CPSC Newsroom: Polaris Agrees to Pay $27.25 Million Civil Penalty for Failure to Report Defective Recreational Off-Road Vehicles
April 2, 2018, cpsc.gov
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced that Polaris Industries Inc., of Medina, Minnesota, (Polaris) has agreed to pay a $27.25 million civil penalty. The penalty settles charges that Polaris failed to immediately report to CPSC that models of RZR and Ranger recreational off-road vehicles (ROVs) contained defects that could create a substantial product hazard or that the ROVs created an unreasonable risk of serious injury or death.
CPSC’s Ann Marie Buerkle statement on the Polaris Recall and Civil Penalty
April 2, 2018, cpsc.gov
The Acting Chairman of the CPSC announced the recall of more than 100,000 Polaris Model Year 2014 to 2018 RZR XP 1000 recreational off-highway vehicles (ROVs). She noted that the “recall and penalty agreement is the culmination of many years of hard work between Polaris and CPSC staff. The company has agreed to maintain an enhanced compliance program going forward, which we will monitor closely. Consumers should know that our collaboration with Polaris to jointly address safety issues is ongoing.”
Thermomix fined $4.6 million for failure to report burns
April 11, 2018, abc.net.au
Product distributor Thermomix in Australia was fined $4.6 million for failing to alert the government when at least nine people suffered serious burns while using its faulty cooking appliances. Despite knowing about the problem, the company did not warn appliance users about the risk to their safety. Thermomix further breached the Australian Consumer Law by making representations to at least one customer that they could not receive a refund without first signing a gag order.
CPSC explores safety hazards in ‘Internet of Things’ products
April 11, 2018, National Law Review (Ballard Sparh)
In its public notice, the CPSC explained that the “purpose of the public hearing . . . is to provide interested stakeholders a venue to discuss potential safety hazards created by a consumer product’s connection to IoT or other network-connected devices; the types of hazards (e.g., electrical, thermal, mechanical, chemical) related to the intended, unintended, or foreseeable misuse of consumer products because of an IoT connection; current standards development; (and) industry best practices.”
AHFA broadens tip-over compliance awareness effort
April 11, 2018, Furniture Today
Case goods resources continue to communicate their efforts to comply with a voluntary stability standard that helps prevent furniture tip-over accidents. The American Home Furnishings Alliance has provided hundreds of “We Comply” tent cards that furniture companies will display on their case pieces at market. It launched the effort last year in time for the April 2017 market and said that it is broadening the initiative.
Santa Monica Lawmaker’s bills to ban rat poisons, toxic flame retardant chemicals pass key committee
April 12, 2018, Santa Monica Lookout
Two bills sponsored by Santa Monica Assembly member Richard Bloom to further tackle environmental threats passed a key committee this week, the Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee. The Committee approved AB 2998, a measure to protect Californians from toxic flame retardant chemicals, on a 5-2 vote. The other bill contained a ban on certain “rat poisons” that pose a “rampant threat” to pets and wildlife.
Just Released: Scope of Product Safety Certification Program for individuals
April 14, 2018, Society of Product Safety Professionals
The product safety professionals organization has published the scope of the recently announced Product Safety Professional Individual Certification Program. It details the knowledge areas that the certification course will include in the formal course at the Richard A. Chaifetz School of Business at Saint Louis University and the associated examination.
The European Chemicals Agency recommends restriction on flame retardants in polyurethane foams
April 12, 2018, Chemical Watch
Echa has recommended that a restriction proposal is prepared on the flame retardants TCEP, TCPP and TDCP in flexible polyurethane (PUR) foams in childcare articles and residential upholstered furniture. The agency published a screening report on its website that identified a carcinogenicity risk for infants from exposure to the substances.
European Commission releases RAPEX 2017 annual report
April 9, 2018, OpenPR
The European Commission has released its 2017 annual report for the Rapid Alert System (RAPEX). The report shows 2201 alerts were sent through RAPEX in 2017, with 3952 follow-up actions. This demonstrated a stabilization in the number of notifications and member state follow-up actions. The report confirms, as in previous years, that ‘toys’ constitute the largest sector of RAPEX notifications, with 29%. This is followed by motor vehicles (20%) and then ‘clothing, textiles and fashion items’ (12%). The most common form of risk was ‘injury’, with 28%, followed by ‘chemical’ (22%) and then ‘choking’ (17%).
A home safety checklist for seniors
April 3, 2018, St. Louis Post Dispatch
According to the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, an estimated 1.4 million people aged 65 and older receive hospital emergency treatment each year due to injuries from consumer products. Many injuries occur in the home, often from falls. This checklist can help caregivers and senior loved ones find and correct any safety issues. Improving home safety for older adults can reduce the risk of accidents and keep seniors stay safely independent.
