At one time or another everybody has seen a news story or even an internet posting about a children’s toy that had small parts that posed a choking risk or a safety concern regarding a faulty piece of lawn furniture. Product recalls are quite common in the United States; however, not all product recalls are issued based on the manufacturer’s recommendation. Rather, the Consumer Product Safety Commission works to regulate and monitor the sale and manufacture of consumer products, keeping in mind the safety and well-being of the consumer.
The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is an independent government agency that reports to Congress as well as the President on public safety concerns that arise from the manufacture and distribution of consumer products. To quote the Consumer Product Safety Commission website, the ‘CPSC is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of thousands of types of consumer products under the agency’s jurisdiction’ (1). Since its creation, the CPSC has significantly reduced the number of fatalities and serious injuries which have occurred as a result of the ownership and use of various consumer goods. The CPSC exists to serve the general public, ensuring the safety of Americans and enforce strict regulations on companies and manufacturers producing everyday products.
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The CPSC was originally founded in 1972 as a result of the passing of the Consumer Product Safety Act. While the CPSC was founded as a result of the Consumer Product Safety Act, the act further outlined regulations for manufacturers as well as importers to require the testing of products as well as holding these entities accountable for repairing, replacing, or refunding any product deemed to be a safety hazard to the public. The passing of the Consumer Product Safety Act has led to additional legislation including the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008. Over the past forty years, the CPSC has greatly decreased the number of products posing a mechanical, fire, or electrical safety risk in American homes across the country.
Not all products are monitored by the CPSC. According to an article by Inc.com, the CPSC monitors over 15,000 product types including power tools, household chemicals, household appliances, and fireworks (1). There are several categories of items, however, that are monitored by other federal agencies. These items include aircraft, tobacco and alcohol, ammunition and firearms, automobiles, food and drugs, cosmetics, health devices, etc. Among the other agencies that monitor these products are the Food and Drug Administration, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms, the Department of Agriculture, and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. As such, individuals interested in learning more about recalls, product safety concerns, and any current warnings in these categories must look to the specific federal department under which the product is covered.
New recalls and safety notices are issued daily via the Consumer Product Safety Commission. On the CPSC website, each recall includes a ‘Recall Summary’ which identifies the product, the hazard, the recommended course of action on the part of the consumer (replace the item, refund the item, or have the item repaired), the consumer contact, a photo of the product, as well as the opportunity to report an incident as a result of using the product. Each recall also includes a ‘Recall Details’ section which describes how many units were sold, a description of the item, any incidents or reports of issues from the consumer, a more detailed explanation of the remedy, where the product was sold online, the name of the manufacturer, as well as the country where the product was manufactured. Recent recalls include Rocky brand Georgia boot steel toed shoes, isometric exercise equipment from Ontel, and a hanging glass star lantern from Pier 1 Imports. Consumers are able to search the CPSC website for recall information by the product name, company name, the country where the item was manufactured, and even the date on which the recall was issued. Consumers also have the opportunity to report safety concerns via the CPSC website or by calling a toll-free consumer hotline.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission regularly works to instill laws in order to help warn consumers of any potential hazards a product may pose. One such Act includes the Federal Hazardous Substances Act (FHSA) which was passed on December 4th, 2012. This act outlines mandatory labeling on hazardous household products which advises the consumer on the best storage methods for the product as well as first aid information in the event of an accidental harmful exposure or ingestion of the product. In addition, the Act also has provided the Consumer Product Safety Commission with the ability to ban a product which is deemed to be extremely dangerous and as a result, even proper labeling does not provide enough protection to those using the product. The FHSA determines which products need to be labeled by their likelihood of being used on a consumer household setting, the contents of the product, and the potential hazards of exposure to that product.
The Consumer Product Safety Commission will continue to protect consumers from unnecessary safety risks posed by certain products. Consumers interested in keeping up-to-date on the latest recalls and safety warnings from the CPSC are able to visit the commission’s website, call their toll-free number, or follow them on various social media outlets including Twitter and Facebook.
