CPSC Report Shows Fatal Child Drownings Remain High; Nonfatal Drowning Injuries Spiked By 17 % In 2021
June 9, 2022, CPSC.gov
The annual drowning and submersion report released recently by the Consumer Product Safety Commission shows fatal child drownings and nonfatal drowning injuries in children under age 15 remain high. Child drownings continue to be the leading cause of unintentional death among children ages 1 to 4 years old.

Is An Older Crib Safe For Your Baby?
June 8, 2022, Cleveland Clinic Health Essentials
The answer is NO. The Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends NOT using hand-me-down cribs more than a decade old or cribs that have been modified. Broken cribs also landed on the do-not-use list, though that kind of goes without saying.

Don’t Confuse Strategy With Lofty Goals
June 8, 2022, Harvard Business Review
Most companies communicate strategy as aspirations and platitudes. But these grand claims offer no guidance to employees on company direction. A recent study shows only 29% of employees know what their companies strategies are.

AI Ethical Decision Making: Is Society Ready?
June 3, 2022, Science Daily
With the accelerating evolution of technology, artificial intelligence plays a growing role in decision-making. Humans are becoming increasingly dependent on algorithms to process information, recommend certain behaviors and even take actions of their behalf. A Hiroshima University research team published findings of how humans react to the introduction of AI in decision making.

California PFAS Laws Take Aim At Consumer Goods
June 7, 2022, National Law Review
The California PFAS laws underscore the importance of companies assessing the impact of continued use of PFAS in consumer products. Of equal importance are corporate practices and decision making regarding continued use of PFAS in consumer products.

UK: Anticipating The Product Liability Wave
June 8, 2022, ICLG.com
“We have got this perfect storm of the sharpening of liability laws: the tightening of the screws around regulation, consumers being told ‘you have got these rights that you should exercise’, and tools being put in place for the consumers to exercise those rights. It is changing everything at the moment,” says Rod Freeman, a partner with Cooley.

Commissioner Feldman Statement On FY 2022 Mid-Year CPSC Spending Plan
June 1, 2022, cpsc.gov
“As the Commission continues its work in fiscal year 2022 and beyond, I hope my colleagues will join me in making accountability and transparency a top priority as we work to protect American consumers.”

Commissioner Trumka: Statement On Bipartisan Support To Mitigate Chronic Hazards And Other Improvements
June 1, 2022, CPSC.Gov
“The Commission Approved A Spending Plan For The Remainder Of Fiscal Year 2022 And Directed The Agency’s Use Of Outstanding American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) Funds. With A Shoestring Budget, We Faced Difficult Decisions On How Best To Prioritize Among Life-Saving Projects. In Each Of Those Decisions We Put Consumers First. I Am Especially Proud That We Secured Bipartisan Support For Three Amendments To The Spending Plan.”

UK Politicians Ride E-Scooters Ahead Of Legislation Change
June 9, 2022, TTI
MPs and peers have been given the chance to ride e-scooters and receive safety training as they consider legislation to make these vehicles fully legal in the UK. The vehicles remain illegal in public areas, unless they are part of a pilot scheme.

The EU AI Act Will Have Global Impact But A Limited Brussels Effect
June 8, 2022, Brookings Institute
The European Union’s (EU) AI Act (AIA) aspires to establish the first comprehensive regulatory scheme for artificial intelligence, but its impact will not stop at the EU’s borders. In fact, some EU policymakers believe it is a critical goal of the AIA to set a worldwide standard, so much so that some refer to a race to regulate AI.

North American Flame Retardant Alliance Comments On Final Regulatory Determinations Report Under Safer Products For Washington State
June 8, 2022, American Chemistry Council
The American Chemistry Council’s (ACC) North American Flame Retardant Alliance (NAFRA) issued the following statement. “NAFRA is deeply disappointed with the Department of Ecology’s alternatives assessment approach and outcome. The Department failed to properly evaluate organohalogen flame retardants (OFRs) and their alternatives in a complete or consistent manner that considered availability, performance, safety and cost for Washington consumers and businesses.

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United States Product Recalls Reach 10-Year High In Q1 2022
June 1, 2022, Insurance Journal
More than 900 million units were recalled during the first quarter in the United States in the automotive, consumer products, food and drink, pharmaceutical, and medical device industries according to Sedgwick’s latest quarterly Recall Index. Not only does this mark the highest number of units recalled in a single quarter in the past 10 years, but it also eclipses average ‘annual’ figures recorded across this timeframe, too.

Which? Safety Tests Uncover Dangerous Baby Carriers And Slings On Amazon, Ebay And Aliexpress
May 30, 2022, Which?
Some 91% of low-cost baby carriers and slings fail basic safety standards, an investigation by consumer group, Which? has found. Ripped seams, slipping straps and suffocation risks were just some of the hazards found in the tests could be potentially lethal if used to carry a real baby.

You Don’t Like Your New Boss. What Should You Do?
June 1, 2022, Harvard Business Review
Starting a new job always comes with unexpected challenges. One that is especially hard to navigate is a strained relationship with your new boss. Here are a few reasons why there might be tension and advice on how to mitigate the relationship.

New York State Agency Gives Safety Tips When Using Gas Or Charcoal Grills
May 27, 2022, Niagara Frontier Publications
Memorial Day marks the beginning of summer for many New Yorkers, and with it, the start of the grilling season. As New Yorkers get ready to fire up their grills this Memorial Day weekend, the New York State Division of Consumer Protection reminds consumers to consider some important safety tips for safe summer barbecues.

E-Scooter Fire Safety Becoming A Growing Concern
May 30, 2022, Cities Today
The benefits of a compact, fast and fully electric mode of transport are clear: Less congestion, pollution and time wasted navigating streets. But as e-scooters proliferate, there are growing calls to address a safety issue that has emerged.

CPSC To Consumers: Stop Using Mobility Transfer Systems Adult Portable Bed Rails Due To Entrapment And Asphyxia Hazard
June 2, 2022, PRNewswire
The Consumer Product Safety Commission is warning consumers to immediately stop using 285,000 Mobility Transfer Systems adult portable bed rails. These products can create an entrapment hazard and pose a risk of serious injury or death to users. CPSC’s warning applies to 10 models of bed rails. The bed rails were manufactured and sold by Mobility Transfer Systems Inc. from 1992 to 2021, and by Metal Tubing USA Inc. in 2021 and 2022. Neither company has agreed to recall the bed rails and to offer a remedy to consumers. CPSC is assessing possible future action in this matter.

UK Publishes Report On The Impact Of Artificial Intelligence On Product Safety
May 31, 2022, Global Compliance News
The Office for Product Safety and Standards published a report on May 23, 2022 which considered the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on product safety. This issue is also being considered in a number of other jurisdictions. The report provides a framework for considering the impact of AI consumer products on existing product safety and liability policy.

U.S. Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz Receives Lighthouse Award At The National Water Safety Conference
May 27, 2022, El Paso, Inc.
After record breaking drowning numbers in 2021, aquatics professionals, public health and safety officials, parents and federal representatives came together to share strategic ideas and to rally support for the reauthorization of the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act. The highlight of the week was a live Q&A session with Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz and Consumer Product Safety Commission Chair Alex Hoehn-Saric.

Crib Bumpers And Inclined Sleepers Still Available For Purchase Despite New Safety Law
June 3, 2022, WMJ4-TV
Retailers and manufacturers are being given six months from the signing of the Safe Sleep For Babies Act to comply. That means you may still find banned item for sale in a store and online, especially second-hand. That’s why child safety advocacy group Kids in Danger is warning parents about the potential dangers, like suffocation risks, of these baby sleep products.

Pressure Growing To Remove PFAS From Fast Food Wrappers
June 1, 2022, Union-Bulletin
Environmental and health groups are pushing dozens of fast-food companies, supermarkets chains and other retail outlets to remove PFAS chemicals from their packaging. These “forever chemicals” have been used for decades to prevent grease, water and other liquids from soaking through wrappers, boxes and bags.

China Sets Out A Regulatory Roadmap To Control New Chemicals
June 1, 2022, JD Supra
On May 24, 2022, China State Council issued an Action Plan on New Pollutants Governance (“Plan”) to set out a regulatory roadmap to control new chemicals and outline an enhanced enforcement framework for compliance. The Plan establishes a framework
for an environmental risk management system for chemicals and integration and expansion of China’s existing regulatory programs on chemicals.

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Massachusetts AG Healey Sues 13 Companies For Manufacturing Toxic Chemicals Found In Drinking Water, Firefighter Foam
May 25, 2022, Fall River Reporter
The suit is against 13 manufacturers of poly- and perfluoroalkyl (PFAS) “forever” chemicals used in firefighting foam. It alleges that the manufacturers caused millions of dollars in damages to communities across Massachusetts by knowingly contaminating drinking water sources, groundwater, and other natural resources with highly toxic PFAS chemicals.

Modifications To Prop 65 Short-Form Warnings On Pause: New Regulatory Proposal To Come
May 20, 2022, National Law Review
On May 20, 2022, the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment, announced that it was allowing the rulemaking process for proposed modifications to the Prop 65 short-form warnings to lapse. OEHHA has stated that it intends to restart the rulemaking process on the short-form warnings with a new regulatory proposal in the next several weeks. The agency said time restrictions led to the decision.

How To Spot — And Develop — High-Potential Talent
May 26, 2022, Harvard Business Review
Organizations typically use past performance to identify future leaders. But an employee’s track record doesn’t tell who might excel at things they haven’t done before. Here is a model for predicting leadership potential based on three behaviors.

CPSC Chair: With 700 Annual ATV Deaths, “These Vehicles Are Not Toys”
May 25, 2022, CPSC.gov
The Consumer Product Safety Commission reminds consumers that safe riding is essential when enjoying outdoor trail time on their ATVs and other off-highway vehicles this summer. CPSC’s latest data show annual averages of more than 700 deaths and an estimated 100,000 ER-treated injuries involving off-highway vehicles.

“Keeping children safe is especially important. These vehicles are not toys and should be used only as directed,” said CPSC Chair Alex Hoehn-Saric. “For their own safety, it is critical that riders younger than 16 drive only age-appropriate youth models, and never adult models. And they all should always drive safely and wear protective equipment.”

UK: Surge In Number Of Pedestrians Injured By E-Scooters
May 25, 2022, Yahoo Sports
The number of pedestrians injured by e-scooters was nearly four times higher in 2021 than the previous year, new figures show. Department for Transport statistics revealed that 223 people travelling on foot were wounded by e-scooters in Britain last year, including 63 who were seriously hurt. That is up from a total of 57 pedestrian casualties in 2020, which included just 13 serious injuries.

What Is Product Lifecycle Management? Organizing The Development Process
May 25. 2022. CIO
Product lifecycle management (PLM) is an enterprise discipline for managing the data and processes involved in the lifecycle of a product. This includes the stages of inception to engineering, design, manufacture, sales and support to disposal and retirement. PLM brings together people, data, processes, and business systems to aid an organization’s ability to develop, market and support its products.

Why You Need Standards: According To The National Institute Of Standards And Technology
May 23, 2022, National Institute of Standards and Technology
Standards that exist in science and technology have a great impact on our lives. Technical standards keep us safe, enable technology to advance and help businesses succeed. They quietly make the modern world tick and prevent technological problems that you might not realize could even happen.

The State Of U.S. State Privacy Laws: A Comparison
May 24, 2022, National Law Review
The chart in this article offers a high-level comparison of key features of the laws in California, Connecticut, Colorado, Utah and Virginia. In addition, businesses are subject to a host of other U.S. federal and state privacy, data security, and data breach notification laws in addition to these new comprehensive laws.

Louisiana House Votes Bill To Penalize Cellphone Use While Driving
May 23, 2022, Associated Press
Driving while using a handheld cellphone could become a traffic violation punishable by a ticket and fine under legislation approved recently by the Louisiana state house. The bill, which now goes to the state senate ensures that a violation will result only in a citation and fines, no arrests.

PFAS Litigation Expands Into “Mislabeling” Class Action Arena
May 25, 2022, JD Supra
An increasing number of class actions are being brought against consumer products companies, alleging false and misleading product labeling based on the presence of PFAS in their products. Companies will need to closely evaluate their label claims and manufacturing practices to mitigate these risks.

New To The Job: A Larger Number Of Inexperienced Workers Can Create Challenges For Safety Pros
May 26, 2022, Safety + Health
In 2020, nonfatal injuries among workers with less than three months on the job increased 8.4%, according to Injury Facts – an online source of preventable death and injury statistics compiled by the National Safety Council. When workers step into a new role, especially in an industry that’s also new to them, safety needs to be introduced immediately via the onboarding process.

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Safety Concerns Prompt Recall Of More Than 90,000 Hoverboards
May 19, 2022, NPR
The maker of the Hover-1 Superfly Hoverboard is urging owners to stop using the 2020 model of the device, saying it can keep moving even when its operator wants the hoverboard to remain still. This according to a Consumer Product Safety Commission recall notice.

CPSC Warns Of Fall Risk From BabyRescue Rapid Evacuation Devices
May 20, 2022, CPSC.gov
The Consumer Product Safety Commission is warning consumers about the dangers associated with BabyRescue Rapid Evacuation Devices. The CPSC urges consumers to immediately dispose of the products, sold by Safety International LLC, due to the risk the product will break during use, creating a serious fall hazard for children. Safety International agreed to a stop sale of these evacuation devices in December 2021, but the firm has not agreed to an acceptable recall.

Stop Rambling In Meetings — And Start Getting Your Message Across
May 20, 2022, Harvard Business Review
It’s important to share your point of view in meetings and it’s critical to know when and how. You don’t want to monopolize the discussion. In this piece, the author offers practical tips for sharing the floor to get your message across effectively.

California Has An Opportunity To Shape How The World Protects Children Online
May 19, 2022, Fortune
A proposed bill for an “Age-Appropriate Design Code” was recently approved by the Privacy Committee of the California Assembly 10-0 with one abstention. It closely tracks the U.K.’s Age-Appropriate Design Code that came into law six months ago. The U.K. Code is a paradigm shift in how we tackle tech’s problem with kids.

ACI To Congress: Ensure EPA Chemical Safety Office Has Necessary Funding
May 17, 2022, American Cleaning Institute
The American Cleaning Institute urged congressional leaders to ensure the Environmental Protection Agency Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention receives funding to ensure that new and safe cleaning products can reach consumers.

Opinion: Regulating PFAS And Other Chemicals In Packaging
May 19, 2022, PackagingDigest
The topic of chemical regulation in packaging has been on the radar of policymakers for decades. However, there has been a recent surge in awareness and activism on the safety and sustainability of chemicals in packaging and consumer products. A demand for safer alternatives has brought about new bills and laws that the packaging industry must understand.

Statement From President Biden On FTC Vote To Protect Children’s Privacy
May 19, 2022, The White House
In the State of the Union I said that it is time to strengthen privacy protections, ban targeted advertising to children and demand tech companies stop collecting personal data on our children. I want to commend the Federal Trade Commission for unanimously taking a big step in that direction today.

Lawmakers Close In On $25 Million For PFAS Remediation And New Regulations
May 18, 2022, Newsfromthestates.com
Of the nine bills this session that aimed to address PFAS contamination, three are still in play. One would put $25 million into a PFAS remediation fund, while the others would address how the chemicals are regulated in the air and before they enter wastewater treatment facilities.

Samsung Customers File Lawsuit Over Allegedly Faulty Refrigerators
May 18, 2022, CBS News
Electronics giant Samsung is facing a class-action lawsuit from customers who say some of the company’s refrigerators don’t keep their food cold enough. The lawsuit accuses Samsung of unjust enrichment, false advertising and consumer fraud.

NBDA To Host Webinar Series On E-Bike Battery Safety Best Practices
May 18, 2022, Cycling Industry News
The National Bicycle Dealers Association (NBDA) has invited all bike shops to attend a four-part SuperWebinar Special Report Series around e-bikes and retailer best practices on battery storage and safety. The series runs May through July 2022, and those interested can register via the links on the NBDA website. The webinar series is free for all to attend regardless of NBDA Membership.

E-Scooters To Remain In Cincinnati; Companies Given 90 Days To Address Complaints</strong>
May 17, 2022, WCPO 9
The city of Cincinnati is giving Bird and Lime 90 days to address several safety concerns, as it works to negotiate a new contract with both companies. If the companies do not address the issues, the council could vote to ban them from the city.

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Peloton Asks Judge To Toss Investors’ Treadmill Safety Lawsuit
April 27, 2022, Bloomberg Law
Peloton Interactive Inc. investors are attempting to “spin” the company’s transparency about treadmill safety issues into a securities suit, but their claims have “no merit” and should be dismissed, the company told a federal judge in New York.

Landmark Bill Introduced To Protect Firefighters From “Forever Chemicals” Used In Firefighting Foam
April 17, 2022, Toxic-Free Future
Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand (NY) and Rep. Dan Kildee (MI-5) introduced the PFAS Firefighter Protection Act in the House and Senate to ban firefighting foams containing “forever chemicals”— PFAS. The legislation would prohibit the manufacture, import and sale of all firefighting foam that contain PFAS for use in training and firefighting within two years of enactment.

Make Better Decisions By Challenging Your Expectations
April 26, 2022, Harvard Business Review
When we face a difficult decision, we often unconsciously set expectations about both the decision-making process and the outcome. To fight bias, the author has created a framework that asks you to consider your decisions from four vantage points.

Statement by CPSC Chair Hoehn-Saric regarding vote to approve ASTM’s Revised Safety Standard for High Chairs
April 21, 2022, CPSC.gov
“CPSC’s career scientific and engineering experts evaluated the most recent update to the ASTM high chair standard and submitted to the Commission a formal recommendation that the revision increases safety, and contains no elements that reduce safety,” CPSC Chair Alex Hoehn-Saric said.

UK’s RoSPA Finds E-Scooters Safer Than Cycling
April 28, 2022, Midlothian Views
A new study into the safety of e-scooters published by The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA), found that e-scooters are significantly less risky than many other forms of transport on Britain’s roads.

New Report Links PFAS Exposure To Liver Damage
April 27, 2022, Consumer Reports
In the review, published in Environmental Health Perspectives, researchers found that PFAS could be a contributing factor to rising rates of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease PFAS. These chemicals used in nonstick pans, firefighting foam, takeout containers waterproof gear and more.

Traceability Technology Is Crucial For Effective Product Recalls
April 28, 2022, EPS News
Product recalls are an unfortunate but urgent reality. Traceability technology such as the Internet of Things (IoT), telematics, artificial intelligence (AI) and cloud computing can enable faster, more effective recalls.

PHTA Issues Call For Help On Revision Of Suction Outlet Fitting Assemblies Standard
April 27, 2022, Pool Magazine
The Pool & Hot Tub Alliance (PHTA) has issued a call for participation on the PHTA-16 Standard Writing Committee to develop a revision of the ANSI/APSP/ICC-16 2017 American National Standard for Suction Outlet Fitting Assemblies for Use in Pools, Spas and Hot Tubs. That is the Drain Cover Standard referenced in the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act.

Warning Issued Over ‘Highly Dangerous’ Energy Saving Device
April 26, 2022, Stroud News & Journal
A device, bought on eBay, that claims to help save money on energy bills is “highly dangerous”, the nonprofit Electrical Safety First has warned. eBay said it took the findings “extremely seriously” and removed the products from sale.

4 Ways To Show Your Leadership Skills In A Job Interview
April 28, 2022, Fast Company
The job interview is an opportunity to impress and heighten the other person’s respect for you. To do that, you need to see yourself as a leader. Here are four ways to shine as a leader during an interview.

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A Sticking Point In The Upcoming China Competition Bill: What To Do About Fake Products
April 22, 2022, Market Watch
The sale of counterfeit goods cost the U.S. economy about $131 billion and more than 325,000 jobs in 2019. On top of that, the sale of fake test kits and PPE during the COVID-19 pandemic has “really put people’s lives at risk,” said the National Association of Manufacturers.

Opinion: What You Don’t Know About Amazon
April 22, 2022, New York Times
A series of product safety cases against Amazon makes clear that its rewiring of retail poses risks. Above all, the cases highlight a gap between how most people understand the world’s largest e-commerce company and what that company actually does.

Leave The Door Open For Employees To Return To Your Organization
April 21, 2022, Harvard Business Review
Leaving a company doesn’t have to be the end of the relationship with an employee. It’s often an evolution of an employee’s career. The author presents several strategies — inspired by companies that have taken steps to welcome employees back.

Analysis: Will Europe’s ‘Gold Standard’ Clean Up Social Media?
April 23, 2022, Washington Post
After more than a year of wrangling, the EU is readying legislation that, according to Facebook whistle-blower Frances Haugen, could represent a “global gold standard” for regulating social media. Previous frustrated efforts to control the world’s technology giants suggest the hardest work is still to come.

772,000 Air Fryers Recalled By Best Buy After Reports That Machines Caught Fire And Melted
April 22, 2022, Today
Best Buy recalled 772,000 air fryers that were made in China. There have been 104 reports that they caught fire, caused burns and melted. They injured 2 people, including a child, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said, and caused property damage.

American Apparel And Footwear Association: Strongly Opposes Proposed Changes To Prop 65 Warning Label
April 22, 2022, AAFA
AAFA submitted comments strongly opposing a second notice proposal to change California Proposition 65 warning labels. The industry seeks further modifications to the Prop 65 short form warning label.

Wave Of Deceptive Marketing PFAS Claims Raises “Personal And Advertising Injury” Coverage Issues
April 20, 2022, JD Supra
Companies in various consumer products industries are increasingly facing claims alleging that they have deceptively marketed their products as safe and sustainable when, in reality, those products allegedly contain unsafe and unsustainable levels of chemicals known as per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, or “PFAS.”

‘Sick To My Stomach’: Orlando Free Fall’s Altered Harnesses Raise Safety Questions, Expert Says
April 21, 2022, Lancaster Farming
Brian Avery, a theme park safety expert with 30 years of experience, has reviewed dozens of accidents and served as an expert witness in court cases nationwide. The death of a 14-year-old boy on the Orlando Free Fall at the ICON Park entertainment complex is “uncharted territory,” he said, because ride operators are accused of tampering with the ride’s safety mechanisms.

PFAS Task Force Recommends Tougher Water Testing, Consumer Product Bans
April 22, 2022, CapeCod.com
The PFAS Interagency Task Force completed its comprehensive report on the environmental impacts, health risks and fiscal costs of PFAS contamination across the commonwealth of Mass. The task force assembled 30 recommendations to help mitigate the spread of the “forever chemical” associated with adverse health effects such as cancer.

EV Battery Explosion: How To Keep Your Electric Vehicle And Batteries Safe
April 21, 2022, Economic Times
There have been five incidents of fire in nearly a month, and in one of them an 80-year-old person lost his life. To avoid such incidents, the Indian government is planning new quality control measures for batteries used in EVs.

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Furniture Makers, Retailers Speak At CPSC Hearing On Proposed Stability Standard
April 11, 2022, Furniture Today
The Consumer Product Safety Commission recently held a public hearing for oral comments on its proposed stability rule for clothing storage furniture. While continuing to support a mandatory standard, American Home Furnishings Alliance raised key concerns with the CPSC’s proposed rule in its oral testimony. The Alliance said the proposed rule was ambiguous, unenforceable and would force entry-level companies out of the market due to costs.

Testing Finds Toxic Chemicals In 50 Of Dollar Store Goods
April 12, 2022, E&E News
The consumer advocacy group, Campaign for Healthier Solutions, purchased 226 products from Dollar Tree, Family Dollar, Dollar General, Five Below and 99 Cents Only Stores. They tested 635 product components for toxic metals and chemicals like flame retardants, bisphenol A and its substitutes, phthalates and PFAS. The results showed that half of the items had one or more chemicals of concern.

Commissioner Feldman Explains Opposition To Bestar, Inc, Correction Action Plan
April 7, 2022, cpsa.gov
“Today, the Commission announced a Corrective Action Plan (CAP) with Bestar Inc., which came to the commissioners for approval because of a death after a Bestar wall bed fell on a 79-year-old woman. As the only commissioner to oppose the CAP, I want to explain my vote,” said Commissioner Feldman.

Commissioner Trumka Backs Approval Of Petition Requesting A Ban Or Standard On
Adult Portable Bed Rails
March 15, 2022, cpsc.gov
“Today, the Commission voted to begin rulemaking to address the risk posed by adult portable bedrails, which have trapped and strangled older adults at alarming rates. This was the right decision to protect older Americans.” said Commissioner Trumka.

Persuading Your Team To Embrace Change
April 12, 2022, Harvard Business Review
How do leaders persuade people to do things they would rather not do? The author outlines two very different persuasive techniques based on social science: The “foot-in-the-door” technique and the “door-in-the-face” technique.

PFAS, Microplastics, Baby Food: Emerging Casualty Risks
April 8, 2022, Insurance Journal
There is no longer a need to ponder the “next asbestos” because the current litigation environment and the recent pace of additions to the list of emerging risks and trends in casualty insurance is enough to keep the industry on its toes.

Charlotte Superintendent Confirms Clear Backpacks Are Still Moving Forward
April 7, 2022, WCNC
Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools still plans to eventually distribute clear backpacks to high school students. Last week, they stopped due to due to a warning tag issue related to possibly harmful materials. The district spent close to half a million dollars on the backpacks as part of a larger effort to reduce weapons in schools.

Chair Hoehn-Saric And His Staff Will Participate In A Meeting About Liquid Laundry Packets
April 15, 2021, cpsc.gov
Chair Hoehn-Saric and his staff will participate in a Webex meeting to discuss the voluntary ASTM safety standard for liquid laundry packets. The meeting will be held on Friday, April 22, 2022, at 2:00 pm.

Three Signs Your iphone Cable Could KILL You
April 17, 2022, The Sun
A TECH safety guru is urging iPhone users to keep their eyes peeled for dodgy charging cables. He warns that counterfeit chargers pose a risk of fire or serious electric shock.

Companies Selling Products In California Must Justify Environmental Marketing Claims
April 11, 2022, National Law Review
When companies make advertising claims (including websites, social media, print, and product labels) that a product is beneficial to or not harmful to the natural environment, California law requires those companies to maintain written records supporting the validity of the claims. This requirement extends to manufacturers and distributors.

DOJ Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch Released Its First-Ever Annual “Recent Highlights”
April 12, 2022, JD Supra
On April 4, 2022, the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Division’s Consumer Protection Branch released its first-ever annual “recent highlights” report. The report describes the CPB’s accomplishments from October 2020 through December 2021 and gives some insight into the enforcement trends companies can expect in the future as CPB’s enforcement activities continue to ramp up.

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UCLA Study Shows E-Scooter Injury Rate Soaring
April 6, 2022, HealthDay
Riders of e-scooters are more likely to get in an accident and suffer an injury than any other form of personal transport, according to a new study. The work by the University of California Los Angeles estimated that for every million rides made on an e-scooter, about 115 will result in some form of injury. In comparison, motorcyclists face the prospect of an injury 104 times out of a million, and for people on a bicycle it is just 15 injuries per million trips.

Samsung Refrigerators Cited In Hundreds Of Consumer Complaints To Federal Safety Database
April 8, 2022, Consumer Reports
American consumers submitted 613 complaints involving Samsung refrigerators to the Consumer Product Safety Commission from January 2019 through December 2021, according to a study of CPSC complaints conducted by Consumer Reports’ Product Safety team. Samsung is the manufacturer with the highest number of complaints during that time frame, according to CR’s analysis of the records publicly available on the CPSC’s SaferProducts.gov database.

Managers Are Trapped In A Performance-Compassion Dilemma
April 7, 2022, Harvard Business Review
Employees need managers to show compassion. At the same time, executives expect their managers and teams to deliver results. Middle managers often feel the tension most acutely. How can they cope with competing pressures? Focus on 2 sets of actions.

Recall Issued After Woman Killed By Falling Bed
April 7, 2022, Fox 59 Indianapolis
A bed sold online is being recalled after a woman died after it fell on her. The Consumer Product Safety Commission said the recall involves 129,000 Bestar Wall beds that can detach from the wall and fall, posing serious impact and crush hazards.

Viewpoint: Earning Your ‘Certified Product Safety Professional’ Certification. One Person’s Experience.
April 6, 2022, ADK Viewpoints Newsletter
Melissa Cairns, legal specialist at the 3M Company discusses how earning her ‘Certified Product Safety Professional’ certification has helped “to deepen my understanding and learn best practices related to managing a product safety incident from start to finish.”

Committee Publishes Update On Impact Of EU Product Safety Regulations
April 5, 2022, UK Parliament Committees
The European Scrutiny Committee has issued an update to its analysis of the impact of the draft EU General Product Safety Regulation on the UK if implemented. The November report highlighted risks that could affect businesses exporting to the EU.

Australia: 3 Months To Go For Button Battery Safety Standards
April 6, 2022, The National Tribune
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is focusing on businesses that supply button batteries or products that are powered by them. The goal is to ensure they are complying with the new button battery safety standards ahead of the laws becoming mandatory on June 22.

Orlando Freefall Tragedy: Ride Safety Expert Says ‘Something’s Got To Change’ With Amusement Park Oversight
April 4, 2022, Fox News
State-by-state regulations on amusement park rides are ‘hit or miss’ and federal regulations needed, a University of Florida lecturer and ride safety expert says. Sen. Ed Markey, D-Mass., sponsored legislation in 2007 that would have given the Consumer Product Safety Commission federal safety oversight over fixed amusement park rides, but it failed to pass.

E-Scooter, E-Bike Safety, Convenience Tech Revealed
April 6, 2022, Forbes
Electric scooters and e-bikes are rapidly growing in popularity as micromobility wheels of choice. That trend is leading technology companies to address two pressing issues for users—safety and convenience. according to a study released last fall by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission emergency room visits due to e-scooter accidents soared from 7,700 in 2017 to 25,400 in 2020.

Washington PFAS Law Takes Aim At Consumer Goods
April 5, 2022, National Law Review
Last month, Washington’s Governor signed into law a bill that significantly accelerates the state’s initiative to develop regulations for various consumer goods that contain PFAS. With increasing attention being given to PFAS in consumer goods in the media, scientific community, and in state legislatures, the Washington PFAS law takes direct aim at a variety of specific products.

Opinion: New PFAS Scorecard For Popular Apparel Brands
April 6, 2022, NRDC
NRDC (Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc.), Fashion FWD and U.S. PIRG Education Fund released a first-of-its kind scorecard ranking PFAS policy commitments from a swath of leading retail and apparel brands.

Canada: Amazon Downsizes Its Environmental Impact
April 4, 2022, National Post
Though they are not entirely boxing up the old way of doing business, the online superstore recently introduced new and improved ways to get goods to Canadian shoppers. A new recyclable paper mailer was developed as a way to be mindful of reducing environmental impact and also as a response to customers who also want to see less packaging waste.

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

Spinning To Popping: How Manufacturers Can Address Popular Product Misuse
March 29, 2022, National Law Review
With social media trends going viral almost daily, trends that actually promote product misuse can gain traction and become popular overnight. As product misuse becomes more publicized through social media, where does this leave manufacturers?

Cancer Warning On Label Halts Charlotte Schools’ Rollout Of Clear Backpacks
March 29, 2022, Charlotte Observer
After spending more than $400,000 on the products, Charlotte-Mecklenburg is pausing its plan to distribute clear backpacks to students. The delay was caused when warning labels about cancer-causing chemicals were found on the backpacks. The initiative was launched after 25 incidents of finding firearms on campus.

How To Be A Supportive Manager When Times Are Tough
March 31, 2022, Harvard Business Review
As disturbing world events continue to unfold, it’s understandable that your team’s minds are elsewhere. As a manager, what can you do to support your team right now? The author offers recommendations for how to manage in uncertain times.

“We Don’t Want Tragedies To Occur” – DFPS Shares Baby Sleep Safety
March 30, 2022, Valley Central
The Texas Department of Family Protective Services (DFPS) is warning about bed-sharing, also known as co-sleeping. DFPS says there were 165 reported baby deaths last year due to bed-sharing and some parents aren’t aware of the risks of bed-sharing.

How To Have More Successful Conversations
March 26, 2022, Knowledge@Wharton
In this paper, the authors introduce a framework to help people have more successful conversations by understanding the motives of each participant. The model is called the “conversational circumplex,” and it maps conversations along two key axes.

Prop 65 Lawsuit Targets iphone Cases At Nordstrom
March 29, 2022, Legal Newsline
Nordstrom is the defendant in a lawsuit that claims it is selling a product that contains a chemical on the Prop 65 list. The lawsuit in San Francisco says Nordstrom is violating Prop 65, which forbids the sale of products that contain chemicals the state considers carcinogens without a warning label.

EU Act ‘Must Empower Those Affected By AI To Take Action’
March 31, 2022, ComputerWeekly.com
Research organization, the Ada Lovelace Institute, published a series of proposals on how the European Union can amend its forthcoming Artificial Intelligence Act to empower those affected by the technology on both an individual and collective level.

E-Scooters That Stop If You Speed
March 31, 2022, Axios
Don’t speed, swerve or ride illegally on a sidewalk in a scooter that employs “Pedestrian Defense”, a technology that slows you to a stop if you misbehave. “Pedestrian Defense” will be deployed this year in 25 cities in the U.S. and Europe.

Insurers Say Britain Should Strictly Regulate “Fire Risk” E-Scooters
March 30, 2022, Reuters
Britain should put stringent regulations on e-scooters if their legal use is widened beyond current trials given the number of injuries from illegal vehicles and fire risks from the batteries, the International Underwriting Association says.

Indian Government Orders Probe Into Scooter Fire Incidents
March 29, 2022, Business Standard
The Centre for Fire Explosive and Environment Safety, an Indian defense lab, has been asked to investigate the circumstances that led to the incident and also suggest remedial measures, according to the Ministry of Road Transport and Highways.

The ABC Of Responsible Artificial Intelligence
March 29, 2022, University of Oxford
Amazon’s Alexa told a ten-year-old to touch a live plug with a penny, which could lead to severe burns. Fortunately, the girl’s mother intervened. But child had been hurt, who would be responsible: Amazon, the parents or the licensing authorities?

Washington Bill Aimed At Phasing Out PFAS “Forever Chemicals” By 2025
March 31, 2022, Toxic-Free Future
Washington Governor Jay Inslee signed a bill that will tackle PFAS “forever chemicals” in a broad range of products by 2025, the fastest timeline in the nation. Product categories include apparel, cosmetics, and firefighter protective equipment.

5 Surprising Home Hazards — And How To Avoid Them
March 31, 2022, AARP
Home mishaps account for most of an estimated 2.9 million annual injuries sustained by adults 65-plus that are serious enough to require hospital treatment. About 3,800 of them are fatal, according to Consumer Product Safety Commission report.

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