Sen. Manchin Leads Bipartisan Effort To Protect Off-Highway Vehicles Against Regulatory Overreach
December 6, 2023, Senator joe Manchin
U.S. Senators Joe Manchin (D-WV), Deb Fischer (R-NE), John Barrasso (R-WY), Cynthia Lummis (R-WY), Ted Budd (R-NC) and James Risch (R-ID) sent a letter to Consumer Product Safety Commission Chair Alexander Hoehn-Saric to express their concerns over the Commission’s proposed rule on debris penetration in off-highway vehicles. CPSC issued this proposed rule without sufficient evidence of risk to consumers and without regard to its negative economic consequences, particularly on the powersports industry in rural states. “As you know, off-highway vehicles are a staple of American life. They are used for recreation, agriculture, law enforcement, emergency services, and more. They are also an important economic driver, especially in rural America.” the Senators said in part. “We have serious concerns regarding the rulemaking process and the substance of the proposed debris penetration rule. Moreover, we are concerned about the effect the rule would have on the availability of off-highway vehicles and on the economic footprint of the powersports industry.”
Recall, Warnings Issued Over Toy Magnetic Balls After 7 Deaths Reported
December 8, 2023, Live Now Fox
The Consumer Product Safety Commission shared several warnings over small yet high-powered magnetic balls in toy sets after seven deaths and thousands of hospital visits were reported. The CPSC estimated that 2,400 magnet ingestions were treated in hospital emergency departments between 2017 and 2021, and said it was aware of seven deaths – including two outside the United States. The CPSC said testing determined that the magnetic ball sets are stronger than permitted and are small enough to fit within the CPSC’s small parts test cylinder. A recall was issued for one of the products, XpressGoods’ “Colorful Metal Neodymium Magic Magnetic Balls – 8 color, 5mm”. But multiple other warnings were posted by the CPSC about similar magnetic ball products of concern, including at least four sold exclusively on Temu.com. They include Magic QQ’s 216-Piece Mixed Color Magnetic Ball Sets; Allvre’s 216-Piece 5mm Magnetic Ball Sets; Sunny House’s 125-Piece 5mm Mixed Color Magnetic Ball Sets; and Ming Tai Trade’s 216-Piece 5mm Magnetic Ball Sets – all of which originated from China. The CPSC said it issued a “Notice of Violation” to the sellers, but most of the companies did not agree to recall their magnetic ball sets or offer a remedy to consumers.
Overcoming Your Need For Constant Validation At Work
December 8, 2023, Harvard Business Review
Letting go of the need for constant approval at work doesn’t mean you have to stop caring. In fact, the most effective leaders are those who balance empathy and decisiveness, conviction and compassion and warmth and strength. In this article, the author offers strategies for how to mitigate an excessive need for approval at work: 1) Do a gut check; 2) Formulate your own opinions first; 3) Try the “so what?” test; 4) Wait 24 hours before responding to contentious or charged issues; and 5) Keep promises you make to yourself.
Anchor It! A Mother Turns A Tragedy Into Advocacy
December 27, 2023, Seattle’s Child
June 11, 2014, changed Crystal Ellis’s and her family’s lives forever. What happened that June, and the grief of their loss, will stay with her family forever. Since her child’s death, Ellis has worked hard to warn other parents about the risk of tip-over accidents — a leading cause of child injury and death in the United States. She became a founding member of the national advocacy group Parents Against Tip-overs (PAT) and continues to push her family’s story out through the organization. Consumer Product and Safety Commission data shows 199 tip-over-related child fatalities between January 2000 and April 2022. As the holidays draw near and many families consider furniture and large electronics purchases, PAT is working with the CPSC to push out the message “Anchor It! Even when you’re watching!” to raise awareness about tip-overs and urge families to secure all furniture safely.
Border Patrol And Homeland Security: Avoid Holiday Counterfeit And Dubiouis Goods That Pose Security Risks
December 7, 2023, U.S. Customs and Border Protection
U.S. Customs and Border Protection and Homeland Security Investigations officials gathered at Laredo’s World Trade Bridge for an illustrative event to advise the public through local media this holiday season to avoid buying goods that may be counterfeit or of dubious origin. They warned about goods that may pose consumer safety risks or undercut legitimate trademark holders. “As gift buying starts to ramp up this holiday season, we would like to advise the public to avoid buying counterfeit goods or goods of unknown or dubious origin either online, from brick-and-mortar stores, flea markets or elsewhere,” said Port Director Albert Flores, Laredo Port of Entry.
CPSC Warns Consumers To Stop Using Karriw Crib Bumpers Due Violation Of The Federal Ban On Crib Bumpers; No Recall Or Remedy Offered
December 7, 2023, cpsc.gov
The Consumer Product Safety Commission is warning consumers to stop using Karriw crib bumpers, sold exclusively on Amazon by Lucky_00, because they pose a suffocation hazard to infants. Crib bumpers are banned by the federal Safe Sleep for Babies Act. CPSC issued a Notice of Violation to the seller, Lucky_00, of China, but the firm has not agreed to recall these crib bumpers or offer a remedy to consumers.
CPSC Commissioner Peter A. Feldman On The Proposed Table Saw Rule Comment Extension Request
December 6, 2023. cpsc.gov
The Consumer Product Safety Commission has approved a 30-day extension for public comments on the proposed safety standard addressing blade-contact injuries on table saws. While I voted to support this 30-day extension, I also would have supported the 60-day extension requested by the Power Tool Institute (PTI). PTI’s request for additional time is reasonable given the complexity of the underlying issues.
Report Highlights: Dangers Associated With Recalled And Counterfeit Toys
December 6, 2023, WECT News Wilmington
An estimated 209,500 toy-related injuries and 11 deaths were reported to the Consumer Product Safety Commission in 2022, underscoring the need for consumers to be vigilant about protecting children from unsafe products. Teresa Murray, co-authored U.S. Public Interest Research Group’s ‘Trouble in Toyland 2023,’ an annual report aimed at parents and other gift givers to help them make informed and safe purchases for children. This year’s report focused on recalled and counterfeit toys, showcasing how easy it is for consumers to unknowingly buy them, even though it is illegal to sell them. Recalled toys are not Murray’s only concern. Counterfeit products, many of which come in from overseas, continue to infiltrate retailers’ shelves and online platforms. Murray said the best way to protect against these products is for consumers to inspect, investigate, and research their purchases ahead of time, especially if they are looking for a sold-out or difficult to find item.
CR’s Guide To Better, Safer Drinking Water
December 7, 2023, Consumer Reports
Many Americans still drink water with unhealthy levels of toxic chemicals, heavy metals, bacteria, and other contaminants. While the nation’s water is in many ways safer than ever, it remains vulnerable to threats old and new, says Ronnie Levin, an instructor in environmental health at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston and the lead author of a September 2023 review of U.S. water quality in the Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology. Compared with half a century ago, she says, “a lot of things are better, but a lot of things, surprisingly, are not.”
Sandwell Council Warns Households Not To Bin Batteries
December 6, 2023, Sandwell Metropolitan Borough Council
Sandwell Council, partner Serco and West Midlands Fire Service, are warning residents of the dangers batteries and electrical items going into bins pose and advising them of how to dispose of them. The move follows a spate of fires in the back of refuse and recycling vehicles, and at waste facilities across the country due to batteries being disposed in household bins
