Consumerist

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Cpsc

Someone Think Of The Children

House, Senate Pass Bill That Increases CPSC Budget, Bans Lead In Toys

New legislation banning lead and (pending further study) six types of phthalates (chemicals suspected of causing heath problems) from children's products has passed the Senate and now moves on to President Bush. In addition to banning lead and other chemicals, the bill will require independent testing of children's products before they can enter the marketplace — a practice many consumers assumed was standard until they found out that Thomas the Tank Engine was covered in lead. More »

4th of july

Video: Fireworks Are Fun Until They Blow Up In Your Pants

Enjoy yourselves out there this 4th, folks, but do remember to be careful with those fireworks, as seen in this edited version of the CPSC fireworks safety video set to Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture. It's funny when mannequins blow up. Your hands, jeans, or the desk in front of your face, not so much. More »

attack of the killer tomatoes

Another Tomato Attack! "Topsy Turvy" Tomato Stand Recalled After 155 Injuries

QVC has recalled the "Topsy Turvy Tomato Tree" after 155 consumers reported injuries including lacerations, broken toes and bruises. The CPSC says there have been 347 reports of the planters collapsing! First the salmonella outbreak, then a "outbreak of raw tomatoes" at BW3... and now this? More »

danger

Crocs + Escalator = Yet Another Mangled Foot

Another small child's foot has been mangled by the combination of the especially-grippy Crocs clogs and a moving escalator, according to WSBTV: More »

recalls

1 Million Little Tikes Toy Cellphones Recalled

If you've got a kid and you don't want it to choke to death— make sure its not playing with the Little Tikes Chit ‘N Chat Toy Cell Phone. The CPSC is recalling about a million of these toys because there's a piece that can break off and pose a choking hazard. More »

someone think of the children

More Children Are Drowning In Pools And Spas, Says The CPSC

Here's some bleak news, more children are drowning in pools and spas lately, says the CPSC. The increase in deaths is probably due to a increase in the number of pools and spas in the U.S., but Consumer Reports warns that some pools are more dangerous than others. More »

product safety

Senate Votes For Safer Products, Approves Consumer Product Safety Commission Overhaul

The Senate finally voted last week to send the ailing Consumer Product Safety Commission desperately needed funds, staff, and powers. The overdue reform bill passed with bipartisan support on a 79-13 vote. More »

good consumers

Retired Safety Inspector Picks Up Slack For CPSC In Brooklyn

Martin Bennett is a 69-year-old former inspector for the Consumer Product Safety Commission who retired over six years ago. Now he spends his free time monitoring auction sites for recalled products, sending alerts to stores that carry merchandise he considers dangerous, and passing along tips to the CPSC. It's the sort of stuff any consumer can do—except, of course, he actually knows what he's doing: "The agency currently has only 90 inspectors for the whole country, and it says it wants to add more. Since retiring, Mr. Bennett has passed along scores of tips to the CPSC, which says it welcomes the input."
More »

your government

Senate CPSC Reform Compromise Leaves Everyone Bitter, Unsatisfied

Nobody likes the compromise reached by Senators to reform the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Industry thinks the revised plan goes too far, while consumer groups want more. For now, the compromise would allow the CPSC to operate without a quorum, inject needed cash into the Commission, and provide for several other nifty provisions. More »

stupid

CPSC Recalled Play Stove For Tipping, Ignored Real Ones?

Consumer groups are saying today that the "stove tipping" problem that ended in a class action settlement with Sears should have been handled by the CPSC, but that agency refused to take meaningful action that would have prevented a lawsuit.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) did not protect consumers from the hazardous stoves because existing agency regulations require a prolonged dialogue with manufacturers of hazardous products, the consumer groups said.
More »

recalls

Recalls

A Life of Faith Charm Bracelet Sets (lead), Polaris All-Terrain Vehicles (fire), Soft Air USA Remote-Controlled Helicopter Toys (Fire and Burn), GE Gas Clothes Dryers (shock), Trek MT220 Girls Bicycles (frame failures), eeBoo Corp Sketchbooks with Colored Spirals (lead).

cry havoc

Attention Shoppers: The Consumer Product Safety Commission Has Run Out Of Power

The temporary law powering the CPSC has expired, reducing our supposed watch-dog agency to a neutered shadow that can't adopt new safety standards, order mandatory recalls, or enforce existing consumer protection laws. The Commission could get back to work with three small tweaks. More »

RECALLS: Children's toy rakes (lead), Children's sketch books (lead), Campbell Hausfeld and Husky Air Compressors (fires),Car Charging Units (included with LL Bean Airbeds) (bursting batteries),Sterling Silver Teethers (choking), Marshalls velour jackets (strangulation), Baby Einstein Crib Toy (choking), Classroom Reading and Math Aids (lead)

news from the swamp

White House Mulls Another Industry Shill To Head CPSC

The Washington Post reports that the Administration is considering another industry hack to head the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CSPC). They have in mind is Gail Charnley, a scientist who has testified on behalf of and writes articles supporting the views of tobacco, energy and pesticide companies. She's not thought of as a consumer advocate per se but as someone hired by industry to represent their point of view," said Lynn Goldman, a former assistant administrator for the Environmental Protection Agency. Awesome. Last time around, the White House tried unsuccessfully to install Michael Baroody, a lobbyist for the National Association of Manufacturers, as CPSC head. Should Charnley fail, there's probably some guys from Enron still looking for work.

White House Vetting Product-Safety Candidates [Washington Post via U.S. PIRG Consumer Blog]


recalls

CPSC Boss: Toys "Are Safer Than They Have Ever Been"

Consumer Reports takes issue with some of the statements CPSC chairperson Nancy Nord said in a recent speech: More »

goodbye bob!

CPSC's Sole Toy Tester Retires, Nation Chokes On Tears

Tragedy struck last week in Washington as the nation's sole full-time toy tester, Robert L. Hundemer, retired from the Consumer Product Safety Commission. Hundemer unwittingly became the symbol of the CPSC's inability to ensure the safety of the nation's toys when, during Congressional testimony, CPSC Chair Nancy Nord repeatedly referred to him as "Bob, our small parts guy." More »

Wisconsin-based hunting stand company Ardisam Inc. has agreed to pay a $420,000 civil penalty to settle a government lawsuit. In 2004, the company recalled 78,000 hunting tree stands that "unexpectedly detached from trees," sending hunters tumbling to the ground. The suit alleged the company "failed to immediately report" the problem. [CPSC]

RECALLS: Kash N' Gold Tinker Bell Novelty Lamps (lead), A.O. Smith Exhaust Fan Electric Motors (fire), Shims Bargain Pacifiers (choking), TJ Promotions Coin Banks (lead), Lowe's Torchiere Lamps (fire), Honda ATVs (loss of speed control), Intermatic Digital Timers (shock), Pacific Cycle Children's Trailer Bicycles (can detach from adult bicycle), Canondale Scalpel Mountain Bikes (crashing), Mark's Quality Meats Beef (E.coli), New Era Mexican-Style Beans (botulism), Raw Oysters Harvested from the West Karako Bay Section of Growing Area 3 in Louisiana (norovirus), Shangai Chaojimengnan (actually Viagra).