In the News: May 10, 2021

How Peloton Backed Down And Agreed To Recall Treadmills
May 5, 2021, Washington Post
Peloton appeared dug in. The home exercise company had been adamant for weeks that it was not going to agree to a voluntary recall of its Tread+ treadmill, In a stunning reversal, the company struck a deal with the CPSC for a voluntary recall.

AirTags Pulled From Retailer Over Child Safety Concerns — Apple Responds
May 4, 2021, Tom’s Guide
Australian retailer Officeworks has pulled Apple AirTags off store shelves due to child safety concerns around the coin cell battery. As of now, AirTags are still available on Apple’s Australian online store, as well as at retailers JB Hi-Fi and Big W.

What Good Leaders Do When Replacing Bad Leaders
April 16, 2021, Harvard Business Review
Any leader who is assuming a role previously held by someone else has to face their predecessor’s legacy, but those who are replacing poor or controversial leaders have a special challenge. These three strategies will help your company move on.

CPSC’s Expanding Role Under The Biden Administration
May 5, 2020, JDSupra
Under the Biden administration, the CPSC is undergoing a shift toward increased regulation and more aggressive enforcement. Acting Chair Adler confirmed this earlier this year, saying the Biden administration “clearly views product safety in different terms,” and that Adler “plan[s] to modify [his] job’s metaphor from caretaker to gardener.”

Is This Safe To Buy? How Dangerous Products Get—And Stay—On The Market
May 4, 2021, Consumer Reports
Of the approximately 15,000 categories of products overseen by the CPSC only about 70 are governed by what is called a mandatory standard, according to Acting CPSC Chair Robert Adler. For those 70 product categories, federal rules mandate compliance with specific safety requirements. Manufacturers must test them, usually through third-party labs. Products that fail these tests must be recalled if they’re already for sale.

Consumer Reports Tests: Dressers Still Pose Tip-Over Risk
May 6, 2021, Consumer Reports
CR conducted tip-over tests on 13 dresser models representing a cross-section of the retail market, using progressively tougher tests. They were purchased from January-March 2021. The tests show you can’t spot a stable dresser with the naked eye.

Peloton Recall In Canada After 83 Incident Reports Involving Treadmill Touchscreens
May 6, 2021, CTV
A recall has been issued for the Peloton TR02 Treadmill by Health Canada, the CPSC and Peloton due to the risk of the touchscreen detaching. The recall stated the screws attaching the console to the treadmill can come loose posing risk of injury.

Kentucky Family Advocates For State Bike Helmet Law For Children
May 3, 2021, WHAS 11
For 6 years, T.J. and his mother have worked for passage of “T.J.’s Bill”. The act would require Kentucky children under 12 to wear a helmet when on a bike. Their goal is for Kentucky to join the 21 states and Washington, D.C. that have helmet laws for young riders.

IU School Of Business Experts Who Study Causes And Effects Of Recalls
May 5, 2021, News wise
George Ball, assistant professor of operations and decision technologies and Weimer Faculty Fellow at the Indiana University Kelley School of Business, studies the causes and effects of product recalls. Ball said, “Recall decisions like this are very difficult for managers to make, especially the ones that are high profile and associated with consumer injury. Managers have to balance the firm financial health with consumer safety. Thus, this is a rich area of research. The research that my colleagues and I undertake in this field deal both with the regulator and the firm.”

The Case for Women’s Leadership In A Post-Pandemic US Business World
May 5, 2021, Forbes
The pandemic has challenged the limitations of our world’s leaders; however, women such as New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Prime Minister of Finland Sanna Marin have guided their countries in a way few of their male counterparts could. They showed resiliency, decisiveness and empathy in their leadership, helping them to perform better during the COVID crisis.

Honoring Our Heroes
SPSP Website
SPSP makes a permanent home for the salute poster at its website.

Posted in Chemical Hazards, Children's Products, Global Developments, Innovation, Organizational Development, Product Liability, Product Safety Rules, Product Standards, Risk Assessment, Supply Chain, Sustainability, Uncategorized