All Infant Inclined Sleep Products Should Be Recalled, Consumer Reports Says
October 23, 2019, Consumer Reports
Last April Consumer Reports tied the Fisher-Price Rock ’n Play Sleeper to dozens of infant deaths, prompting the recall of all 4.7 million of the sleepers. And last week, an independent study commissioned by the Consumer Product Safety Commission concluded that “none of the inclined sleep products that were tested and evaluated as part of this study are safe for infant sleep.” Based in part on that study, the CPSC’s staff proposed last week that infant inclined sleepers be eliminated from the market by recommending that no infant sleeper exceed a back angle of 10 degrees.
Amazon consumer chief rebuts claims its marketplace sells unsafe products
October 22, 2019, cNet
Amazon top exec Jeff Wilke on Tuesday pushed back against news reports that uncovered counterfeit, illegitimate and unsafe products on its website. “You can find anecdotes to support whatever conclusion you want,” Wilke, Amazon’s CEO of worldwide consumer, said on stage at the Wall Street Journal’s annual Tech Live conference in Laguna Beach, California, “but the vast majority of sales on Amazon are legitimate product, safe product.”
Chemicals in consumer products during early pregnancy related to lower IQ, especially in boys
October 24, 2019, Science Daily
Exposure during the first trimester of pregnancy to mixtures of suspected endocrine-disrupting chemicals found in consumer products is related to lower IQ in children by age 7, according to a new study by the Mount Sinai Hospital/Mount Sinai School of Medicine. This study is among the first to look at prenatal suspected endocrine-disrupting chemical mixtures in relation to neurodevelopment.
How consumers view male and female CEOs differently
October 24, 2019, University of Virginia
New research suggests that how well your company recovers from a crisis could depend on if your CEO’s name is “Adam” or “Abigail.” Amanda Cowen and Nicole Votolato Montgomery, both professors in the University of Virginia’s McIntire School of Commerce, were curious if a CEO’s gender significantly affected how consumers respond to companies following product failures. They examined product failures attributed to ethical causes – such as the poor emissions performance of Volkswagen vehicles – as well as those attributed to competence shortcomings – like the exploding Galaxy Note 7 phones that plagued Samsung.
CPSC issues warning: Liquid nicotine can be deadly for children and pets
October 24, 2019, cpsc.gov
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) warns consumers that even small amounts of liquid nicotine can be extremely hazardous to children and pets who swallow it or come into contact with it through their skin. Parents and caregivers should always store liquid nicotine in its child-resistant packaging, tightly seal the container after each use, and keep it locked up and away from children and pets. When handling solutions containing liquid nicotine, adults should also be careful to minimize direct skin contact.
A.I. regulation is coming soon. Here’s what the future may hold
October 24, 2019, Fortune
If you want to know how the global regulation of artificial intelligence might shape up in the coming years, best look to Berlin. Last year Angela Merkel’s government tasked a new Data Ethics Commission with producing recommendations for rules around algorithms and A.I. The group’s report landed Wednesday, packed with ideas for guiding the development of this new technology in a way that protects people from exploitation.
Unfavorable times for the electric scooter industry
October 24, 2019, Inhabitat
Once billed as an environmentally-friendly and enterprising venture, the electric scooter-sharing micromobility business has not lived up to the promising hype but is now looking dismal. Could this be the end for e-scooters? By commuting via e-scooters, it was hoped they would reduce traffic volume, promote zero-carbon transport and improve air quality by mitigating pollution. Instead, there have even been numerous complaints regarding cluttered sidewalks and claims about the injuries they cause due to irresponsible riders.
Editorial: Get PFAS out of firefighting foam
October 24, 2019, Daily Gazette
Among the bills destined for Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s desk is one that would ban PFAS chemicals from firefighting foams made and used in New York state. It’s a necessary piece of legislation that will go a long way toward protecting the public from these harmful chemicals, and the governor should sign it. But this law should only be considered a first step toward more comprehensive and restrictive legislation down the road.
How to make sure your products don’t get damaged
October 23, 2019, Chicago Now
In 2018, people shipped more than 87 billion parcels worldwide. The journey from warehouse to consumer is a perilous one. It’s an impressive feat that more goods don’t arrive at their destination in pieces. This level of quality requires more than ensuring items are protected before they’re sent out. The process starts in the warehouse, but you must follow it all the way to the customer. Follow the five tips to avoid disappointing your client base with damaged goods.
Next gen scooter tech could help address city pain points
October 24, 2019, Government Technology
The next generation of small electric scooters may just guide themselves right to a rider’s door.
Tortoise, one of the newest startups to emerge from the San Francisco micro-mobility landscape, wants to outfit scooters with about $100 of autonomous technology that will allow the devices to be remote-guided or repositioned, at speeds of less than 5 mph.
Don’t be spooked by injuries this Halloween: Follow CPSC’s tips to protect children from harm
October 24, 2019, cpsc.gov
From October through November 2018, CPSC estimates there were 4,500 Halloween-related injuries that were treated in U.S. hospital emergency departments. Here’s a breakdown of injuries and how to prepare for a safer Halloween this year.
