[Federal Register: January 22, 1998 (Volume 63, Number 14)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Page 3280-3285]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr22ja98-15]

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CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION

16 CFR Chapter II


Bunk Beds; Advance Notice of Proposed Rulemaking; Request for
Comments and Information

AGENCY: Consumer Product Safety Commission.

ACTION: Advance notice of proposed rulemaking.

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SUMMARY: The Commission has reason to believe that unreasonable risks
of injury and death may be associated with bunk beds constructed so
that children can become entrapped in the beds' structure or become
wedged between the bed and a wall.
    This advance notice of proposed rulemaking (``ANPR'') initiates a
rulemaking proceeding that could result in a rule mandating bunk bed
performance requirements to reduce this hazard. This rule could be
issued under either the Federal Hazardous Substances Act (``FHSA'') or
the Consumer Product Safety Act (``CPSA''), or separate rules might be
issued under the FHSA and CPSA addressing bunk beds intended for use by
children or adults, respectively.
    The Commission solicits written comments from interested persons
concerning the risks of injury and death associated with bunk beds, the
regulatory alternatives discussed in this ANPR, other possible ways to
address these risks, and the economic impacts of the various regulatory
alternatives. The Commission also invites interested persons to submit
an existing standard, or a statement of intent to modify or develop a
voluntary standard, to address the risks of injury and death described
in this ANPR.