U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

Call for Public Comment on Principles to Measure Impact of Standards on Human Health and Safety

Retrieved on: 
Monday, May 15, 2023

NEW YORK, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The American National Standards Institute and UL Standards & Engagement released today for public review and comment a draft white paper Principles for Measuring the Impact of Voluntary Consensus Standards on Human Health and Safety. The white paper seeks to illustrate the value of work done by the standardization community and provide insights on how to measure and articulate impact. It was developed with the assistance of staff of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, and additional working group members from other U.S. federal government agencies, standards developing organizations, and other interested parties.

Key Points: 
  • NEW YORK, May 15, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The American National Standards Institute and UL Standards & Engagement released today for public review and comment a draft white paper Principles for Measuring the Impact of Voluntary Consensus Standards on Human Health and Safety .
  • The white paper seeks to illustrate the value of work done by the standardization community and provide insights on how to measure and articulate impact.
  • The white paper includes a discussion of:
    The goals of different stakeholders and approaches to measuring the impact of standards.
  • Frameworks for conducting an impact assessment, including the different types of standards, and the importance of the voluntary standards adoption process.

Advisory - Misuse or modification of lithium-ion batteries in e-mobility devices can be extremely dangerous

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, May 11, 2023

Product: Lithium-ion batteries used in e-mobility devices, such as e-scooters or e-bikes

Key Points: 
  • Product: Lithium-ion batteries used in e-mobility devices, such as e-scooters or e-bikes
    Issue: Misuse or modification of lithium-ion batteries used in e-mobility devices such as electronic bikes and scooters, can cause fires or explosions, resulting in severe injury or even death.
  • What to do: Always use the lithium-ion battery that came with your e-bike or e-scooter.
  • This includes:
    building and using DIY lithium-ion battery packs for use in electric bikes or scooters; and,
    adding external batteries to increase voltage or capacity.
  • There has been a reported increase in e-mobility device battery fires across North America over the last few years.

CPSC: Generac Agrees to Pay $15.8 Million Civil Penalty for Failure to Immediately Report Portable Generators Posing Finger Amputation and Crushing Hazards

Retrieved on: 
Friday, May 5, 2023

WASHINGTON, May 5, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is announcing that Generac Power Systems, Inc., of Waukesha, Wisconsin, has agreed to pay a $15,800,000 civil penalty .

Key Points: 
  • WASHINGTON, May 5, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is announcing that Generac Power Systems, Inc., of Waukesha, Wisconsin, has agreed to pay a $15,800,000 civil penalty .
  • Beginning in October 2018 and continuing into 2020, Generac received reports of incidents from consumers whose fingers were partially amputated or crushed by the unlocked handle of the portable generator.
  • Despite possessing this information, Generac did not immediately report to the Commission.
  • Generac and the Commission jointly announced a recall of the portable generators on July 29, 2021.

Advisory - Water beads may pose life-threatening risks to young children

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, May 4, 2023

Health Canada is warning parents and caregivers about the risks of water beads.

Key Points: 
  • Health Canada is warning parents and caregivers about the risks of water beads.
  • These tiny beads, also known as jelly beads, hydro orbs, crystal soil, sensory beads or orb beads, are water-absorbing gel beads that can grow up to 1,500 times their size when placed in water.
  • If ingested, water beads can continue to grow inside the body leading to potentially life-threatening injuries, such as intestinal or bowel obstruction.
  • In other reported cases, young children gained access to water beads while at school or in childcare.

ScottsMiracle-Gro Reports Fiscal 2023 Second Quarter Results

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, May 3, 2023

Fiscal 2Q23 GAAP EPS of $1.94; non-GAAP Adjusted EPS of $3.78

Key Points: 
  • Fiscal 2Q23 GAAP EPS of $1.94; non-GAAP Adjusted EPS of $3.78
    MARYSVILLE, Ohio, May 03, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Scotts Miracle-Gro Company (NYSE: SMG), the world’s leading marketer of branded consumer lawn and garden as well as indoor and hydroponic growing products, today announced results for its fiscal second quarter ended April 1, 2023.
  • “Fiscal 2023 is a testament to the powerful franchise of our core lawn and garden business,” said Jim Hagedorn, chairman and CEO.
  • Instead, our full focus remains on cost control and getting back to run rate profitability by fiscal year-end.
  • For the quarter ended April 1, 2023, company-wide sales decreased 9 percent to $1.53 billion.

Thousands of Americans call for safeguards from gas stove health risks, as public health organizations mark World Asthma Day

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, May 2, 2023

Thousands of Americans and a diverse range of organizations are calling for the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to take concrete steps to protect the public from gas stove pollution, as health bodies across the globe mark World Asthma Day.

Key Points: 
  • Thousands of Americans and a diverse range of organizations are calling for the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to take concrete steps to protect the public from gas stove pollution, as health bodies across the globe mark World Asthma Day.
  • More than 3,000 individuals, 205 health professionals, and 139 organizations have submitted comments expressing concern over gas stove pollution in response to the CPSC’s request for information (RFI) about chronic hazards associated with gas ranges.
  • A recent peer-reviewed study found that nearly 13% of childhood asthma in the U.S. can be attributed to gas stove pollution.
  • “Many people are now learning for the first time that the air we breathe indoors can be unhealthy due to gas stove pollution.

Safety Advocates and Hobby Industry Groups Challenge CPSC’s Unlawful, Irrational Magnet Ban

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, April 27, 2023

On September 21, 2022, CPSC promulgated a final rule entitled Safety Standard for Magnets .

Key Points: 
  • On September 21, 2022, CPSC promulgated a final rule entitled Safety Standard for Magnets .
  • Previously, in Zen Magnets, LLC v. CPSC, a Tenth Circuit panel including then-Judge Neil Gorsuch vacated a similar 2014 magnet ban.
  • In adopting the new rule, CPSC repeated the same errors that led the Tenth Circuit to set aside the previous ban.
  • Congress would never enact this broad a ban, and CPSC is behaving irrationally—and inconsistently with its statutory authority.

Aqua-Tots Swim Schools Highlights Importance of ABCs of Water Safety During National Water Safety Month

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, April 25, 2023

Mesa, Ariz., April 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aqua-Tots Swim Schools , the largest international swim school franchise, is sounding the alarm on drowning prevention and calling all families to commit to the ABCs of Water Safety as May kicks off National Water Safety Month.

Key Points: 
  • Mesa, Ariz., April 25, 2023 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aqua-Tots Swim Schools , the largest international swim school franchise, is sounding the alarm on drowning prevention and calling all families to commit to the ABCs of Water Safety as May kicks off National Water Safety Month.
  • 1 cause of death for children one to four years old and the second leading cause for children five to 14.
  • “Drowning is a preventable tragedy that devastates far too many families each year,” said Craig Wright, CEO of Aqua-Tots Swim Schools.
  • Aqua-Tots Swim Schools has been the leader in swimming instruction since 1991, offering year-round, indoor swim classes for children four months to 12 years old.

CPSC Adopts Final Consumer Product Safety Standard to Prevent Tip-overs of Dressers and Other Clothing Storage Units

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, April 19, 2023

WASHINGTON, April 19, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S Consumer Product Safety Commission today took further action to protect consumers from tip-over-related deaths and injuries associated with dressers, armoires, wardrobes, and other clothing storage units. Implementing recently passed legislation, the Commission voted to adopt the ASTM F2057-23 voluntary standard as a CPSC mandatory safety standard to protect young children from injury and death from furniture tip-over incidents.    

Key Points: 
  • WASHINGTON, April 19, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- The U.S Consumer Product Safety Commission today took further action to protect consumers from tip-over-related deaths and injuries associated with dressers, armoires, wardrobes, and other clothing storage units.
  • STURDY, which stands for Stop Tip-overs of Unstable, Risky Dressers on Youth, was signed into law in December 2022.
  • CPSC examined and assessed the ASTM F2057-23 voluntary standard's effectiveness as required by the law and determined that the standard meets STURDY's requirements.
  • CPSC had previously approved a mandatory safety standard to address the risk of clothing storage unit tip-overs, which was to take effect May 24, 2023, but will now be replaced by the new mandatory standard.

CPSC Urges Flood Victims to Take Steps to Prevent CO Poisoning, Electrocution, Explosion and Fires

Retrieved on: 
Friday, April 14, 2023

Portable generators create a risk of CO poisoning that can kill in minutes.

Key Points: 
  • Portable generators create a risk of CO poisoning that can kill in minutes.
  • Exposed persons may become unconscious before experiencing CO-poisoning symptoms of nausea, dizziness or weakness, and it can lead to death.
  • Opening doors or windows will not provide enough ventilation to prevent the buildup of lethal levels of CO.
  • If you smell or hear gas leaking, leave your home immediately and contact local gas authorities from outside the home.