Consumer Product Safety Commission Prepared by Debbie Ditterline
Consumer Product Safety Commission Prepared by Debbie Ditterline Oism 470 w, Section 1
Agenda b What is the consumer product safety commission (CPSC)? b What does the CPSC do? b Statistics b A real world example b A short exercise b Summary b Bibliography
What Is the CPSC? b An independent federal regulatory agency that helps keep American families safe by reducing the risk of injury or death from consumer products
What Is the CPSC? b Created in 1972 in the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA) b Jurisdiction over 15, 000 types of products b Manufacturers, importers, distributors, and retailers of consumer products can be affected by CPSC action
What Is a Regulation? b Regulations are specific standards or instructions concerning what can or cannot be done by individuals, businesses, and other organizations
What Does the CPSC Do? b The CPSC works to reduce injuries and deaths from consumer products: • • • By evaluating voluntary standards with industry By issuing and enforcing mandatory standards By obtaining the recall of products or arranging for their repair • By conducting research on potential product hazards • By informing & educating consumers • By responding to consumer inquiries
The Need For Standards b Standards enable consumers to purchase a product and use it with other products they purchased form different manufacturers • For example: You buy a camera that was made in Japan • You buy American-made film • You are vacationing in Spain and get the film developed while you are there b Standards make that process possible
Voluntary Vs. Mandatory Standards b Voluntary standards • Allow manufacturers to have more input • Reduce the burdens of federal inspections, enforcement and potential penalties • Take less time, are less costly and are easier to amend
Voluntary Vs. Mandatory Standards b Mandatory standards are sometimes necessary, determined by the CPSC b Manufacturers are still required to report to the CPSC any problems or defects with their products as soon they are aware of it • Whether its governed under a voluntary or a mandatory standard • Any delay in this process will result in a violation of the CPSA
Research on Potential Hazards b The CPSC collects injury data to aid in analyzing safety trends • Contracts with hospital emergency rooms to provide that data through reports made at the time an injured patient is treated. b The raw information can be useful, since it spots trends, but the system has many limitations… • The causality issue cannot be resolved satisfactorily (Was the product to blame, or the user? )
Consumer Inquiries b Consumers can call the toll-free hotline ( 1 -800 - 638 -CPSC) to: • • Report an unsafe product Report a product-related injury Find out whether a product has been recalled Learn how to return a recall product or arrange for its repair • Get info on what to look for when buying a consumer product • Get info on how to use a consumer product safely • Receive info about ordering CPSC safety publications
Statistics b Half of an estimated 4, 000 consumer complaints fielded yearly by the United States CPSC hotline are child-related b The other 50% of the complaints deal with household electrical appliances
A Real World Example b L. L. Bean violated the CPSA by delaying reporting to CPSC that two of its backpack child carriers were defective • Children can work their way out of the harness and fall through a leg opening or topple out of the top of the carriers • L. L. Bean knew of 39 incidents before reporting it to the CPSC • Civil penalty of $750, 000
Recently Recalled b CPSC has recalled 19 million dive sticks used in swimming pools • In shallow water, children can land on the sticks and suffer impalement. b Tiger Electronics Ltd. has recalled 202, 000 piano toys • The top section of an attached microphone can break off, which poses a choking hazard.
Recently Recalled b Bush Industries Inc. has recalled 100, 000 television carts for repair • They can easily tip over b Crate & Barrel has recalled for repair 4, 300 children's tables • Tables have a six-inch hole cut in the center, which can result in head entrapment
A Short Exercise b What do you do if you have received knowledge that a product you manufacture is defective? b What do you do if you or someone you know has been injured by fault of a defective product?
A Short Exercise b What will happen if you do not report your defective product to the CPSC, as a manufacturer? b What will happen if you do not report your defective product, as a consumer?
Summary b The CPSC works to protect consumers b Without standards, the world would be complete chaos at all times b The CPSC needs help from the manufacturers, as well as the consumers, to keep them updated in regards to defective products
Bibliography “Consumer Product Safety Act. ” Internet. http: //www. aham. org/mfrs/govt/safety/cpsa. htm 18 February 2001. “Consumer Product Safety Commission product recalls. ” Professional Safety, Vol. 44 no. 10. October 1999, p. 12, 48. “CPSC Home Page. ” Internet. http: //www. cpsc. gov 18 February 2001. Dawson, Carol. “Voluntary standards threatened. ” Consumers' Research Magazine, April 1998. Gunin, Joan. “Watching Big Brother: A Look Inside the CPSC. ” Home Textiles Today, April 1998, p. 8. “Live and Learn. ” Internet. http: //www. liveandlearn. com/cpsc. html 18 February 2001. “Reg. Radar. ” Internet. http: //www. regradar. org 18 February 2001.
- Slides: 19