FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 26, 2001
Release # 01-177
CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: Ken Giles, (301) 504-7052
Business Leaders Promote Safety Initiatives at CPSC's National Product
Safety Circle Conference
WASHINGTON, D.C. - More than half a dozen companies are unveiling new
product safety innovations at today's U.S. Consumer Product Safety
Commission "Product Safety Circle Conference and Expo." The conference,
which highlights CPSC's Product Safety Circle initiative encouraging
companies to adopt proven product safety practices, has attracted over
250 individuals and 100 companies. More than 20 companies will present
exhibits relating to product safety.
The conference program will provide a range of perspectives on
safety -- including business figures such as Alan Feldman, President of
McDonald's, and Mark Schwab, President of Binney and Smith; a panel of
renowned Washington experts chaired by Robert Barnett, a senior partner
at Williams & Connelly; a panel of media personalities, including
newspaper and television reporters who cover CPSC; one of the leading
voices for consumers, former U.S. Senator Howard Metzenbaum, Chairman of
Consumer Federation of America; and CPSC Chairman Ann Brown, who will
give the keynote address.
"I commend the 44 companies and eight supporting members that have
joined the Product Safety Circle and publicly committed to its
principles," said CPSC Chairman Ann Brown. "Safety is good business. It
can help improve a company's corporate image and their bottom line by
cutting recall costs."
Here are the innovations to be announced at the conference:
SawStop is a new system for woodworking that uses sensor technology to
help prevent injuries. Saws with the SawStop system are designed to
stop the blade if contact with a human hand or finger is detected. Each
year there are about 30,000 hand and finger injuries from table and
bench saws.
Returns Online will announce a new service called Comprehensive Recall
Management intended to help simplify the recall process for both
manufacturers and consumers. Web-based services have the potential to
greatly increase the efficiency of recalls.
Marketing Innovation Enterprises has developed an alternative to latex
balloons. These new balloons are designed to help prevent choking
deaths to children. Balloons are involved in more choking deaths to
children than any other toy.
XTel Communications is providing toll-free telephone capability to
companies who need to conduct a recall. It plans to make 800 toll-free
numbers available to companies immediately so recalls can be announced
quickly and calls handled efficiently.
Savior One has developed a new swimming pool alarm to sense when a child
approaches the pool and set off a warning alarm. The alarm is designed
to sound and automatically dial for help to neighbors and to the fire
department if a child actually falls into the pool.
Bell Sports is offering two bicycle helmet safety videos free to police
departments, schools, and other organizations in the U.S. and Canada.
More than 2,000 videos have been distributed already.
BrandStamp Inc. will provide online registration of consumer products
intended to increase the effectiveness of product recall notifications.
Consumers who register their purchases with BrandStamp will receive
recall notifications immediately via email.
KaBoom will provide a free online guide (the "Getting Started Kit")
intended to create safe and fun community playgrounds.
Martin Door Manufacturing produces a garage door system to prevent
finger entrapment at the section joints and other parts of the garage
door.
Demonstrations and announcements will be made at 11:00 a.m. CT at
Hamburger University, McDonald's Conference Center, 2815 Jorie Blvd, Oak
Brook, Ill. Media representatives are encouraged to attend this
session, as well as the entire Conference and Expo.