Safety Matters

More Deaths Prompt Expanded Recall of Blair’s Chenille Clothing

Check your closet and make sure your parents and grandparents check as well.  Blair LLC and CPSC expanded the earlier robe recall to include additional chenille garments, including jackets and sweaters.  Blair has received several reports of the chenille garments catching fire, including nine deaths, most of which involved seniors who were cooking at the time. 

See all images for this recall. 

With the recall expansion, about 300,000 articles of clothing have been recalled. All four of the clothing items were sold for $20 to $40.

Post by Myah Evers

More Window Coverings Recalled for Strangulation Risk to Children

Three recalls of window coverings were announced Tuesday, Oct. 27, because entanglement in the cords could result in the strangulation of a child. There have been over 10 similar recalls in 2009. See images for all the recent recalls of blinds, shades and cords.

Parents and caregivers should be very cautious about the loops and cords that accompany window coverings. Check that the coverings and cords are properly installed and attached to the wall at appropriate heights. Beaded looped chains  and other cords should not hang loosely against the wall. In one incident, a 2-year-old boy climbed up on a toy chest to look out of a window and became entangled in the inner cords of the roman shade. Luckily his parents removed the cord and no permanent injuries were sustained. 

The most recent recalls were for:

• Ikea roller blinds sold from July 2005 to July 2009
• Faux suede roman shades sold by Hanover Direct/Domestications Domestications.com and through catalogs from January 2004 through December 2008
• Roman shades sold at Bed, Bath & Beyond  from August 2007 through September 2009

Be sure to use WeMakeItSafer's recall search tool to check your window coverings for recalls.

Post by Myah Evers

CPSC Advice Not Practical, WeMakeItSafer Changes That

 The CPSC continues to recommend that parents, childcare facility owners and school administrators check every belonging and new purchase on the CPSC website to make sure it has not been recalled.  While we strongly support the idea of looking for recalls, using the government site to do so simply is not practical.

Depending on the type and age of product, it can take five to ten minutes or more using the CPSC site to determine if a particular product has been recalled.  This is because each product must be searched individually using an archaic search system that requires review of text based lists and multiple clicks before one can be even relatively confident that the item they are checking has not been recalled.  To make sure a home is free from recalls would take about 60 hours, assuming 500 products, which is probably fewer than most of us own. (Consider that the kitchen and garage alone have well over 200 items each in tools, gadgets and appliances, and that the average baby registry checklist includes about 100 items.)

WeMakeItSafer turns the traditional search model on its head.  Rather than looking for each specific item that may or may not be in the recall database, consumers instead look through images of recalled products to see if they recognize something they own.  It seems paradoxical but, because humans are incredibly visual and capable of processing information in pictures at high rates of speed, this method is much faster, even with hundreds or even thousands of recalled products.  Thanks to an image gallery that is organized by product categories and can be narrowed by an array of criteria, one can quickly skim through potentially relevant recalls.

Using WeMakeItSafer it would only take one to two hours to make sure the same 500 product home is free of recalls, and the results would be much more accurate.  After consumers have conducted a complete search once, they can sign up for a bi-monthly email that includes images of newly-recalled items in order to stay up to date.  Again, being able to quickly skim through images is a much more efficient alert system than that of the CPSC, which includes lengthy text that consumers are unlikely to read.  To sign up  just send an email to InformMe@WeMakeItSafer.com .

If a consumer needs to look up a specific item, such as one they want to sell or give away, that is much faster on the WeMakeItSafer site as well.  Because we have built advanced filtering options and, again, results are returned with images, it is far faster than hunting around on the CPSC site.

The first problem we set out to fix with regard to consumer product safety was this issue regarding recalled product identification.  We could not be more pleased with the search system we developed – a true labor of love, it is our first free tool for consumers.  We hope you find it as helpful as we do.  Please let us know what you think.

Will iPhones be Recalled by the CPSC Due to Overheating Batteries?

New reports were released today regarding instances of iPhones overheating and exploding.  The reports highlight Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) documents that include at least 15 reports of incidents with iPods and iPhones.

I am not a battery expert, nor have I seen the CPSC documents related to the iPhone and iPod incidents; however, based on my research of lithium batteries when looking into remote control helicopter recalls, I would not be surprised if it turns out that the iPhones and iPods in question had been dropped at some point, either during manufacture, shipping or use. 

Lithium batteries, while lighter and able to pack more power into a smaller package compared to nickel-cadmium, are unstable and require special mechanisms to function properly. Should those mechanisms be disturbed, overheating, which can lead to fire and explosion, may ensue.  Here are some of the facts:

•  Lithium-ion is fragile and requires a protection circuit to maintain safe operation.

•  The maximum charge and discharge current must be properly limited; overcharging is dangerous.

•  The battery will become more vulnerable to failure if subjected to impact, crush or high rate charging.

•  Lithium-ion Polymer, generally thought of as safer and more stable, is often compromised in commercial use to improve conductivity.

Although there are several other factors in the case of iPhones that could be causing issues, such as overworked processors, looking back on the numerous lithium battery operated products that have been recalled over the past several years, I again find myself questioning the safety of this power source in certain products.  U.S. manufacturers and importers announced more than 30 lithium battery related recalls during the five year period from 2004 through 2008, involving nearly 14 million product units.  While most recalls involved computer batteries, products ranging from bicycle lights to toys experienced problems. As a side note, it will be interesting to watch the safety reports of the many new lithium-ion powered cars.

With regard to CPSC documents that identify reports of iPhone failure, anyone can request such documents under the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), but companies are afforded intellectual property protection.  Therefore, if a company claims that documents expose proprietary technology or trade secrets, the documents will not be released.  However, if it is true that KIRO-TV received documents from the CPSC as noted in the above referenced report, one could simply ask to see a copy of the documents already provided to the news station.  There may be a fee associated with the physical copying or scanning, but the time to receive the documents should be less than the seven months reported by KIRO now that the documents already have been produced. Here is where to request the information:  http://www.cpsc.gov/library/foia/foiaonline.html

Interestingly, because of new rules imposed by the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (CPSIA), consumers soon may be able to find this type of information online.  Sec. 212 of the CPSIA mandates that, "subject to the availability of appropriations," the CPSC must create an online searchable database of incident reports; information that currently must be formally requested under FOIA.  Companies will still have an opportunity to claim intellectual property rights (though less likely to stick given that the information will be coming from consumers) and will be allowed to provide comments to be published alongside the reports.  The database is scheduled to come online by August 14, 2010.

As for iPhone, regardless of what is in the CPSC documents, Apple has taken the possibility of dangerous overheating seriously enough to release an update that includes a temperature warning screen, though the temperatures are so extreme (less that 0 degrees F and greater than 113 degrees F) that most will never see the warning.

It may be too early to say whether the CPSC will require Apple to issue a recall related to iPhones.  Nevertheless, as a practical matter, in addition to watching the ambient temperatures and heeding warning screens, if you drop your iPhone or iPod - or any other lithium battery operated device for that matter - consider replacing the battery, especially if you notice unexplained changes in charge cycles.

Here’s some general information from Apple on their lithium batteries:
http://www.apple.com/batteries/ 

And, here is some research on the pros and cons of lithium batteries:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lithium-ion_battery
http://www.popularmechanics.com/technology/upgrade/4204202.html
http://electronics.howstuffworks.com/lithium-ion-battery.htm

WeMakeItSafer.com is LIVE!

 I am very pleased to announce that http://WeMakeItSafer.com  is LIVE!  

Please go on in to check it out and let us know what you think – feedback links at the top of every page.  Also, be sure to follow us on twitter @WeMakeItSafer (http://twitter.com/wemakeitsafer) as we will be continuously rolling out new content and features.

Please tell all your friends - especially those with kids at home or those with senior family members living alone - to stop by the site and peruse our simpler than ever recalled-product gallery to make sure there aren't any items in their homes with safety defects.  Unfortunately, nearly everyone owns dangerous, recalled products without knowing it.

And, don’t forget - never buy or sell another secondhand item without running a search at WeMakeItSafer.com first.  Together, we can make the world a safer place.

Return Blair Catalog Robes Immediately - Six Deaths Reported

In April 2009, Blair, LLC announced a recall of certain women's, 100% cotton robes sold between January 2003 and March 2009 due to failure to meet federal flammability requirements.  At the time of the recall, Blair had received three reports of robes catching fire, with one of the incidents resulting in second-degree burns.

Since the recall announcement, Blair has received six reports of death due to the robes catching fire.

The recalled robes have a button front, long sleeves, a straight bottom and two pockets. The robe’s label states: “100% Cotton, RN 81700, Made in Pakistan”.   The following item numbers are included in the recall and can be found on the label at the robe's neckline:

• 3093111
• 3093112
• 3093113
• 3093114
• 3093115
• 3093116

The photo above may not accurately portray every recalled robe. If you ever purchased a Blair robe, if you cannot remember where you purchased your robe, or if you received a robe as a gift in the last seven years, WeMakeItSafer urges you to check your robe against the above description.  Please also check the robes of your senior friends and family; three of the six deaths were of senior citizens.

Although the robes were sold for $20 -$40, Blair is offering a choice of refund or $50 merchandise certificate for return of the robes.  Contact Blair toll-free at (877) 392-7095 between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. ET Monday through Saturday, visit the firm’s Web site at www.blair.com/recall, or contact the firm by e-mail at blairproductrecall@blair.com

Please help spread the word on this very important information.  The link to this post is: http://blog.wemakeitsafer.com/jennifer/2009/06/return-recalled-robes.html

More information:

CPSC Announcement
Blair document citing efforts to retrieve recalled products

1.6 Million Refrigerators Recalled due to Fire Hazard – Check Your Model

I have not covered many recalls lately but felt the need to get the word out on this one as 41 reports have already been received regarding refrigerator components igniting.   The recalled refrigerators were manufactured by Maytag, but are sold under a number of brands, styles and colors, so be sure to check your serial number and model.

Brands affected include: 

Admiral
Amana
Crosley
Jenn-Air
Magic Chef
Maytag
Performa by Maytag

If you are not sure whether your refrigerator is one of these brands, go ahead and do a quick check against the numbers below anyway, just to be safe.

If you discover that you do own one of the models listed above, contact Maytag immediately for a free in-home repair.  Toll Free (866) 533-9817.

Full recall announcement here.

2009 Safety Matters Redesign – More Information, More Tools

While the impetus may have been the mysterious disappearance of my widgets, I decided it was time rethink how I could be providing more information to my readers.  While I still have work to do on the design, I have started by splitting the page into three columns and adding new tools that I hope you will find useful.  So, without further ado, please allow me to walk you through the new features of the Safety Matters blog.

In general, key pages are linked across the top, blog navigation is on the left, and tools are on the right. 

First, Across the Top: 
Home – Takes you to the frontpage. 

About Me - Click here to read my bio.  A bit more info can be found on my linkedin profile, and in the blog posts categorized under WeMakeItSafer. 

Archives – Links to past blog posts.

WeMakeItSafer – Though we have not launched yet, this is a link to the www.WeMakeItSafer.com site.

Calendar of CPSIA Deadlines and Other Consumer Product Safety Dates  - I am very excited about this one.  Here, I have shared a calendar of events relevant to consumer product safety.  By clicking on an event, you can either print the details or add the event to your own calendar, where you can then set your own alarms and reminders. As I learn about new dates such as conferences and information sessions, I will add them to the calendar, so please let me know if you become aware of events that would be of interest to our readers.

The Left Sidebar:
Recent Readers Map – I love that we have readers from all over the world!  This map shows where the 250 most recent readers are located.  Hover your mouse over each dot to see the exact location.

Search – Looking for information on a specific topic?  Enter keywords in the search bar and you’re good to go.

Add This – Add posts to your bookmark services such as del.icio.us and digg.  You can also StubleUpon to share this site with others.

RSS Feed – If you have a reader or dashboard such as iGoogle or Outlook, you can sign up to have Safety Matter posts sent to you by clicking this link.

Subscribe in Email – If you don’t use an RSS reader, you can have updated posts emailed to you by clicking on “subscribe to Safety Matters by email.”

Mippin – Click this link to learn how you can view Safety Matters on your mobile device. 

Recent – A list of my ten (or so) most recent posts.

Categories – Just like it sounds, these are the categories my blog posts are filed under.  Want to read more about a specific topic?  Just click a category from the list.

Resources– Here is where I post longer articles.  These typically include summaries of research I have conducted or law summaries. 

Archive – Past blog posts listed by month. 

Lastly, but perhaps most importantly, the Right Sidebar:
Helpful Products - This is where I will list some ideas for products that are related to the current blog posts.  For example, if I am writing about replacing your bicycle helmet, I may post some recommendations for CPSC-approved models.  In the future, I will provide additional information from our research about the product or the company in the product comments section.

My Picks - Here you’ll find a handful of books I have read that may be helpful to you in your personal life or in your business dealings.  Click on the book image for more information.  (Looks like this widget is not functioning at the moment.  I have submitted a help ticket and hope to have it up shortly.)

Job Thread - This is an experiment.  The jobs posted here are intended to be relevant to readers who visit this blog.  However, because we have such a wide variety of readers, you may need to poke around a bit to see something that fits your skills and interests.  Don’t see anything relevant to you, please let me know so I can update the job profiles.  Jennifer [at] WeMakeItSafer [dot] com. 

Bulls of the Day - This one is just for fun.  At a time when it seems every stock is down, I thought it would be nice to see a few winners now and again.

There you have it, all the changes (so far) for 2009.  Please let me know what you think.

Halloween is Here... and with it Come More Halloween Recalls

Considering that most product defects that result in recalls are discovered through customer use, it is no surprise that Halloween related product recalls begin to show up immediately before the big day and continue for a few months after, as we are playing with our toys and prizes.  If you read my last post, where I listed Halloween related product recalls from the last ten years, you may have noticed that there were not any 2008 recalls.  Well, the '08s have started rolling in.  I have listed the two for this week below and will be keeping my eyes open over the next several months.  Check back often to make sure your little monsters did not get more than they bargained for with their treats (e.g. lead).

As a reminder, also check this safety tip list before you head out tonight.

Have a great time and stay safe.

2008

 

Halloween Related Product Recalls - Make Sure Your Decor and Costumes Are Safe

If your family is anything like ours, Halloween decorations and other paraphernalia get packed back into boxes or bins and pushed to the depths of the garage within a day or two after the trick-or-treating comes to an end.  The plastic witches and candy-collection pails then stay in their out-of-sight--out-of-mind state until, well, now - the week before the next Halloween night. 

Unfortunately, while we all were on to the next holiday, some of those Halloween items many have been recalled without our knowledge.  Therefore, as with anything that has been in storage for a while, it is a good idea to make sure nothing has been recalled for safety reasons before using it again.  To help with this task, I have pasted below pictures of all the Halloween-related products I could find that have been recalled within the last ten years.  If something looks familiar, click on the image to go the corresponding CPSC announcement for more information.

As you view the items below, keep in mind that many costumes and decorations have a long useful life.  Even if the item is new to you, anything you may have purchased in an online marketplace, garage sale or thrift store,  as well as items you received from a friend or family-member, may be several years old.  Do not discount the possibility that you might own an item just because the date makes the recall seem irrelevant.  It is worth a quick peek.   When you are finished, you can read about other Halloween safety tips here.

Happy Halloween!

Halloween Related Product Recalls

2007

 

   

 

2006

 

 

2005

More recalled Halloween products on next page.  Please continue by clicking the link below.