Adler and Kaye: Industry Tip Over Efforts Are “Inadequate”
September 28, 2020, CPSC
In a joint statement, CPSC Acting Chair Adler and Commissioner Kaye challenge the effectiveness of recall efforts and ask for “full refund efforts: in getting greater consumer response to safety appeals.

Industry: A “variety” Of Efforts On Tip Overs Is In Place
October 14, 2020, Furniture World
AHFA says the statement doesn’t address two additional reasons customers might choose not to request or install an anchoring kit for a recalled product. It also says it urges companies to comply with the current voluntary standard.

A Framework For Leaders Facing Difficult Decisions
October 13, 2020, Harvard Business Review
Many decision-making frameworks aim to help leaders use objective information to mitigate bias, operate under time pressure, or leverage data. But these frameworks tend to fall short when it comes to decisions based on subjective information sources that suggest conflicting courses of action. And most complex decisions fall into this category.

Study Finds Most E-Scooter Rider Injuries Happen On Sidewalk
October 15, 2020, Insurance Institute for Highway Safety
City planners and many pedestrians have wondered how to get electric scooters off the sidewalk, but two new studies from the Insurance Institute for Highway Safety raise a different question: Just where should e-scooters be ridden?

JPMA Outlines Key Initiatives For 2021
October 9, 2020, Furniture Today
This week the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Assn. has announced several key initiatives for 2021, including a SKU-level certification for baby and children’s products and a new industry foundation called JPMA Cares.

Police In Norway Seize E-Scooter Tuned To Break Limit
October 13, 2020, Independent
Police in Norway have seized an electric scooter tuned to travel at 36mph – nearly three times the speed limit. The e-scooter was impounded by officers in Oslo during a road safety policing operation in the capital.

North Carolina Attorney General Sues Chemours, DuPont Over PFAS Contamination
October 14, 2020, North Carolina Health News
North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein filed a lawsuit Tuesday saying the Chemours and DuPont chemical companies need to be held accountable for contaminating the state’s natural resources with per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS.

Study: Risk Of COVID-19 Transmission On Planes ‘Virtually Nonexistent’ For Mask Wearers
October 15, 2020, Forbes
Passengers wearing masks are at a very low risk of contracting COVID-19 on planes, even during packed flights, according to a recent study from the Department of Defense and United Airlines which offers new insight into the safety of air travel amid the pandemic.

Survey: Consumer Confidence In Cleaning Products Remains High During Pandemic
October 14, 2020, AP
A new national survey reveals 86 percent of Americans are confident in their cleaning products to help protect against coronavirus. This new consumer cleaning and hygiene research was presented as by the American Cleaning Institute (ACI) and Good Housekeeping.

10 Essential Leadership Qualities For The Age Of Artificial Intelligence
October 10, 2020, Forbes
The way we run businesses will change, and the successful leaders of the future will need a slightly different skillset from the traditional skills associated with leaders.

Honoring Our Heroes
October 2020, SPSP Website
SPSP makes a permanent home for the salute poster at its website

CPSC OIG: 2019 Data Breach More Significant Than Reported
October 7, 2020, National Law Review
The CPSC OIG released its long-awaited report summarizing its investigation of the 2019 CPSC data breach. Most notably, the report finds that the data breach was larger and went on for longer than originally disclosed by the agency. The report further concludes that the primary causes of the data breach were mismanagement and incompetence but rejects any speculation that the data breach was the result of outside hackers or a deliberate leak by a CPSC employee.

Infant Deaths Prompt Warnings Against Using Nursing Pillows For Sleep
October 7, 2020, Today.com
Sleeping with a nursing pillow or a lounging pad could spell danger for infants, according to a new report from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. The agency noted that almost 1,000 infants suffocate in their sleep every year.

Q4 data: Asia manufacturers rebound after pandemic downturn
October 2020, QIMA
Strong recover is reported by China, Vietnam and Bangladesh, despite the poor outlook that prevailed earlier in the year, QIMA sourcing insights for Q3 suggest that the crash of global trade in 2020 may ultimately be less dramatic than predicted.

Not All Baby Products Are Created Equal: Identifying Safety Concerns Before It’s Too lLte
September 30, 2020, Forbes
As September ends, so does Baby Safety Month, sponsored by the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association. The month is meant to raise awareness about the safe use and selection of products for kids.

Electric Scooter Are Coming To UK cities – A Good Idea?
October 6, 2020, Motherwell Times
Previously banned everywhere except on private land, American-made electric scooters have been approved for use on Britain’s streets. The Transport Committee of MPs had previously suggested making so-called ‘e-scooters’ legal on roads – but not pavements – as a green method of transport.

How To Manage A Hybrid TeamOctober 7, 2020, Harvard Business Review
The hybrid workplace, one in which some employees are in an office and others are working remotely, presents management challenges. You need to ensure employees in the office are in sync with those working from home with fairness in your workflow.

CPSC’s Adler: Cordless Blinds Are “Only  Safe Option” With Kids In Area
October 10, 2020, CPSC
“Accessible window cords are dangerous,” said CPSC Acting Chairman Robert Adler. “Even if you tie them high, or use so-called “safety cleats,” kids can still strangle to death in under one minute. Cordless window blinds and curtains, or those with inaccessible cords, are the only safe option to use in homes, childcare centers or any other places where young children are present.”

Expanding the Internet of Things: Four key legal issues
October 9, 2020, JDSupra
Web-enabled sensors and devices with broad data-collection capabilities promise to transform life and business, but the law hasn’t kept pace and could hinder development. What are the key legal issues that need to be addressed?

CPSC Urges Families to Follow CDC Halloween Advice for Safe Celebrating
October 6, 2020, CSPC
The CSPC is urging families to follow CDC advice for Halloween. Among the key guidance: A Halloween mask is not an appropriate substitute for a protective cloth mask. CPSC joins with CDC in recommending that consumers wear a protective cloth mask of at least two layers of breathable fabric—not a costume mask. Protective masks should never be worn under a costume mask because it can become hard to breathe.

5 Things You Need To Stay Safe In Public Amid COVID-19
October 6, 2020, USA Today
In addition to wearing a mask in public settings and doing your best to stay at least 6-feet away from anyone outside your household, you can take extra precautions by using disinfecting and antiseptic products, such as hand sanitizer and cleansing wipes, while you’re on-the-go.

Honoring our Heroes
October 2020, SPSP
SPSP Makes A Permanent Home For The Salute Poster At Its Website

House Passes Four Consumer Protection Bills
September 29, 2020, House Energy and Commerce Committee
“Protecting consumers has always been one of this Committee’s top priorities, and these bills achieve that by improving the Consumer Product Safety Commission’s ability to screen imported consumer products,” according to House leaders.

Ohio High Court Holds Amazon Not Liable For Teen’s Death
October 2, 2020, ABC News
Retail giant Amazon can’t be held responsible under current Ohio product liability law in the death of a high school senior who ingested powdered caffeine purchased on Amazon’s “fulfillment by Amazon” program.

CPSC Approves Delaying Rule For Infant Carriers
September 9. 2020, QIMA.com
On July 31, 2020, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) published a final rule to delay the effective date of the CPSC’s mandatory standard for hand-held infant carriers, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The effective date for the direct final rule published on May 20, 2020, at 85 FR 30605, is delayed from August 3, 2020, until January 1, 2021.

Leaders Need To Harness Aristotle’s 3 Types Of Knowledge
October 2, 2020, Harvard Business Review
A critical skill a leader must bring to the table is the ability to figure out what kind of thinking is required to address a given challenge. Distinctions between types of knowledge go as far back as Aristotle, who highlighted, for example, the differences between the realm of scientific fact on one hand and ethical judgment on the other.

FDA Warns Of Methanol-Tainted Hand Sanitizer — But Can’t Force Companies To Recall It
October 1, 2020, NBC News
The FDA has counted 17 deaths from exposure to methanol-tainted sanitizer this year and the agency has received an additional 2,000 reports of exposure or injuries. It’s a vivid example of the FDA’s lack of authority to crack down on dangerous over-the-counter drugs, a category that includes hand sanitizers.

Child Safety Group Says Poison Control Calls Up 70% Since Start Of Pandemic
October 1, 2020, ABC7 Chicago
A child safety group is warning parents about dangerous household products that are poisoning kids at record rates this year. Products that have become common during the COVID-19 pandemic, like disinfectants and hand sanitizers, are the main problems, the group said.

PFAS Firefighting Foam Ban Passes In California
September 30, 2020, National Law Review
California Governor Gavin Newson has signed into law a bill that is in essence a PFAS firefighting foam ban and is said to be strong step forward in eliminating firefighting foams as a significant source of PFAS contamination in drinking water. The law bans the manufacture, sale and use of PFAS firefighting foam in most applications starting on January 1, 2022, including training classes.

Honoring Our Heroes
SPSP
The field of safety salutes its professionals

Toy Association’s Alan Kaufman Honored With Painter Memorial Award By ASTM International
September 28, 2020, The Toy Association
Alan Kaufman, senior vice president of technical affairs at The Toy Association and ASTM board member, has been honored with the Robert J. Painter Memorial Award from the ASTM International.

8 Qualities Of Great Leaders Who Get The Best Out Of Their Teams
September 29, 2020, Entrepreneur
In a world of increased flux and uncertainty, today’s sense of normal continues to shift and slide to finds its place in our lives and work. Amid significant business changes, leaders need to dig deeper into their sense of courage, empathy and trust.

A Grateful Group Salutes Product Safety Professionals
A grateful group of industry associations and safety advocates pause to thank the community of product safety professionals who have worked so hard over the past year to design, make, and sell safe products during one of the most challenging periods in our history.

Amazon Appeals Product Liability Ruling To CA Supreme Court
September 25,2020, Bloomberglaw.com
A California appeals court “usurped the role of the Legislature and expanded strict liability beyond well-established limits,” Amazon.com LLC said in a petition for state high court review of a case over an allegedly defective laptop battery.

New Jersey Enacts ‘Strongest Single-Use Ban On Plastics In The US’
September 24, 2020, Forbes
The NJ legislature passed what a local group is calling the strongest single-use ban on plastics in the country, to prohibit grocery stores and restaurants from bagging in single-use plastic or paper bags and the use of polystyrene boxes.

Study Says Dental Injuries Rising Thanks To E-Scooter Use
September 22, 2020, Global News
After a study on the frequency and severity of dental and maxillofacial injuries associated with electric-powered bikes and scooters, a University of Alberta professor wants to see more education and possibly even more enforcement and legislation.

Toy Safety: EU Commission Looks At Limiting Aniline In Toys
September 25, 2020, EU Reporter
The Commission launched a public consultation on limiting aniline in toys in order to enhance the protection of children’s health. Aniline, which may be bound to colorants in toy materials, is suspected to cause cancer and cell mutations.

3 Ways To Motivate Your Team Through An Extended Crisis
September 25, 2020, Harvard Business Review
Research shows that we are most energized and committed when we are internally motivated by our own values, sense of enjoyment, and growth — in short, internal motivation, not external structure, inspires us to be our best selves. Leaders can use this approach to keep teams going in times of prolonged crisis, such as the continual uncertainty brought on by Covid-19.

Vodafone IoT System Is Said To Auto-Disable Faulty Products
September 24, 2020, IoT News
Vodafone has unveiled a new recall system it says will insure customers are kept informed and safe. The prototype system is said to allow manufacturers to instantly notify customers of recalls using Vodafone’s network.

Key Regulatory Concerns For Companies Making COVID-19 Products
September 23, 2020, Law360
In the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, product manufacturers and distributors — many of whom have pivoted to create personal protective equipment for the first time — are now faced with a veritable morass of guidelines and requirements to navigate, from a variety of governmental agencies

Rejecting Scientific Evidence Of Harm To Children’s Brains, EPA OKs Continued Use Of Chlorpyrifos
September 23, 2020, Common Dreams
Dismissing extensive scientific evidence showing that even low levels of chlorpyrifos damage children’s brains, the Environmental Protection Agency released a risk assessment calling the toxic pesticide’s effects “unresolved” and allowing its continued use in a wide variety of agricultural products pending a future final decision on its use.

Consumer Goods Coalition To Accelerate Effort To Reduce Deforestation And Forest Degradation
September 22, 2020, PRNewswire
The Coalition, led by the respective company CEOs and co-sponsored at the CGF Board level by Carrefour and Mars, Incorporated, brings the world’s largest consumer goods brands together with a collective market value of US$1.8 trillion. Its ambition is to utilise its collective reach and knowledge, global networks and resources, to engage and collaborate with producers, suppliers and traders, as well as governments and civil society, to advocate for forest positive solutions.

Leaders Need Human Interaction Skills Now More Than Ever
September 23, 2020, Forbes
A leader’s job is to create stability in chaos, focusing first and foremost on the human element and using emotional intelligence to drive strategy at every level.

‘Highly Careless’ Toy Importers Fined $118k For Toys That Endangered Children
September 23, 2020, Stuff
The New Zealand Commerce Commission says that two companies have been called “highly careless” and fined a total of $118,000 for importing toys that were unsafe and put children at risk.

EU Vows To Hold COVID Vaccine Firms Liable For Side Effects
September 10, 2020, Regulatory Focus
Developers of COVID-19 vaccines used in the European Union will be legally liable in the event of hidden defects or other problems with their products, a senior official at the Directorate-General for Health and Food Safety has vowed.
CNN finds 70+ AmazonBasics Products Reported As Safety Risks
September 10, 2020, CNN
A CNN investigation found that numerous AmazonBasics products have been reported, in consumer reviews, as fire safety hazards. Electrical engineers told CNN that electronics like those sold under AmazonBasics should rarely pose danger.
woom bikes USA Recalls Kid’s Helmets Due To Head Injury Risk
September 10, 2020, CSPC Website
This recall involves woom bikes USA children’s helmets. The recalled helmets were sold in blue, green, purple, red and yellow and in size S. woom is printed on both sides of the helmets. Only the small-sized helmets are included in this recall.
Take Ownership Of Your Future Self
August 20, 2020, Harvard Business Review
Despite awareness that our past self is clearly different than our present self, we tend to think that who we are right now is the “real” and “finished” version of ourselves, and our future self will be basically the same as who we are today.
National Guardsman Bought Tampa Home Tainted By Toxic Drywall
September 9, 2020, Tampa Bay Times
The CPSC has determined that drywall or gypsum board should not contain more than 10 parts per million of elemental sulfur. Drywall taken from the couple’s bedroom had Chinese markings and a sulfur level of 33 parts per million
Senators Agree To Forge Plan To Reduce Greenhouse Gas
September 10, 2020, Washington Post
In a rare show of defiance of the Trump administration, key Senate Republicans joined Democrats in agreeing to phase out chemicals widely used in air conditioners and refrigeration that are warming the planet. Despite the Trump administration’s refusal to join a global agreement to reduce hydrofluorocarbons, which are among the world’s most potent drivers of climate change, a push by U.S. firms and environmentalists appears to have swayed lawmakers.
August CPSC Recall Roundup
September 9, 2020, National Law Review
Even in a pandemic, some things do not change. This month’s Recall Roundup finds the CPSC focusing on dangers that have been front and center for some time. Specifically, the CPSC continues to focus its regulatory efforts on protecting consumers from product defects in all-terrain vehicles (ATV) and other recreational off-highway vehicles such as snowmobiles, golf carts, and utility vehicles.
CPSC Releases Campaign Video: “Even When  You’re Watching” Anchor It!
September 10, 2020, CPSC.gov
CPSC Campaign video released shows how quickly children can be injured or killed; urges families to secure furniture and televisions.
4 Questions To Help Women Navigate The Second Half Of Their Careers
September 4, 2020, Harvard Business Review
For many women, their 50s the perfect time to reinvest in their careers. The author offers 4 questions to ask that can help anyone rethink — and achieve — their professional goals.
House Energy And Commerce Greenlights Bill To Explore AI, Blockchain Use For Consumer Safety
September 10, 2020, NextGov
The Blockchain Innovation Act was put forth by its original co-sponsor Rep. Darren Soto, D-Fla., as part of an amendment to the Artificial Intelligence for Consumer Product Safety Act.
The AI for Consumer Product Safety Act—which was amended to include the new blockchain language and passed during the hours-long markup—would also mandate the Consumer Product Safety Commission to produce a pilot program leveraging AI to advance some element of consumer product safety.

Hoverboard Manufacturer Wins Dismissal Of Consumer Claim
September 1, 2020, Law Street
The Eastern District Court of Tennessee dismissed a federal Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA) claim lodged by a Tennessee family against hoverboard manufacturer Jet.com, Inc. The court concluded that the plaintiffs failed to state a claim for which relief could be granted because they did not have a private right of action under the CPSA.
Toy Group Postpones Toy Fair Dallas And Toy Fair New York
August 28, 2020, Action Figure Insider
A letter from the President of the Toy Association announces that the Dallas Toy Fair and the New York Toy Fair will be postponed and rescheduled for 2021. The letter details future association efforts to serve the industry and the public.
Assessment: How Productive Are You?
August 2018, Harvard Business Reviews
When thinking about your productivity, you need to understand your priorities, and then you can plan your schedule to focus on your top priorities. The goal: Reduce the time you spend on getting through the small stuff thaB clutters up your life.
Texas Woman Severely burned After Hand Sanitizer Catches Fire
September 4, 2020, CBS News
A Texas woman continues to recover after her hand sanitizer allegedly caught fire while she was trying to light a candle. She put on a hand sanitizer and when she lit a candle, her hand caught fire. She had severe burns on her entire body.
Best Practices To Re-connect Employees During Ongoing Crisis
September 1, 2020, HDR
While COVID-19 poses new challenges, getting companies back to the workplace after a crisis is something that has been done many times and significant lessons have been learned. There are three key principles that successful leaders have followed, and some valuable processes to help embed them.
Lawnmowers Kill More People Than Bears, Sharks And Alligators Each Year
September 2, 2020, Newsweek
Movies like Jaws and Deep Blue Sea may have impacted your perceptions of the beach, but the likelihood of being attacked by a shark is still incredibly low. In fact, humans are more at risk of being killed by a lawnmower than they ever would by a great white.
PFAS Liability: “Sovereign Immunity” Means Companies May Foot The Bill
September 1, 2020, National Law Review
Environmental watch groups, legislators, the media, and litigators have all squarely focused on PFAS contamination in one primary source – water. More specifically, drinking water. Environmental groups test local water supplies and report PFAS counts, politicians introduce bills at the state and federal levels to regulate the amount of PFAS permitted in drinking water, the media gives citizens daily news updates on PFAS in drinking water, and lawsuits are increasingly filed for both personal injury and remediation costs.
45% Of  Women Business Leaders Say It’s Difficult For Women To Speak Up In Virtual Meetings
September 3, 2020, CNBC
In the recent survey of 1,100 U.S. working adults over the age of 18, Catalyst, a nonprofit that works to accelerate women into leadership, found that 45% of women business leaders say it’s difficult for women to speak up in virtual meetings
CDC Asks States To Speed Approvals So Coronavirus Vaccine Sites Ready By Nov. 1
September 2, 2020, CNBC
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is asking states to expedite the approval process for medical supply company McKesson so it can set up coronavirus vaccination sites by Nov. 1, CNBC has confirmed.
Recycling, End-Of-Life And Safe Transport Of Batteries Under Spotlight In U.S. And EU Initiatives
September 3, 2020, Energy Storage News
Guidelines for what should happen to lithium-ion battery storage systems at the end of their lifetime have been launched in the US by the national Energy Storage Association.

Amazon Backs Proposed California Product Liability Law
August 25, 2020, Reuters
Less than two weeks after a California appeals court ruling, Amazon issued a surprise announcement. It offered conditional support for a proposed California law that would make it easier for consumers to hold electronic retailers responsible for allowing defective products to reach the marketplace.
In New Guidance, CDC To Workers: Don’t Argue With Anti-Mask Customers
August 26, 2020, Forbes
The Centers for Disease Control discouraged employees from arguing with customers about following coronavirus policies or trying to force them to cooperate if they make threatening statements or show indications, they could become violent, for their own safety.
CPSC Recalls In Review: Bicycle Helmets
August 26, 2020, Retail Consumer Products Law
The Consumer Product Safety Commission conducted 26 bicycle helmet recalls, the first in 1995 and the latest just last week. CPSC attention to helmets remains fairly steady over time, with at least one recall most years, and no significant enforcement “spikes” at any point.
How To Make Rational Decisions In The Face Of Uncertainty
August 28, 2020, Harvard Business Review
When we feel such heightened uncertainty, our decision-making processes can break down. We may become paralyzed and afraid to act, or we may act on the basis of bias, emotion, and intuition instead of logic and facts.
Women Have Been Better Leaders Than Men During The Pandemic
August 26, 2020, BusinessWorld
During the first wave of COVID-19, countries led by females had fewer deaths than nations led by men. It does not imply that women are better leaders in whatever else governments find themselves doing, But it’s worth pondering, nonetheless.
CPSC Urges ATV Riders To Know Risks And Follow Safety Tips
August 25, 2020, CPSC
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) urges all consumers using ATVs to understand the risks and necessary safety measures of ATVs before riding them. “While CPSC understands the draw of riding an ATV, we cannot stress enough that these vehicles are not toys,” said CPSC Acting Chairman Robert Adler.
Business marketing: Understand What Customers Value
First Published October 1998, Harvard Business Review
How do you define value? can you measure it? What are your products and services actually worth to customers? Remarkably few suppliers in business markets are able to answer those questions. And yet the ability to pinpoint the value of a product or service for one’s customer has never been more important.
4 Skills For Virtual Leadership Excellence
August 27, 2020, Association for Talent Development
Employees often turn to their leaders for inspiration, guidance, coaching, and help reaching their goals. But that probably seems like a struggle to accomplish if you’ve found yourself with a remote workforce.
Environmental Groups Push For Rule On Firefighting Foam, Decry Industry Influence
August 27, 2020, The Journal Times
A coalition of environmental organizations is calling on Wisconsin’s natural resources policy board to approve temporary regulations on the firefighting foam containing PFAS. which have been linked to cancer.
Bleach “Expires” And Color-Safe Bleach Doesn’t Disinfect
August 26, 2020, KSAT.com
Scripps Research Institute (SRI) states that bleach has a shelf life of six months before it starts to degrade. “Bleach becomes 20 percent less effective as each year goes by.” Color-safe bleach does not disinfect like regular bleach does because they have different active ingredients. Color-safe bleach uses hydrogen peroxide while regular bleach has sodium hypochlorite.
Evolution Of Sourcing: A 2020 Survey Of Trends
August 26, 2020, QIMA
This survey was conducted in July 2020 by QIMA, a leading provider of supply chain compliance solutions. Drawing on input from 200+ businesses around the world across a variety of consumer product segments, and building on previous QIMA research, this report analyzes the evolution of global sourcing in response to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, US-China trade tensions, and other disruptions to global supply chain.
Business Continuity vs. Disaster Recovery: What’s The Difference?
August 26, 2020, The Enterprisers Project
The line between business continuity (BC) and disaster recovery (DR) may seem fuzzy, but there are important differences between the two. Here’s what you should know

Retailers Launch Coalition To Protect Consumers Online
August 14, 2020, RILA
RILA launches the Buy Safe America Coalition, a diverse group of associations who support efforts at all levels of government to combat organized retail crime (ORC) and protect consumers and communities from the sale of counterfeit and stolen goods.
Seattle Releases Electric Scooter Regulations Amid Questions
August 20, 2020, Government Technology
Electric scooters could finally hit Seattle streets, more than a year after Mayor Jenny Durkan said she was open to allowing the devices that have become commonplace. Under an SDOT plan companies could offer scooters as soon as September.
ACC Petitions California Supreme Court To Remove Plasticizer From Prop 65 List
August 18, 2020, Plastics Today
The plasticizer diisononyl phthalate (DINP) was added to California’s Proposition 65 list of substances that may cause an increased risk of cancer in 2013. The American Chemistry Council (ACC) has filed a petition with the California Supreme Court seeking a review of its challenge to the listing of DINP.
Florida Family Wakes In The Night To Glass Table Shattering On Its Own
August 20, 2020, WTSP
A Florida family says they woke up in the middle of the night to what they thought was an explosion. What they found was their dining room table shattered into thousands of pieces.
Administration Bars FDA From Regulating Some Laboratory Tests, Including Coronavirus
August 20, 2020, Washington Post
The Trump administration this week blocked the Food and Drug Administration from regulating a broad swath of laboratory tests, including for the coronavirus, in a move strongly opposed by the agency.
Research: How One Bad Employee Can Corrupt A Whole Team
March 5, 2018, Harvard Business Review
Even honest employees are more likely to commit misconduct if they work alongside a dishonest individual. While it would be nice to think that the honest employees would prompt the dishonest employees to better choices, that’s not always the case.
August 2020 Wrap-Up of Federal And State Chemical Regulatory Developments
August 18, 2020, JDSupra
On June 30, 2020, the Trump Administration released the Spring 2020 Unified Agenda of Regulatory and Deregulatory Actions for EPA. According to the Unified Agenda, the Office of Chemical Safety and Pollution Prevention (OCSPP) is working on several rulemakings under TSCA. Rulemakings at the proposed stage are summarized in our memorandum.
Why Social Responsibility Produces More Resilient Organizations
August 20, 2020, MIT Sloan Management Review
In moments of crisis, companies quickly shift their attention to survival. The COVID-19 pandemic is no exception. Under these circumstances, businesses are scrambling to cope with employee safety and enforced shutdowns, among many other challenges. So it may seem misguided to focus on corporate social responsibility (CSR) now. But, in fact, there might be no better time.
California Court Rules Amazon Does Have Liability For A Defective Product
August 16, 2020, Bicycle Retailer
An appeals court in California ruled Thursday that Amazon is not shielded from liability for defective products sold by third-party sellers through its online marketplace. Nationally this California Appellate case is one of the first decided against Amazon holding them directly liable for a defective product sold on its marketplace.
New York Lawmakers Want Safety Standards For Reopening Businesses
August 20, 2020, Spectrum Local News
State lawmakers on Wednesday unveield legislation aimed at affording broad safety and worker protection rules in New York during the COVID-19 pandemic. Known as the NY HERO Act, the proposal would require the state Department of Labor and the Department of Health to set in place minimum standards for safety, which would have fines attached for failure to comply.
American Cleaning Institute Partners With NIH’s National Eye Institute on Ocular Safety
August 20, 2020, Newswise
The American Cleaning Institute launched a partnership with the National Institutes of Health’s (NIH) National Eye Institute (NEI) as part of the Packets Up! campaign to help educate families on the simple steps to prevent accidental eye exposures among children in the laundry room.

Study Says Too Many Kids Getting Seriously Hurt Riding ATVs
August 13, 2020, Health Day News
All-terrain vehicles are a big draw for kids, but a new study by a national hospital warns that the ride can often land children in the ER. US data over a 25-year period shows nearly 280,000 kids were treated for ATV-related head and neck injuries.
CA court: Amazon Liable For Faulty Products Sold On Its Site
August 13, 2020, CNBC
A California appeals court ruled recently that Amazon can be held liable in the state for faulty products sold on its website. The ruling deals a major blow to Amazon, which has for years fought off product liability lawsuits.
Chests Sold By Kmart Recalled Due To Tip-Over Risk To Kids
August 12, 2020, MSN
Nearly 20,000 four-drawer chests sold by Kmart nationwide are being recalled because the furniture is unstable and could topple over and potentially injure or kill children, according to the CPSC.
What Sets Great Managers Apart From Average Ones
August 2020, Harvard Business Review
“The best boss I ever had.” That’s a phrase most of us have said or heard at some point, but what does it mean? What sets the great boss apart from the average boss? What do great managers actually do?
The Cost Of Returns: Should Retailers Rethink Their Policies
August 10, 2020, Knowledge@Wharton
A recent Wharton study found that roughly 10% of purchases are returned, adding up to billions of dollars a year, with online returns higher than in-store. Retailers are struggling for a response to the trend.
Administration Proposes Easing Showerhead Standards
August 12, 2020, KTEN
The US Department of Energy released a proposal to roll back water efficiency standards for showerheads, just days after President Donald Trump had publicly aired his water flow grievances, including an inability to wash his “beautiful hair properly.”
Made in China’ Label Ruling Hits A Raw Nerve In Hong Kong
August 14, 2020, Washington Post
The US determined that Hong Kong no longer had autonomy under its “one country, two systems” formula, ruled imports from Hong Kong must be labeled “made in China.” Those three words sent Hong Kong officials into a collective tailspin.
IoT: How The U.K.’s Regulatory Plans Could Raise Compliance Standards
August 12, 2020, National Law Review
The U.K. government recently launched a consultation process for regulating consumer Internet of Things (IOT) security. This could have significant implications for U.S. manufacturers, given that the U.K. will remain a key sales market following Brexit.
In Today’s Deep Recession, Consumer Spending Is Above Pre-Pandemic Levels. Why?
August 12, 2020, Forbes
The US is now enduring the worst recession in 80 years: Employment in July was about 13 million below February’s number, yet in June, consumer spending on goods was 5 percent above pre-Covid-19 levels. Why?
Brene Brown: What It Takes To Be A Brave Leader Right Now
August 13, 2020, CMO
Organizations and leaders need to stop seeing results-driven performance, accomplishment and achievement, and empathy, care and connection, as mutually exclusive items and focus instead on uniting the two for corporate success, says the professor, lecturer author and podcast producer.