In the News: May 9, 2022

Congress Passes Bill To Ban The Sale Of Padded Crib Bumpers
May 4, 2022, WGEM Radio Quincy
A bill passed by Congress will ban the sale of padded crib bumpers. Introduced by U.S. Senators Tammy Duckworth (D-IL), Rob Portman (R-OH) and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT), it now heads to the White House to be signed into law by President Joe Biden. The Safe Cribs Act, which was included in the legislation also banning inclined sleeper products, would make it unlawful nationwide to manufacture and import crib bumpers.

New Study Warns “Green” Children’s Products Not Always PFAS-Free
May 4, 2022, The Hill
A bevy of children’s products, including those with green certifications, may contain harmful “forever chemicals” that were not listed on the label. So says a study published in the Environmental Science & Technology journal.

How To Be A Compassionate Manager In A Heartless Organization
May 5, 2022, Harvard Business Review
A compassionate leader is a good leader. It can be hard to do that when the rest of the company’s culture seems to rely on favoritism or neglect.? Here are six strategies that will help you become a compassionate leader in a less-than-ideal environment.

Key Changes For E-Commerce Platforms Operating In The EU
May 4, 2022, Logan Partners
On January 7, 2020, the European Commission adopted the “Omnibus Directive” which must be implemented by Member States by May 28, 2022. The regulation amends part of the so-called “New Deal for Consumers,” an EU-wide initiative aimed at modernizing consumer laws and protecting online consumers.

Lawmakers Aim To Make California A National Leader For Kids’ Online Safety
May 3, 2022, Washington Post
Legislators in California are mounting a sweeping campaign to boost protections for children online that advocates say could give the state the toughest safety laws in the United States. Amid a lack of action on Capitol Hill, it’s the latest instance of state officials pushing to pass new rules for the Internet. And California’s effort marks the most ambitious state-level play yet on kids’ safety.

Do E-Scooters Cause More Injuries Than Motorcycles?
May 4, 2022, Government Technology
It would appear so. A recent study from the University of California, Los Angeles has found that e-scooter injuries far outpace other forms of motorized transportation. The study says e-scooters on average were responsible for 115 injuries for every million trips. By comparison, national injury rates for car trips are eight per million trips, 15 per million trips for bicycles and 104 per million for motorcycles.

UK Looks At Tougher Consumer Protections Against Malicious Apps
May 4, 2022, SystemTek
A report by the National Cyber Security Centre reveals malicious apps downloaded by hundreds of thousands of users put people’s data and money at risk. This is due to fraudulent apps containing malicious malware which can be compromised by hackers.

Product Safety Australia Issues Urgent Recall For Baby Teething Toy
May 5, 2022, new.au.com
Under Australia’s mandatory standard, a toy must meet key requirements, including being no smaller than a certain size, roughly the same size as a 35mm film canister. This rattle does not comply with the size and shape requirements of the standard.

Rising Complexity Across Global Supply Chains Is Exacerbating Product Liability Risks
May 4, 2022, JD Supra
In today’s global economy, most products are made by an increasingly complex chain of manufacturers, each one responsible for a specific component. What happens when a product fails and results in property damage, economic loss, injury, or death? If one component fails? Who’s liable and/or negligent in these cases? And what if the company that made the faulty component is based and operates overseas?

Chemical Safety Board Calls For Stronger Standards On Reactive Chemicals
May 4, 2022, Safety + Health Magazine
“It is past time for regulators to fully recognize the hazards presented by reactive chemicals,” Katherine Lemos, Chemical Safety Board CEO, says in a new video. The agency calls on OSHA and the EPA to strengthen standards on these substances.

How AI Powers Modern Product Lifecycle Management
May 5, 2022, Venture Beat
Product development has long been an elevated science with frameworks, rules and significant research work conducted to ensure the product in question is fit-for-market and valued for its price. But not every company is using the full suite of tools available to tap into the collective wisdom of the consumer base.

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, Home, Innovation, Organizational Development, Product Liability, Product Safety Rules, Product Standards, Risk Assessment, Supply Chain, Sustainability, Uncategorized