have Killed At Least Three Kids And Are Being Recalled
April 13, 2023, CBS News
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has shared details of a recall by Luxor Workspaces of 84,700 of its Luxor A/V carts, some of which were sold as far back as the early 1980s, because the “carts can become unstable when loaded with heavy objects, such as cathode-ray tube televisions (CRT TVs).” Tragically, between 2006 and 2016, there have been three incidents of children dying, and one being seriously injured, when the “recalled A/V carts carrying a “box” shaped television (CRT TV) tipped over and landed on them.” Luxor Workspaces is offering free repair kits for the carts that include “metal ballast kits, which should be installed to the lower shelf of the cart to add stability and weight.
How Bad Is It To Use A Product With A California Prop 65 Warning Label?
April 12, 2023, Huff Post
It’s jarring to see a health warning label on a household product, especially a label that tells you a product is “known to cause cancer, birth defects or other reproductive harm.” That is what the California Proposition 65 warning says. You can use this label as a tool for making informed decisions about the products you have in your home based on your health history. For example, if you’re pregnant, you may want to be wary of a product that can cause birth defects. Additionally, if you’re battling cancer, an item with a cancer-causing chemical may make you understandably nervous. “Just because you see a Prop 65 Warning, doesn’t mean the product will harm you,” according to a Purdue University associate professor of public health.
Sensitivity Can Be A Superpower At Work
April 13, 2023, Harvard Business Review
High sensitivity is a trait that’s been researched for over 30 years and is found within 15% to 30% of the population. Managing a highly sensitive person (HSP) involves a learning curve but is necessary if you want to take advantage of the assets they have to offer. The author outlines four steps for managers to try beginning with shifting your perspective and recognizing that sensitivity is a natural variation in personality and not a flaw.
Health Canada Provides Guidance On Infant Sleep Products
April 12, 2023, Norton Rose Fulbright.com
The key regulations under the CCPSA that govern infant sleep products in Canada are the Cribs, Cradles and Bassinets Regulations, and the Playpens Regulations. “It is important for industry to holistically consider all factors when determining whether a product is required to comply with the requirements under the Cribs, Cradles and Bassinets Regulations or the Playpens Regulations.
FTC Warns Almost 700 Marketing Companies That They Could Face Civil Penalties If They Can’t Back Up Their Product Claims
April 13, 2023, Federal Trade Commission
The FTC sent out new penalty offense notices to 670 companies, warning them that failure to substantiate product claims could result in civil penalties of more than $50,000. The companies also received copies of the FTC’s previously issued penalty offense notices regarding endorsements and testimonials. This represents the FTC’s fourth round of penalty offense notices (previous notices involved education practices, money-making opportunities and endorsements).
California Follows Europe’s Lead On USB-C Mandate For Devices
April 13, 2023, Bloomberg Law
California would be the first state to require all laptops, phones and other electronic devices to be charged with USB-C cables under legislation a state legislative committee approved. The California Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee unanimously passed the bill. The legislation would implement the requirement for phones and laptops manufactured on or after 2026. It would also require wholesalers and retailers to give consumers the option to buy an electronic product with or without a charging device. Packaging on the product would need to indicate if there is a charging device and other information.
CPSC Says Certain Smoke And Carbon Monoxide Detectors Might Not Work
April 13, 2023, KRTV 3
The Consumer Product Safety Commission urged consumers to stop using several brands of combination smoke and carbon monoxide detectors as the products have failed to work. The CPSC said combination detectors made by OKEAH, PETRICOR, VARWANEO, and WJZTEK failed to alert people in the presence of hazardous smoke. The PETRICOR, VARWANEO, and WJZTEK products were sold on Amazon.com for between $15 and $53.
Guest Editorial: It Is Our Problem!
April 12, 2023, Bicycle Retailer
Fifty-four years ago, the American bicycle industry faced the specter of the federal government regulating bicycles as products sold to consumers. The reaction of the industry, through its trade association the Bicycle Manufacturers Association (BMA), was to resist and fight the government by advancing the manufacturing standard it had developed in the face of growing imports.
AU: How An AU Innovative Elearning Solution Is Helping This Government Department Reform An Industry
April 13, 2023, Government News.com.au
Public confidence in the national construction industry has taken a hit in recent years following a series of high-profile incidents involving defective buildings. As part of the NSW response, the Office of the Building Commissioner (OBC) launched Construct NSW, a comprehensive reform strategy aimed at restoring the sector’s reputation and improving the standard of the state’s building sites, where a lack of understanding of regulatory requirements had become a problem. Compliance with Australian Building Standards has been a centerpiece of the NSW reform.
Analysis – PFAS Litigation: Who’s Next?
April 13, 2023, National Law Review
With new regulations on the horizon, manufacturers need to be aware of the potential litigation risks related to perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS). The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced its new proposed National Primary Drinking Water Regulations for PFAS, which would significantly affect states and public water utilities. It is important to recognize, however, that the scientific developments that led to the proposed regulations are also likely to influence the litigation risks for any company that uses PFAS or sells products containing detectable levels of PFAS.
