UL Announces availability of UL Certification for hoverboards
February 3, 2016, UL.com news release
UL is now accepting product submissions of self-balancing scooters for construction evaluation, testing and/or certification. The safety organization has a record for evaluating and certifying batter cells, packs and related chargers. It now says it has developed requirements and the methodology to evaluate the entire self-balancing scooter for electrical and fire-hazard safety.
The future of Hoverboards: how safety and government regulations will dictate their future
February 1, 2016, Idigitaltimes.com
The growth of hoverboard incidents boils down to the lithium-ion battery used in most of the gadgets, a number of experts believe. A professor at Carnegie-Mellon University says many manufacturers in China use cheaper Li-ion batteries instead of higher-grade LG and Samsung batteries. Lower quality batteries may also lead to short circuits. Additionally, poor quality chargers can overcharge the battery, causing the battery to pop and dry out.
Casey weighs new law to stem tip over accidents
February 4, 2016, philly.com news
The Democratic senator from Pennsylvania, Robert P. Casey Jr., is preparing to introduce legislation that could require manufacturers to make their furniture more stable. He challenged 7 of the top U.S. retailers to take immediate steps to raise awareness of tip-overs, including selling restraints near products that have the potential to topple over if not anchored to a wall.
Ohio EPA knew of lead contamination in Sebring for months
January 26, 2016, The Columbus Dispatch
State environmental officials knew as early as October that residents of Sebring in Mahoney County were drinking water contaminated with lead but did not warn the public, records show. Tests conducted from June to September found high levels of lead in water at some homes served by the Sebring plant, but it wasn’t until January 21 that the EPA issued a notice of violation, which entailed a public document.
Woolworths ordered to pay $3 million over product safety case
February 5, 2016, abc.net.au
Supermarket giant Woolworths has been ordered to pay the $3 million fine after being taken to court by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission. In federal court the ACCC claimed that the company made false or misleading representations about the safety of a number of products sold under the retailer’s Homebrand and Masters labels.
Yet another auto recall will affect five million
February 5, 2016, The New York Times
It’s a case that echoes the Takata airbag recalls. Automakers, including Honda and Fiat Chrysler, will recall around 5 million vehicles worldwide to fix a defect in an airbag component known for years but left unaddressed. Continental Automotive Systems, a German supplier that makes electronic components that control airbags, has known since January 2008 about a defect in some units according to a filing made by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
Chipotle closes all stores February 8 for food safety meeting
January 15, 2016, money.cnn.com
The restaurant giant shut down all of its more than 1,900 locations for a few hours to hold a national staff meeting about food safety. Outbreaks of E. Coli Salmonella and norovirus that infected customers has led to a torrent of criticism and mockery on social media as the company’s stock has plummeted by as much as 42%.
CPSC and Walmart announce pool safety partnership to help families be safer in and around pools and spas
February 3, 2016, prnewswire.com
A campaign to prevent fatal and non-fatal drowning in swimming pools and spas across the country has been launched by the CPSC in collaboration with Walmart. Calling childhood drowning a “public health crisis (that is) 100 percent preventable”, CPSC Chairman Elliot F. Kaye outlined a campaign that includes teaching children how to swim, enclosing pools with 4-sided fencing, learning CPR, and maintaining constant supervision of children around water.
Regulating risk: Keeping you up-to-date on product safety regulations
February 2, 2016, Lexology
A regulatory attorney catalogues an analysis of recent developments in product regulations affecting Canada and other countries. She references Canada’s recently enacted Human Pathogens and Toxin Regulations, a recently released Consumer Product Enforcement Summary Report by Health Canada covering 13 Cyclical Enforcement projects, and a summary of the November, 2015 trilateral product safety summit in Mexico City convened by Mexico, Canada, and United States regulatory leaders.
