In the News: November 1, 2021

Gree Appliance Companies Charged With Failure To Report Dangerous Dehumidifiers And Agrees To $91 Million Resolution
October 29, 2021, Department of Justice, Justice News
A Chinese appliance manufacturer and two of its subsidiaries have agreed to resolve criminal charges for failing to notify the Consumer Product Safety Commission that millions of dehumidifiers they sold to U.S. consumers were defective and could catch fire. The resolutions are the first corporate criminal enforcement actions ever brought under the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA). The companies entered into a deferred prosecution agreement in connection with a criminal information filed in the U.S. District Court in California.

Analysis: How Republicans Used Senate Delays To Make Changes At U.S. Product Safety Regulator. Critics Call It A ‘Power Grab’ That Puts Public At Risk.
October 28, 2021, Washington Post
A short-lived Republican majority atop the nation’s product safety regulator — the result of Senate delays in confirming Democratic nominees — recently pushed through dozens of last-minute changes to the agency’s annual plan, slowing work on some safety rules and abandoning at least one enforcement effort altogether.

Consumers Waiting Longer For Repairs, Replacements Of Recalled Products Due To Pandemic
October 29, 2021, WTMJ-TV
The Consumer Product Safety Commission reports staffing, and supply chain issues are impacting the recall process. Meaning depending on the recalled product, consumers may have to wait longer for a repair or replacement. A spokesperson for the federal agency said there are “no refund delays for the most part” but “some replacement delays up to several months.”

When Pitching An Idea, Should You Focus On “Why” Or “How”?
October 28, 2021, Harvard Business Review
There are two camps on the most effective way to frame an innovative idea. Which one is right? It depends on the audience. A research project says if you’re making a pitch to novices, focus on why. If you’re making it to experts, focus on how.

Booster Seat Safety Bill Would Protect Children In Car Crashes
October 26, 2021, ProPublica
Congress recently introduced the Booster Seat Safety Act that would establish the most sweeping safety rules for booster seats in over 2 decades after determining that makers of car seats misled parents about their risks and endangered children.

Meliodosis: Behind Walmart’s Recall of Better Homes & Gardens Aromatherapy Spray
October 27,2021, KAUZ CBS 6
An outbreak of meliodosis has been traced back to an aromatherapy room spray, commonly sold in Walmart, which announced the recall this past week. Also known as Whitmore’s disease, meliodosis can be spread to both humans and animals through direct contact with contaminated soil and water.

67,000 myCharge Powerbanks Recalled Due To Fire Hazard
October 28, 2021, Consumer Reports
The Consumer Product Safety Commission says there have been 30 incident reports of the myCharge powerbanks overheating/igniting. The incidents resulted in 7 injuries including burns to the upper body, hands, legs and feet.

Guest Column: How Divergence Between EU And UK Chemical Regulation Is Becoming Inevitable
October 26, 2021, Chemical Watch
Chemical supply chains are global and fluid, and international businesses operating in them can often be heard asking for greater alignment and common rules, to ensure that non-tariff barriers to trade are minimized. However, the particular fascination of the UK’s exit from the EU is that both markets start with a common rulebook, and the question instead is how much the two regimes will diverge.

For Evidence Of Inflation, Look No Further Than Kids’ Feet
October 26, 2021, CBS News
Americans are paying more for everything as supply-chain snags help drive prices higher. Another place where parents are feeling the pinch? Their children’s feet. In September, kids’ shoe prices around the U.S. were up almost 12% compared with a year ago, says the Bureau of Labor Statistics.

Consumer Alert: New York State Reminds Consumers To Purchase Cordless Window Treatments
October 26, 2021, WNY Papers
During National Window Covering Safety Month, the New York State Division of Consumer Protection is alerting families to go cordless for all window coverings. The Consumer Product Safety Commission found that an average of nine children die per year from strangulation due to window treatment cords and, from 2009 to 2020, another 200 children suffered serious injury.

Beyond Good Intentions: Navigating The Ethical Dilemmas Facing The Technology Industry
October 27, 2021, Deloitte
A more holistic approach to the major ethical dilemmas facing today’s technology industry can help companies differentiate, preserve their reputations, and better prepare for and protect the future.

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