In the News: September 20, 2021

Parents And Caregivers Reminded Of CPSC Safe Sleep Guidance
September 15, 2021, CPSC.gov
Babies spend most of their time sleeping, so the Consumer Product Safety Commission is urging parents and caregivers to get “back to basics” to make sure that baby’s sleep spaces are safe. CPSC’s most recent report on nursery product injuries and deaths shows that cribs/mattresses, playpens/play yards, bassinets/cradles, infant carriers and inclined infant sleep products were associated with 83 percent of the fatalities reported.

DoJ Orders Puerto Rico Companies To Cease Importation Of Dangerous Children’s Products
September 15, 2021, Department of Justice
A federal court permanently enjoined Puerto Rican companies Pharmacare Inc., China District PR LLC, as well as their owner, Juan Reynoso, from importing children’s toys and other consumer products that violate the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA) and the Federal Hazardous Substances Act (FHSA) among other laws. In a complaint filed on Sept. 15, the United States alleged that Pharmacare, China District, and Reynoso violated the CPSA, FHSA and other related statutes and regulations by importing and selling children’s products that contained illegal levels of lead and phthalates.

How To Intervene When A Manager Is Gaslighting Employees
September 16, 2021, Harvard Business Review
Gaslighting is psychological abuse where a person tries to gain power and control by instilling self-doubt. Allowing managers to gaslight will only drive good employees away. Here are 5 things leaders can do when managers are gaslighting employees.

Commission Yearns To Set Global AI Standard
September 15, 2021, Euractiv.com
The European Commission believes that its proposed Artificial Intelligence Act should become the global standard if it is to be fully effective. The upcoming AI treaty that is being drafted by the Council of Europe might help the EU achieve just that.

Senate To Investigate Facebook After WSJ Report On Instagram’s Negative Effect On Mental Health
September 16, 2021, FoxBusiness.com
Sens. Richard Blumenthal and Marsha Blackburn of a Senate commerce subcommittee on consumer protection plan to investigate the tech giant over its knowledge of Instagram’s impact on teens, and specifically, teenaged girls. Researchers tapped by the tech giant found that 32% of teen girls who “felt bad about their bodies” said Instagram made the issue worse, according to documents obtained by The Wall Street Journal.

NIST Releases Draft Security Criteria For Consumer IoT Products
September 16, 2021, National Law Review
The National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) has released its draft white paper, DRAFT Baseline Security Criteria for Consumer IoT Devices. The draft white paper proposes baseline security criteria for consumer IoT products as part of a cybersecurity labeling program and builds on NIST’s Secure Software Development Framework and other NIST documents. NIST is not establishing its own labeling program but instead seeks to identify minimum requirements for programs, which it must do by February 6, 2022.

NWRA Urges Senate Committee To Conduct Oversight Of CPSC On Mobile Phones
September 16, 2021, Waste 360
The National Waste & Recycling Association (NWRA) sent a letter to the leadership and members of the Senate Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Data Security requesting they exercise their oversight authority over the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) as it pertains to the commission’s regulation of mobile phones. This follows NWRA’s meeting last week with the CPSC Chairman and his staff where the association asked the CPSC to take action on mobile phones, which are a leading cause of distracted driving resulting in traffic accidents.

Comments Due On Chemicals Being Considered For Listing Under New York’s Toxic Chemicals In Children’s Products Regulations
September 16, 2021, National Law Review
The New York State Department of Environmental Conservation’s (NYS DEC) Environmental Conservation Law (ECL) Article 37 Title 9 establishes an ingredient disclosure program and prohibits certain chemicals in children’s products. ECL Article 37 instructs NYS DEC to promulgate lists of chemicals of concern and high priority chemicals that must be disclosed if present in children’s products by March 1, 2022.

Right To Repair: Large Scale IT Buyers Can Influence Product Design – And They Should
August 20, 2021, Business IT
Traditionally, procurement managers have been tasked with getting the right supplies in time, while cutting costs and achieving efficiencies. But as their organizations commit to a more circular economy and plan to lower or even neutralize their carbon emissions, procurement managers are now required to consider the life cycle impacts of the products they buy, as well as reducing sustainability risk.

Company Promises E-Scooters With Technology To Stop Riding On Footpaths
September 17, 2021, independent.ie
A US company planning to enter the scooter market in Ireland says its scooters will automatically prevent dangerous use such as riding on footpaths. The company says its technology to stop a scooter from riding on the footpath in real time.

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, Uncategorized