1994 Annual Report to Congress

Consumer Product Safety Commission

1994 Annual Report to Congress

CPSC Document #114

Dear Members of Congress:

The United States Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is pleased to submit its report for Fiscal Year 1994.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is an independent federal agency that works to reduce unreasonable risks of injuries and deaths associated with the 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. As an injury prevention agency, CPSC researches product hazards, participates with industry in developing voluntary standards for products, issues and enforces mandatory standards, and informs the public of potential product hazards.

I am delighted to report to you CPSC's efforts at government reinvention and regulatory reform. CPSC should serve as a model for all government agencies. With a staff of less than 500 and the same budget it had in 1979, CPSC exemplifies streamlined, effective, and efficient government that works with industry and the public to achieve its mission to reduce deaths and injuries associated with consumer products.

One of CPSC's greatest accomplishments has been in forging partnerships with industry and consumer groups to promote product safety. CPSC encourages industry to voluntarily improve the safety of its products in lieu of mandatory regulations.

Manufacturers of window coverings voluntarily eliminated the loops in certain window blind cords, which were associated with the strangling death of about one young child a month. Now window blinds are manufactured with safety tassels or breakaway tassels that split open to prevent a strangulation. This effort will save children's lives without years of bureaucratic red tape.

Many manufacturers of children's clothes have voluntarily removed the hood and neck strings on children's sweatshirts and jackets or replaced the strings with buttons, snaps, and velcro. Children were strangled when these strings caught on playground equipment, cribs, escalators and other products.

CPSC initiated several massive recalls that received substantial media coverage helping to assure public attention to product hazards. These recalls included crayons made with toxic levels of lead, dangerous tubular metal bunk beds, and flammable chiffon skirts that burned faster than newspaper. I am fortunate to be the first Commission Chairman to have the opportunity to appear regularly on "Good Morning America" and the first Chairman to write a monthly column for "Good Housekeeping Magazine."

CPSC transformed the agency's outmoded telephone center into a cutting-edge interactive information system incorporating a 24-hour Hotline, Internet access, bilingual operators, and fax-on-demand services. CPSC's new hotline, which gives consumers vital information on potentially dangerous products, received more than 266,000 calls in its first year of operation, an increase of 78 percent over the previous year.

When I arrived at CPSC, I initiated the CPSC Chairman's Commendation for Significant Contributions to Product Safety, to promote product safety by individuals, companies, or groups in the private sector.

Recipients of the commendation for this year include: Procter & Gamble for introducing packaging that is easy for adults to open and child-resistant in advance of changes to the regulation; Playskool, a division of Hasbro Inc., for designing the 1-2-3 High Chair with a built-in safety restraint that will help save children's lives; and Sunbeam Plastics for developing adult-friendly, child-resistant packaging for a broad range of consumer products.

CPSC has accomplished a number of initiatives that have contributed to its success in regulatory reform. CPSC is working to eliminate obsolete regulations, reduce the volume of regulations, and consolidate regulations to make them more user-friendly for industry. In addition, CPSC successfully negotiated with industry to develop voluntary safety standards, using mandatory rulemaking as a court of last resort.

The following pages explain in detail CPSC's work for 1994, which helped reduce injuries and save lives. As a reinvented government agency, CPSC will continue to share the responsibility of product safety with our product-safety partners, industry and the American public.

Sincerely,

Ann Brown

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SECTION 1: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

SECTION 2: RESEARCH
National Electronic Injury Surveillance System
National Injury Information Clearinghouse
Indoor Air Quality
Electrical
Surveys and Studies

SECTION 3: ISSUING AND ENFORCING MANDATORY PRODUCT REGULATIONS
Developing Mandatory Product Regulations
Import Surveillance
Enforcing Product Regulations

SECTION 4: VOLUNTARY STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT
Fire/Electrical Hazards
Children's Product Hazards
Other Hazards

SECTION 5: RECALLS AND CORRECTIVE ACTIONS

Compliance and Enforcement Action
Civil Penalties

SECTION 6: SAFETY PARTNERSHIPS

SECTION 7: INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES
North America
Europe
Asia

SECTION 8: INFORMATION SERVICES

SECTION 9: CONSUMER INFORMATION AND MEDIA RELATIONS
Media Programs
Press Conferences
Video News Releases
Publications

APPENDIXES

Appendix A:
Deaths, Injuries, and Cost of Injuries from Consumer Products

Appendix B:
Policies, Final Regulations, and Proposed Regulations

Appendix C:
Meetings of Substantial Interest

Appendix D:
Log and Status of Petitions and Applications

Appendix E:
Voluntary Standards Activities

Appendix F:
Voluntary Corrective Action Plans and Product Recalls
Subsection A/Regulatory Recalls
Subsection B/Section 15 Recalls

Appendix G:
Litigation and Settlements

Appendix H:
Index of Products Regulated by CPSC

Appendix I:
Federal-State Cooperative Program

Appendix J: Organizational Structure and Functions

===== SECTION 1: EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ==============================

Research

-- CPSC completed research for the Infant Suffocation Project, which found that soft bedding may contribute to the deaths of as many as 1,800 infants a year or 30 percent of the infants initially diagnosed as dying from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). The research showed that rebreathing expired air (carbon dioxide or CO2) trapped in certain soft bedding products may have contributed to the death of infants found on their stomach (prone) on top of pillows, comforters, and other soft bedding with their nose and mouth covered by these products.

-- CPSC completed testing of heat tapes, used widely to prevent water pipes from freezing. CPSC evaluated how effectively recently improved products performed under severe laboratory conditions. The research supported the need to provide an additional electrical safety measure known as ground-fault protection.

-- CPSC initiated an engineering study of new and improved electrical safety devices that could prevent electrical fires caused by inadequate wiring, especially in older homes. CPSC is exploring smarter circuit breakers that can detect arcing as well as overload and short circuit conditions, advanced design fuses, and new types of ground-fault protection to replace or supplement existing protection as cost-effective fire prevention measures.

-- CPSC completed research which identified the major chemicals emitted from carpet cushions used in homes and schools. CPSC began research to investigate whether any of these chemicals (and chemicals from carpets) could be linked to the health threatening symptoms that consumers report are related to their carpet systems.

Voluntary Standards Development

-- CPSC provided technical support in the development of 36 voluntary safety standards.

-- CPSC worked with ASTM (formerly the American Society for Testing and Materials)to complete the adoption of a significant revision to the toy safety voluntary standard. This revision adds safety requirements to address flammability, toxicity labeling, accessibility of batteries in toys, and miscellaneous safety issues.

-- CPSC completed a voluntary standards conformance monitoring study on pool, spa, and hot tub covers and initiated a conformance study on bunk beds.

Recalls and Corrective Actions

-- In 1994, CPSC obtained 330 corrective actions involving more than 11 million consumer products.

-- CPSC detained more than 400 shipments of imported consumer products, which did not meet U.S. safety standards, for reconditioning or export out of the United States.

-- CPSC conducted an enforcement program that resulted in the identification and voluntary recall of a large number of imported, dangerously flammable women's skirts.

-- CPSC identified and obtained voluntary recalls of a large number of tubular metal bunk beds.

-- CPSC identified and obtained voluntary recalls of a large number of imported lead-containing crayons.

Safety Partnerships

-- CPSC co-sponsored a Carbon Monoxide (CO) Detector Workshop with the American Gas Association, the National Association of State Fire Marshals, the Gas Research Institute, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The purpose of the workshop was to discuss various issues concerning the use of CO detectors. The sponsors formed six CO Detector Task Forces to address the following topics: Technical Guidance for Response Personnel; Field and Laboratory Testing; Consumer and Professional Education; Standards Education; Action Levels; and Data Gathering and Coordination.

-- CPSC officials met with the heads of 13 different government agencies to discuss cooperative activities. These included U.S. Customs, the Food and Drug Administration, the National Institute for Injury Prevention and Control, National Institute of Standards and Technology, U.S. Fire Administration, Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Army, Occupational Health and Safety Administration, Consumer Information Center, Office of Consumer Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, President's Council on Physical Fitness, and the Federal Emergency Management Administration. CPSC officials also met with the heads of over 40 consumer, non-profit and professional groups.

-- CPSC worked with coalitions of organizations to dedicate specific weeks or months to activities aimed at specific safety areas. CPSC worked with the National Electrical Safety Foundation, the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, Underwriters Laboratories, and others to develop the National Electrical Safety Month program in May. CPSC is part of the Poison Prevention Week Council, which sponsors National Poison Prevention Week in March. CPSC cooperates with members of the fire community during Fire Prevention Month in October.

-- CPSC co-sponsored the National Smoke Detector Project, a large public/private partnership of nearly 200 participants dedicated to increasing the number of working smoke detectors in residences. Partners in the project include: the U.S. Fire Administration, the Congressional Fire Services Institute, the National Fire Prevention Association, and the Indian Health Service.

International Activities

CPSC continued its involvement in a number of international activities that sought to:

-- assure that consumer products imported into the United States meet mandatory safety standards;

-- encourage mutually-acceptable consumer product safety standards and conformity among nations worldwide; and

-- share information and expertise to reduce costs and remain abreast of the latest scientific developments science.

North America

CPSC joined other federal agencies in providing technical support to United States negotiations on the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA)which became effective on January 1, 1994.

Europe and Asia

CPSC is a member of the U.S. delegation to the Consumer Policy Committee of the International Organization for Standardization, which met to find ways to increase consumer participation in international consumer product standards development.

In November 1993, President Clinton hosted a meeting of leaders for Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). CPSC participated with other U.S. agencies in providing technical support to international discussions dealing with standards related measures.

Re-Engineering of Information Services

Using state-of-the-art technology, CPSC is working to make information more easily available to consumers. CPSC began a multi-year project, now scheduled for completion in fiscal year 1997, to combine all of its information from numerous computer systems and data bases into one comprehensive, integrated system. The new system will combine information received from different sources, including CPSC's National Electronic Injury Surveillance System, industry, consumer groups, and the public, for access by CPSC staff members and the public.

CPSC's Hotline, 1-800-638-CPSC (2772), is an especially effective way for the agency to share life-saving information about dangerous products. The Hotline receives information about the public's experiences with dangerous products, helping CPSC to take the necessary actions that will remove hazardous products from the marketplace or modify standards or designs. It also provides callers with information about product recalls. CPSC took a number of actions to significantly improve Hotline service:

-- Increased by 50 percent the number of incoming toll-free phone lines from eight to 12; increased the number of Hotline representatives from four to five, including one full-time staff member fluent in Spanish and English; identified volunteers agency-wide who can respond to callers in a total of 16 languages; and upgraded the Hotline's voice mail system so that after-hours callers can leave messages for return calls the next business day;

-- Streamlined the length and the "flow" of the recorded information menus to make the Hotline more user-friendly;

-- Informed Hotline callers how they can file product safety complaints via Internet; and

-- Surveyed Hotline callers for their ideas to improve the Hotline, Public Affairs, Media

CPSC places a strong emphasis on reaching state and local media as well as individual consumers. CPSC has reached large television audiences through the issuance of video news releases and press conferences, by cultivating relationships with national consumer affairs reporters, and with regular appearances on "Good Morning America." Major recalls of lead crayons, metal bunk beds and Indian skirts were covered by USA Today, The Washington Post, the New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal, in addition to state and local press.

Publications

CPSC produced three new publications.

-- Indoor Air Pollution - An Introduction for Health Professionals

-- Safety Barrier Guidelines for Home Pools

-- Guidelines for Movable Soccer Goals

Press Conferences

CPSC worked with industry to hold eight press conferences on the following subjects: National Poison Prevention Week; the recall of 11 types of children's crayons containing lead; the recall of 300,000 metal bunk beds; projected injuries for in-line skating; fireworks; the voluntary removal of drawstrings from children's clothing by industry; the recall of over a quarter of a million sheer rayon skirts imported from India; carbon monoxide safety and awareness.

Video News Releases

CPSC produced and distributed video news releases on the following: pool safety (May 1994; 4,271,000 viewers), fireworks safety (July 1994; 9,824,000 viewers), recall round-up (July 1994; 3,902,000 viewers), drawstrings on kids' clothing (July 1994; 17,540,600 viewers), and flammable skirts (August 1994; 102,968,800 viewers).

===== SECTION 2: RESEARCH =======================================

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission conducts studies and investigations of deaths, injuries, diseases, and economic losses associated with consumer products. This research is used to identify hazardous products and to design effective strategies to reduce product hazards and improve consumer health and well-being.

NATIONAL ELECTRONIC INJURY SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM (NEISS)

CPSC collects information on product-related injuries through a national sample of hospitals participating in the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS). In 1994, NEISS provided the foundation for much of the agency's work, including special studies on baby walkers, fireworks, and swing sets.

NEISS continues to serve as a model system for many countries around the world. Systems based on the NEISS model now exist in Japan, New Zealand, and the European Union.

CPSC entered into four agreements with other federal agencies to share NEISS data in return for payments to help defray the costs of the system. Under these agreements, CPSC collected information on motor vehicle injuries, occupational injuries, intentional violence, and firearms injuries.

NATIONAL INJURY INFORMATION CLEARINGHOUSE

CPSC's National Injury Information Clearinghouse collects complaints, reported incidents, and accident investigation reports, which are sent to manufacturers under an information-sharing program beneficial for consumers, manufacturers, and the agency itself. CPSC encourages manufacturers to inform the agency of any follow-up actions conducted.

CPSC received more than 10,000 requests for information under the Freedom of Information Act and the Privacy Act. The National Injury Information Clearinghouse processed more than 5,300 requests for generic product-related information while the Freedom of Information Act office processed more than 5,000 requests for brand specific information.

INDOOR AIR QUALITY RESEARCH

CPSC funded and completed contract work, which identified the major chemicals emitted from carpet cushions used in homes and schools. CPSC began research to investigate whether any of these chemicals (and chemicals from carpets) could be linked to the health threatening symptoms that consumers report are related to their carpet systems.

CPSC has worked since its inception to protect consumers from illnesses and death associated with exposure to chemical and biological pollutants released into the indoor air.

ELECTRICAL RESEARCH

CPSC completed a study on smoke detector operability. The study was based on a survey conducted by CPSC in 1993, which indicated that almost 90 percent of households have at least one smoke detector. The 1994 study concluded that there are more households with inoperable smoke detectors than households without smoke detectors. This study confirms the critical need to address maintenance of existing smoke detectors.

CPSC completed a study of the reasons for smoke detector alarm failure in fires in 15 cities. About 60 percent of the detectors failed to alarm because they were disconnected from their power source. Among those that were disconnected because occupants experienced problems with them, the reasons most often cited were that it "alarms too often" or that there were unwanted alarms related to cooking activities.

SURVEYS AND STUDIES

Infant Suffocation

CPSC completed research for the Infant Suffocation Project, which found that soft bedding may contribute to the deaths of as many as 1,800 infants a year or 30 percent of the infants initially diagnosed as dying from Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS). The research showed that rebreathing expired air (carbon dioxide or CO2)trapped in certain soft bedding products may have contributed to the death of infants found on their stomachs (prone) on top of pillows, comforters, and other soft bedding with their noses and mouths covered by these products.

Baby Walkers

CPSC completed the collection of data about the hazards associated with the use of baby walkers. In 1991, there were an estimated 28,500 emergency room treated injuries related to baby walkers to children less than 15 months of age and between 1982-92 there was an average of one death per year.

Bicycles

CPSC published the results of the agency's 1990-1993 bicycle project in a booklet entitled "Bicycle Use and Hazard Patterns in the United States" based on two national surveys conducted by the agency in 1991. Serving as a technical resource for individuals and organizations interested in promoting bicycle safety, the publication should facilitate improvements in bicycle safety by providing a sound empirical basis for the design and implementation of safety programs.

Ground Fault Circuit Interrupters (GFCIs)

In response to reports of miswiring of GFCIs, a device which provides protection from electrocution, CPSC conducted a study to determine how consumers install GFCIs. CPSC is using the results of the research to support changes to the Underwriters Laboratories standard and to work with the National Electrical Manufacturers Association to develop improved installation instructions.

Heat Tapes

CPSC completed testing of heat tapes, which are used widely to prevent water pipes from freezing. In 1990, heat tapes were involved in approximately 2,000 residential fires which caused $20 million in property damage and resulted in 10 deaths and 100 injuries. CPSC evaluated how effectively recently improved products performed under severe laboratory conditions. The research supported the need to provide an additional electrical safety measure (ground-fault protection) to prevent fires.

Old Electrical Wiring

CPSC initiated an engineering study of new and improved electrical safety devices that could prevent electrical fires caused by inadequate wiring, especially in older homes. CPSC is exploring smarter circuit breakers that can detect arcing as well as overload and short circuit conditions, advanced design fuses, and new types of ground-fault protection to replace or supplement existing protection as cost effective fire prevention measures.

==== SECTION 3: ISSUING AND ENFORCING MANDATORY PRODUCT REGULATIONS ==================

In an effort to reduce unreasonable risks of injury and death associated with consumer products, CPSC issues and enforces product safety standards, including performance standards and labeling requirements.

DEVELOPING MANDATORY PRODUCT REGULATIONS

PROPOSED RULES

Bicycle Helmets

As required by the Children's Bicycle Helmet Safety Act of 1994, the Commission took the first step toward establishing a single mandatory performance standard that includes provisions not addressed by current U.S. voluntary standards. The proposal includes provisions addressing the risk of helmets "rolling off" a rider's head during impact and injury risk to children.

Mouthwash

Under the Poison Prevention Packaging Act, the Commission proposed requirements for child-resistant packaging of mouthwash containing 3 or more grams of ethanol.

Toy Labeling

The Commission proposed a regulation to clarify and interpret provisions in the Child Safety Protection Act of 1994. This act requires certain products, such as balloons, small balls, and certain toys and games intended for use by children 3 years of age and older to bear a label warning of a choking hazard. The act also requires firms to report certain choking incidents.

IMPORT SURVEILLANCE

CPSC and the U.S. Customs Service continued their cooperative efforts to identify and prevent the entry of hazardous consumer products into the United States. The dockside surveillance of consumer products imported into the United States plays a major role in CPSC's compliance program. Hazardous products that violate mandatory safety standards are stopped at the ports of entry so they never reach consumers. Working together, CPSC and the U.S. Customs Service have prevented over 20 million hazardous fireworks and half a million hazardous toys from entering the country.

This cooperation had several immediate results:

-- prevented injuries and deaths,

-- motivated manufacturers and importers to comply with safety regulations, and

-- ensured that foreign manufacturers would receive equal scrutiny for safety as domestic manufacturers, leveling the competitive playing field.

As a model of inter-agency cooperation, the import surveillance program has been extremely effective. A Memorandum of Understanding between the CPSC and the U.S. Customs Service, originally signed in 1987 and updated in 1990, provides the basis for this cooperation.

As a result of these activities over the years, CPSC has seen an increase in the level of compliance of the foreign toy industry. The toy industry has taken greater efforts to more fully inform its members of CPSC's requirements. Many individual firms have developed or improved their internal testing and quality control programs.

CPSC and Customs also examined children's art materials for compliance with the Labeling of Hazardous Art Materials Act. The agencies prevented over 1.9 million art material products that did not meet the requirements of this law from entering the United States.

CPSC's safety standard requiring child-resistance in disposable and novelty cigarette lighters became effective on July 13, 1994. CPSC and Customs cooperated closely in the enforcement of these requirements.

Even before the cigarette lighter standard became effective, CPSC and Customs worked together to prevent the "stockpiling" of non-child resistant lighters. The standard prohibited the manufacturing or importing of excessive numbers of non-child resistant lighters during the year prior to the effective date of the standard.

During May and June 1994, CPSC field staff inspected companies suspected of stockpiling non-child resistant lighters. When CPSC and Customs detected stockpiling, the agencies acted promptly to prevent further non-complying lighters from entering the United States. CPSC and Customs kept over 18 million illegally stockpiled non-child resistant lighters off the market. After the cigarette lighter standard became effective, CPSC and Customs assured that imported shipments complied with the standard.

CPSC and U.S. Customs also worked together to prevent the entry of flammable skirts into the United States after CPSC discovered dangerously flammable skirts from India during domestic surveillance.

ENFORCING PRODUCT REGULATIONS

CPSC conducted a total of 1,590 inspections of U.S. manufacturing, importing, and retailing establishments involved with products subject to the agency's mandatory requirements. CPSC cooperated with the U.S. Customs Service to monitor regulated products at ports of entry.

During these domestic and import surveillance activities, CPSC examined more than 2,600 different products to determine compliance with mandatory requirements. It targeted products it believed might violate safety standards. These products included fireworks, children's crayons, and household chemicals and medications requiring child-resistant packaging.

CPSC found that about 55 percent or more than 1,430 of the products it examined violated agency regulations. In the case of 170 products, CPSC judged the types of violations to be serious enough to warrant a recall from consumers.

As part of the agency's Regulated Products Comprehensive Plan, CPSC targeted enforcement of the Poison Prevention Packaging Act standards for child-resistance and the Federal Hazardous Substances Act labeling requirements for automotive antifreeze products containing methyl alcohol or ethylene glycol.

Under this plan, CPSC targets each year certain regulations for specific scrutiny to determine the industry's level of compliance with mandatory standards. The program was based on field screening of these products at retail outlets throughout the country and then inspecting the manufacturers when retail screening indicated possible violations.

As a result of the program, CPSC identified 20 manufacturers/private labelers violating the hazardous substances labeling requirements and one of the twenty was also violating child-resistant packaging standards. Products examined during this survey represented 184 different manufacturers/private labelers. This represents a very high level of compliance with both the packaging and hazardous substances acts.

As part of its enforcement program, CPSC targeted fireworks. CPSC and the U.S. Customs Service selectively sampled a total of 447 shipments of fireworks. Out of the total number of shipments, 322 violated CPSC's mandatory safety requirements with 188 shipments presenting violations serious enough to warrant seizure or other action by Customs to prevent entry of the shipments into the United States. The level of substantial compliance (other than minor technical violations) with the fireworks regulations remains low at approximately 60 percent for imported fireworks. CPSC is continuing its efforts to assure that fireworks comply with the regulations.

===== SECTION 4: VOLUNTARY STANDARDS DEVELOPMENT ================

To help create safer products in the marketplace, and to help reduce the cost to the federal government for developing and maintaining its own safety standards, CPSC provides technical support to the development of selected voluntary safety standards. These voluntary standards are developed through a national consensus process that assures openness and allows for the participation of all interested parties, including industry, associations, and government. CPSC provided technical support in developing 36 voluntary safety standards.

FIRE/ELECTRICAL HAZARDS

Gas-fired water heaters igniting flammable vapors cause an estimated 1,960 fires each year, resulting in an estimated 316 injuries, 17 deaths, and $26 million in property damage for a total societal annual cost of $395 million.

At CPSC's request, the gas appliance and natural gas distribution industries initiated actions to address the hazard posed by the gas-fired water heater ignition of flammable vapors. Water heater manufacturers began evaluating a possible technological solution to this hazard in which preliminary results are promising. The Gas Research Institute began an $800,000 project to develop a protocol to evaluate technologies. The Institute will submit the protocol to the American National Standards Institute (ANSI) water heater subcommittee for adoption into the ANSI water heater standard ANSI Z21.10.1.

The gas grill industry adopted a CPSC recommendation to amend the design of their products to reduce the likelihood of fires and explosions caused by leaks at the connection with the tank. Industry agreed to modify the ANSI standard for outside cooking appliances to limit the design of the coupling to the tank to two configurations, both of which will prevent the flow of gas if the coupling is not leak free.

CHILDREN'S PRODUCT HAZARDS

CPSC supported the development of 14 new or revised national consensus safety standards for products posing potential hazards to children, such as baby walkers and toys. CPSC worked with ASTM (formerly American Society for Testing and Materials) to adopt a significant revision to the toy safety voluntary standard. This revision adds safety requirements to address flammability, toxicity labeling, accessibility of batteries in toys, and miscellaneous safety issues. CPSC assisted in completing national consensus standards for public playground equipment (to help reduce more than 168,000 annual injuries from head entrapment, swing impact, and associated causes) and for bunk beds (to preclude metal beds from collapsing).

OTHER HAZARDS

CPSC also was involved in voluntary safety standards activities for other products such as gas heater camping equipment, smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, fireworks devices, and selected gas appliances. A new national voluntary consensus standard was completed which limits the amount of formaldehyde in medium density fiberboard to 0.3 parts per million, and in particleboard for mobile home decking and underlayment to 0.2 parts per million.

CONFORMANCE MONITORING

CPSC completed its monitoring of conformance to the voluntary standards on pool, spa, and hot tub covers; and bunk beds.

===== SECTION 5: RECALLS AND CORRECTIVE ACTIONS =================

To prevent death and injury, CPSC seeks recalls of dangerous products. In FY 1994:

-- CPSC obtained 330 corrective actions involving more than 11 million consumer products which either violated mandatory safety standards, or presented a substantial risk of injury to the public.

-- CPSC and the U.S. Customs Service detained more than 400 shipments of imported consumer products, which did not met U.S. safety standards, for reconditioning or export out of the United States.

-- CPSC conducted an enforcement program that resulted in the identification and voluntary recall of a large number of imported, dangerously flammable women's skirts.

-- CPSC identified and obtained voluntary recalls of a large number of tubular metal bunk beds.

-- CPSC identified and obtained voluntary recalls of a large number of imported crayons containing lead.

COMPLIANCE AND ENFORCEMENT ACTION

CPSC can order a manufacturer to repair, replace, or refund the purchase price of a product that the Commission determines, after a hearing, presents a substantial hazard to consumers. However, CPSC conducts most corrective actions with the cooperation of companies.

CPSC obtained 330 corrective actions, which resulted in the recall, repair, replacement, refund, or prospective design changes to more than 11 million units of consumer products.

One hundred sixty corrective actions involved products not subject to mandatory standards that contained defects, such as playground equipment, bunk beds, extension cords, electrical appliances, gas furnaces, recreational products, and laptop computer components.

The remaining 170 corrective actions involved more than 2 million units of products that violated CPSC regulations. In addition, the U.S. Customs Service on behalf of CPSC detained more than 400 shipments of imported products that violated CPSC regulations. As a result, about 22.5 million dangerous, violative product units never reached store shelves.

Toys and children's products continue to be one of CPSC's prime concerns. CPSC initiated several toy recalls for the following reasons: the toys had paint with lead; the toys for children under 3 had small parts, which presented a choking hazard; or the toys presented a substantial risk of injury to children. For example, CPSC and 11 importers recalled crayons that contained lead. CPSC and a juvenile products company recalled some models of infant carriers with a handle that could break that could result in the infant falling from the carrier.

Other product categories involved in product recalls were home electrical appliances, gas furnaces, outdoor electric light fixtures, medications and household chemicals requiring child-resistant closures, general wearing apparel, fireworks, and laptop computer batteries. For example, importers and retailers working with CPSC recalled more than 250,000 women's skirts found to be dangerously flammable. A manufacturer of coffee makers recalled under the counter type coffeemakers with possible thermostat irregularities. A manufacturer of lawn mowers recalled walk behind lawn mowers that in some cases violated the 3-second blade stop requirement, a mandatory safety standard for lawn mowers.

CIVIL PENALTIES

In addition to the many corrective actions involving various consumer products, the commission was also active in obtaining civil penalty settlement agreements totaling $715,000 in 13 separate matters. These agreements covered CPSC allegations that 1) companies failed to properly report defects in products which could create a substantial risk of injury, or which present an unreasonable risk of serious injury or death, as required under section 15 (b) of the Consumer Product Safety Act, or that 2) companies violated mandatory safety requirements.

===== SECTION 6: SAFETY PARTNERSHIPS ============================

CPSC works with a wide network of government agencies and private organizations to provide a safer environment for American consumers.

Coalitions of organizations contributed to the success of CPSC's major projects. CPSC co-sponsored the National Smoke Detector Project, a large public/private partnership of nearly 200 participants dedicated to increasing the number of working smoke detectors in residences. Partners in the project include: the U.S. Fire Administration, the Congressional Fire Services Institute, the National Fire Prevention Association, and the Indian Health Service.

CPSC participated in the Indian Health Service Safe Home Coalition, a partnership of federal agencies and private organizations supporting the Native American and Alaskan Native populations. The coalition directed its initial efforts to ensuring a working smoke detector in every Native American home. CPSC provided technical assistance to identify problems, such as high disablement rates from nuisance alarms, and to develop community-based programs to address these problems.

CPSC co-sponsored a Carbon Monoxide (CO) Detector Workshop with the American Gas Association, the National Association of State Fire Marshals, the Gas Research Institute, and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. The purpose of the workshop was to discuss various issues concerning the use of CO detectors. The sponsors formed six CO Detector Task Forces to address the following topics: Technical Guidance for Response Personnel; Field and Laboratory Testing; Consumer and Professional Education; Standards Evaluation; Action Levels; and Data Gathering and Coordination.

CPSC formed partnerships with the Federal National Mortgage Association (Fannie Mae) and the U.S. Fire Administration to demonstrate how consumers can identify and repair serious electrical wiring deficiencies in older homes.

CPSC is a member of the Coalition for a Safer America. This group is developing a national advertising campaign targeted at fire safety for young children. The coalition plans to develop and release a video message in the Fall of 1995 with a major kickoff presentation.

Many of CPSC's initiatives were made possible by the cooperation of other groups. For example, CPSC worked very closely with the Window Covering Safety Council and manufacturers of window coverings to develop and implement a solution to the strangulation hazards associated with window covering pull cords. CPSC worked with a broad group of children's clothing manufacturers, importers, and retailers to eliminate drawstrings on the hoods and necks of children's clothes to prevent strangulation.

CPSC convened a number of special meetings to discuss solutions to difficult safety problems. CPSC held meetings on the problem of carbon monoxide detector "nuisance alarms," the prevention of fatal window falls, and to address concerns about multiple use safety helmets. CPSC held other meetings to discuss movable soccer goals, baseball safety equipment, and bicycle reflectors.

Chairman Brown initiated the CPSC Chairman's Commendation for Significant Contributions to Product Safety, to promote product safety by individuals, companies, or groups in the private sector.

Recipients of the commendation include: Procter & Gamble for introducing packaging that is easy for adults to open and child-resistant in advance of changes to the regulation; Playskool, a division of Hasbro Inc., for designing the 1-2-3 High Chair with a built-in safety restraint that will help save children's lives; and Sunbeam Plastics for developing adult- friendly, child-resistant packaging for a broad range of consumer products.

The International Consumer Product Safety and Health Organization, founded in 1993, held its first annual symposium in March 1994. This is an organization of government, industry, consumer and other product safety professionals at the national, international, state and local levels. CPSC staff members were instrumental in founding this organization.

CPSC officials met with the heads of 13 different government agencies to discuss cooperative activities. These included the U.S. Customs Service, the Food and Drug Administration, the National Institute for Injury Prevention and Control, National Institute of Standards and Technology, U.S. Fire Administration, Department of Health and Human Services, U.S. Army, Occupational Health and Safety Administration, Consumer Information Center, Office of Consumer Affairs, Office of Management and Budget, President's Council on Physical Fitness, and the Federal Emergency Management Administration. CPSC officials also met with the heads of over 40 consumer, non-profit and professional groups.

CPSC also continued its strong state and local programs. State and local officials, working in cooperation with the agency, perform activities that compliment those performed at CPSC headquarters. Projects initiated under contract or in cooperation with CPSC have often served as catalysts for the development of self-sustaining state product safety programs.

CPSC worked with coalitions of organizations to dedicate specific weeks or months to activities aimed at specific safety areas. CPSC worked with the National Electrical Safety Foundation, the National Electrical Manufacturers Association, Underwriters Laboratories, and others to develop the National Electrical Safety Month program in May. CPSC is part of the Poison Prevention Week Council which sponsors National Poison Prevention Week in March. CPSC cooperates with members of the fire community during Fire Prevention Month in October.

===== SECTION 7: INTERNATIONAL ACTIVITIES =======================

CPSC continued its involvement in a number of international activities that sought to:

-- assure that consumer products imported into the United States meet mandatory safety standards;

-- encourage mutually-acceptable and conforming consumer product safety standards among nations worldwide; and

-- share information and expertise to reduce costs and remain abreast of the latest scientific developments.

NORTH AMERICA

CPSC joined other federal agencies in providing technical support to United States negotiations on the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which became effective on January 1, 1994. CPSC continued its support as implementation began on agreements to help reduce technical barriers to trade resulting from regulations and mandatory standards. Provisions of the agreement address the need to give member nations advance notification of proposed rulemaking, the need to use international standards as a basis for standards-related measures, and the need to work jointly to enhance the level of safety and protection of human, animal, and plant life, and the environment.

Information sharing between CPSC and its Canadian counterpart, the Public Safety Bureau (PSB), Health Canada, grew significantly. Cooperative activities included sharing research reports, sharing laboratory test results, providing recall alerts, and monthly teleconferences by PSB and CPSC management to review current activities of mutual interest. CPSC and PSB also exchanged training information at sessions in the United States and Canada.

EUROPE

CPSC participated as a member of the U.S. delegation to the Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) Committee on Consumer Policy (CCP) and its working party on product safety. The group met in June 1994 to deal with problems of transborder retail trade in consumer goods and services and the group reviewed the implementation of a two-year study on "Consumer Product Safety: Standards and Testing Procedures and Their Effect on Trade between Europe, Japan, and the United States." The study includes a survey to explore these issues as they relate to a sample of consumer products, including riding mowers, microwave ovens, bicycle helmets, and toys. At the end of 1994, CPSC neared completion of an expanded OECD-CCP compilation of OECD members' activities and plans to enhance product safety for older consumers.

CPSC is a member of the U.S. delegation to the Consumer Policy Committee of the International Organization for Standardization, which met to find ways to increase consumer participation in international consumer product standards development. Other priorities included child safety and identifying new consumer areas to standardize. Negotiations continued between the United States and the European Union on Mutual Recognition Agreements. CPSC monitored these negotiations to ensure that consumer products will be adequately tested to meet the required U.S. level of safety.

CPSC will continue its work with the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development's Committee on Consumer Policy and will work to develop internationally harmonized chemical test methods, classification systems, and labeling.

ASIA

In November 1993, President Clinton hosted a meeting of leaders for Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC). CPSC participated with other U.S. agencies in providing technical support to international discussions dealing with standards related measures. CPSC successfully advocated the identification and publication of contacts in the governments of Pacific Rim APEC countries who share similar interests in standards issues and activities.

WORLDWIDE

The Uruguay Round of Multilateral Trade Negotiations was concluded in December 1993. CPSC supported U.S. interagency activities concerned with standards and technical barriers to trade. The agreement allows for each country to determine the level of safety it feels appropriate. In addition, CPSC continued to participate in interagency groups formulating the U.S. position on the international harmonization of chemical systems, including those dealing with eye and skin irritation hazards.

===== SECTION 8: INFORMATION SERVICES ===========================

Using state-of-the-art technology, CPSC is working to make information more easily available to consumers.

Beginning in March 1994, CPSC took immediate steps to re-engineer operations to improve service provided by CPSC's toll-free consumer Hotline to the American public. CPSC's Hotline, 1-800-638-CPSC (2772), is an especially effective way for the agency to disseminate life-saving information about dangerous, recalled products to the public. As a useful communications tool, the Hotline receives information about the public's experiences with dangerous products, helping CPSC to take the necessary actions that would remove hazardous products from the marketplace or modify standards or designs.

To enhance the agency's ability to carry out its mission of reducing the unreasonable risk of injury or death from consumer products, CPSC assembled a team that took a number of actions to significantly improve Hotline service:

-- Increased by 50 percent the number of incoming toll-free phone lines from eight to 12; increased the number of Hotline representatives from four to five, including one full-time staff member fluent in Spanish and English; identified volunteers agency-wide who can respond to callers in a total of 16 languages; and upgraded the Hotline's voice mail system so that after-hours callers can leave messages for return calls the next business day;

-- Streamlined the length and the flow of the recorded information menus to make the Hotline more user-friendly;

-- Informed Hotline callers how they can file product safety complaints via Internet;

-- Conducted a survey of callers to the Hotline to develop and implement further improvements to make the Hotline more effective and user-friendly.

CPSC transformed the agency's outmoded telephone center into a cutting-edge interactive information system incorporating a 24-hour Hotline, Internet access, bilingual operators, and fax-on-demand services. CPSC's new hotline received more than 266,000 calls, an increase of 78 percent over the previous year.

The American public can call the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission toll-free 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Callers can:

-- report an unsafe product or product related injury;

-- learn whether a consumer product has been recalled;

-- obtain information on how to return a recalled product or arrange for its repair;

-- understand what safety features to look for when buying a consumer product;

-- learn how to use a product safely; and

-- receive information about ordering CPSC safety publications.

The Hotline is consistent with CPSC's goals and the National Performance Review initiatives to provide more efficient dissemination and better public access to agency information. CPSC's Hotline provides greater public access to CPSC information of recall notices, reports on product safety findings, and product safety recommendations.

CPSC established an Internet electronic mail address, info@cpsc.gov, for inquiries about recalls or for reporting potential hazards. Internet users are electronically communicating with info@cpsc.gov to request recall information and to report product hazards.

In addition, the agency established a list server capability to enable the public to automatically receive any message CPSC posts on the Internet.

CPSC staff members can use Internet to seek information related to their individual projects that may not otherwise be available.

CPSC also began a multi-year project, now scheduled for completion in fiscal year 1997, to combine all of its information from numerous computer systems and data bases into one comprehensive, integrated system. The new system will combine information received from different sources, including CPSC's National Electronic Injury Surveillance System, industry, consumer groups, and the public, for access by CPSC staff members and the public.

===== SECTION 9: CONSUMER INFORMATION AND MEDIA RELATIONS =======

CPSC educates and informs consumers about the safety of products, the safe use of products, and what to do with products that have been recalled. Communications and media relations programs are vital to this education effort. CPSC effectively communicates its mission and its product-safety messages directly to consumers, industry, and the media with press conferences, video news releases, and publications. CPSC does this through the following:

-- direct response to inquiries from the public;

-- outreach efforts with local and national groups and industries;

-- media and public information programs; and

-- press conferences, print and video news releases, and publications.

MEDIA PROGRAMS

CPSC places a strong emphasis on reaching consumers through national, state and local media. CPSC has reached large television audiences through the issuance of video news releases and by holding press conferences, by cultivating relationships with national consumer affairs reporters, and with regular appearances on "Good Morning America."

Outreach to print media has improved since 1993. CPSC has upgraded an outmoded media alert system from a single, manually-fed fax line for press releases and media advisories to a modern computerized fax system that uses eight dedicated fax lines. As a result, the time it takes for the agency to disseminate information to its press list has been cut from 24 hours to two hours. In 1994, the Public Affairs Office issued 140 press releases.

Recalls generated a great deal of press. Major recalls of lead crayons, metal bunk beds and Indian skirts were covered by USA Today, The Washington Post, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal, in addition to state and local press.

In 1994, CPSC was featured in a number of prominent newspapers, magazines and trade publications, including: The Washington Post, The New York Times, The Toy Book, a publication of the toy industry, and Trial, the national magazine of trial attorneys.

PUBLICATIONS

Consumers contact CPSC for free publications, which are in the public domain and can be reproduced by the consumer without CPSC's permission. This year, CPSC produced three new publications.

-- Indoor Air Pollution - An Introduction for Health Professionals, produced with the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, the American Lung Association, and the American Medical Association, assists health professionals with the identification and reduction of indoor air pollution.

-- Safety Barrier Guidelines for Home Pools sets forth guidelines that help consumers understand the risks associated with home pools and enables them to make educated decisions about which barriers to use to reduce child drownings.

-- Guidelines for Movable Soccer Goals details safety precautions that can help reduce the injuries and deaths associated with soccer goal tipover.

CPSC also compiled recall notices and safety alerts into "Safety Alert Compilations," which were distributed to the agency's mailing lists. CPSC distributed about 1 million publications in 1994.

VIDEO NEWS RELEASES

CPSC takes advantage of new technologies, including satellite transmission and video news releases, to improve the speed and expand the reach of the agency's information operations. These video news releases are picked up by national networks and local affiliates across the country.

CPSC produced and distributed video news releases on the following: Pool safety (May 1994; 4,271,000 viewers), Fireworks safety (July 1994; 9,824,000 viewers), Recall round-up (July 1994; 3,902,000 viewers), Drawstrings on kids' clothing (July 1994; 17,540,600 viewers), and flammable skirts (August 1994; 102,968,800 viewers).

PRESS CONFERENCES

CPSC has reached consumers through free media, much of which has been attained through press conferences. CPSC worked with industry to hold eight press conferences on the following subjects:

On March 15, during National Poison Prevention Week, CPSC and the National Poison Prevention Council held a press conference to raise awareness of child-resistant packaging and poison prevention centers and the role these play in saving lives. Chairman Brown was joined at the press conference by two-year-old Chaz Damon of Reston, Va., who survived an accidental overdose of cough medicine, and Darla Williamson, Chairman of the Poison Prevention Week Council.

One month later, on April 5, CPSC held a press conference to announce the recall of 11 types of children's crayons that contained lead. The press conference publicized the recall as well as CPSC's cooperation with the U.S. Customs Service, who seized many of the crayons at the border and alerted CPSC to the potential hazard.

On April 6, CPSC and nine importers announced the recall of 300,000 metal bunk beds. CPSC alerted consumers to the beds' potential collapse risk, and promoted awareness of CPSC's work with industry to address this problem.

On June 9, in time for the summer season, CPSC released alarming statistics projecting a dramatic increase in in-line skating injuries for the year. Chairman Brown urged in-line skaters to wear helmets and protective padding to help prevent an estimated increase from 37,000 injuries in 1993 to an estimated 76,000 injuries for 1994.

CPSC demonstrated dangers associated with fireworks at a press conference on the Mall in Washington, D.C. on June 29. The parents of three-year-old Michael Shannon, who was killed in an fireworks accident in 1993, joined Chairman Brown at the press conference.

On July 7, CPSC and industry held a press conference to announce a major initiative to remove the drawstrings from the neck area of children's outerwear, Thelma Sibley, the mother of five-year-old Nancy Sibley who was strangled by her hood drawstring on her elementary school slide in January joined Chairman Brown to emphasize the danger.

CPSC held a press conference on August 12 to announce the recall of over a quarter of a million sheer rayon skirts imported from India that burned faster than newspaper, presenting a serious risk of burn injuries.

Immediately following the carbon monoxide death of former tennis star Vitas Gerulaitis on September 19, CPSC held a press conference on carbon monoxide safety and awareness. This preceded Carbon Monoxide Safety Awareness Week, which is held in October.

[NOTE: This document is CPSC's Annual Report without appendices included. For a complete copy of the CPSC's 1994 Annual Report with appendices, send a request to: 1994 Annual Report, Washington, DC 20207.]

=================================================================

APPENDIX A:

DEATHS, ESTIMATES OF INJURIES AND ESTIMATES OF COSTS OF INJURIES FROM CONSUMER PRODUCTS

The Commission, in fulfilling its mission to protect the public against unreasonable risk of injuries associated with consumer products, collects, reviews and analyzes data on deaths and estimated injuries associated with such products. Appendix A presents three tables which contain summary data by totals and by age groups for deaths, estimated injuries and estimated costs of injuries associated with products under the jurisdiction of the Commission. These products are aggregated into 15 product groupings.

While the deaths and injuries in these tables represent product involvement, that involvement does not necessarily indicate causality.

Table 1: Deaths Associated with the Use of Certain Consumer Products, October 1, 1992 - September 30, 1993. These data are taken from death certificates the Commission purchases from the states. Comparisons of Table 1 with previous Annual Report tables of deaths associated with the use of consumer products ought not to be undertaken since budgetary restrictions alter the amount and categories of death certificates purchased each year.

Table 2: Estimates of Hospital Emergency Room Treated Injuries Associated with Use of Certain Consumer Products, October 1, 1993 - September 30, 1994. This is based on data collected from a statistically selected group of hospitals as part of the Commission's National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS). Comparisons of Table 2 with previous annual report tables of injuries associated with the use of these consumer products must be undertaken cautiously. The NEISS hospital sample was updated as of January 1, 1990, to take into account changes that have occurred in the NEISS sampling frame of emergency departments since the 1975 sampling frame was constructed (e.g., representing hospital emergency departments opened after 1975). The sampling frame was also augmented in January 1, 1991, by doubling the number of hospitals sampled in the three largest strata. In addition, over time, there have been modifications to the definition of in-scope injuries.

Table 3: Estimates of the Costs of Hospital Emergency Room Treated Injuries Associated with the Use of Certain Consumer Products, October 1, 1993 - September 30, 1994. This is derived by applying the Commission's Injury Cost Model to the injury estimates of Table 2.

For products where Commission remedial action has been considered, additional data have been collected and analyzed to develop more detailed estimates. Based on interviews with victims or witnesses, the Commission identifies causes of accidents, including the interaction among the person, the product and the environment. Using all the available data, the Commission staff periodically prepares hazard analysis reports for selected products. To learn whether an analysis for any particular product is available, or to receive general injury data reports or more detailed data than are included in this appendix, please write to:

National Injury Information Clearinghouse
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Washington, DC 20207-0001

TABLE 1

DEATHS ASSOCIATED WITH THE USE OF CERTAIN CONSUMER PRODUCTS OCTOBER 1, 1992 - SEPTEMBER 30, 1993

Source: CPSC Death Certificate Project

Note: Product association is defined as any involvement of the product with these deaths and does not necessarily imply causality.

The data in this table cannot be used in trend analysis with the data from previous years; due to budgetary restrictions, differing numbers of death certificates may have been purchased in each time period.

Data are incomplete for Alaska, Connecticut, the District of Columbia, Massachusetts and Oregon.

                                       AGE GROUP 2
                                                            65
PRODUCT                                                     AND
GROUP 1             TOTAL     UNDER 5   5-24      25-64     OVER
                         
 1.Child Nursery 
   Equipment and    61        59        1         0         1   

   Supplies

 2.Toys             22        14        3         4         1

 3.Sports and    1,174       269      381       388       134
   Recreational
   Activities and
   Equipment

 4.Home Commun-     35         3       12        19         1  
   ication, Enter-
   tainment and Hob-
   by Equipment

 5.Personal Use    189        16       27        46       100
   Items

 6.Packaging and    87        33       12        36         6
   Containers, for
   Household 
   Products

 7.Yard and Garden 345         9       29       168       139
   Equipment

 8.Home Workshop   132         8       43        68        13
   Apparatus, Tools 
   and Attachments

 9.Home and Family  40        22        4        13         1
   Maintenance 
   Products

10.General House-   49         2        5        13        29
   hold

11.Space Heating,   94        13       26        77        77
   Cooling and 
   Ventilating 
   Appliances

12.Housewares       22         4        0        11         7

13.Home Furnish-   884       284       75       287       237
   ings and Fixtures

14.Home Structures 448        56       36       177       176
   and Construction
   Materials

15.Miscellaneous   124        47       26        37        14


TABLE 2

ESTIMATES OF HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM TREATED INJURIES
ASSOCIATED WITH THE USE OF CERTAIN CONSUMER PRODUCTS
OCTOBER 1, 1993 - SEPTEMBER 30, 1994 *

Source:  National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS)3

Note:  NEISS data indicate that a product was associated with an
injury but not necessarily that the product caused the injury.  
    
    
                                   AGE GROUP 2
                                                           EST.
                                                  65       MEAN
PRODUCT             UNDER                         AND      SEVE-
GROUP 1   TOTAL       5       5-24      25-64     OVER     RITY

 1.Child  110,559   93,954    6,718     7,969     1,919     53
  Nursery
  Equip-
  ment and
  Supplies 

 2.Toys   163,775   81,273    59,789    20,305    2,407     34

 3.Sports 4,288,068 208,167   2,986,106 1,034,146 59,385    30
   and Rec-
   reational
   Activities
   and Equip-
   ment

 4.Home   137,377   34,572    42,971    43,556    16,277    35
   Comm-
   unication,
   Entertain-
   ment and
   Hobby
   Equipment

 5.Per-   498,768   151,545   171,701   140,890   34,466    54
   sonal
   Use
   Items

 6.Pack   344,890   47,217    121,503   151,108   24,950    27
   aging
   and Con-
   tainers
   for House-
   hold Prod-
   ucts
 
 7.Yard   294,811   11,746    69,760    174,101   39,158    46
   and
   Garden
   Equip-
   ment

 8.Home   357,906   12,846    92,916    218,517   33,627    50
   Work-
   shop
   Appa-
   ratus,
   Tools
   and 

   attach-
   ments

 9.Home   134,640   31,814    35,074    56,740    11,012    58
   and
   Family
   Mainten-
   ance
   Equip-
   ment

10.Gen-   357,652   35,692    34,395    71,808    15,675    67
   eral
   House-
   hold Ap-
   pliances

11.Space  155,169   44,856    45,350    49,641    15,098    78
   Heating,
   Cooling
   and Ven-
   tilating
   Appliances

12.House- 819,068   64,030    290,048   420,776   44,178    26
   wares

13.Home   2,018,008 564,122   459,483   609,300   384,948   41
   Furn-
   ishings
   and 
   Fixtures

14.Home   3,475,034 533,756  1,070,991 1,235,667  634,123   38
   Struc-
   tures and
   Construc-
   tion Mat-
   erials

15. Misc.  227,055  51,131    98,325    59,895    17,686    49

*Comparisons with previous annual report tables must be done
with caution since the NEISS sample was updated as of January 1,
1990.

A-5
TABLE 3

ESTIMATES OF THE COSTS OF HOSPITAL EMERGENCY ROOM TREATED
INJURIES ASSOCIATED WITH THE USE OF CERTAIN CONSUMER PRODUCTS
OCTOBER 1, 1993 - SEPTEMBER 30, 1994
(IN MILLIONS OF DOLLARS)

Source: CPSC Injury Cost Model 5 applied to NEISS injury data for
the period.

                                   AGE GROUP 2

                                                            65 
                                                            AND
PRODUCT        TOTAL     UNDER 5        5-24      25-64     OVER
GROUP 1

1.Child         271       217            19        27        8
  Nursery
  Equipment
  and Supplies

2.Toys          389       163            151       65        9

3.Sports &   13,501       552          8,511    4,194      243
  Recreational
  and Equipment

4.Home Comm-    400        74            109      140       77
  unication,
  Entertainment
  and Hobby
  Equipment

5.Personal    1,406       313            470      451      172
  Use Items

6.Packaging     838        86            271      397       83
  and Contain-
  ers for House-
  hold Products

7.Yard and    1,041        23            207      656      153
  Garden Equip-
  ment

8.Home Work-  1,173        28            285      746      114
  shop Appar-
  atus, Tools
  and Attach-
  ments

9.Home and      399        70             99      188       41
  Family Main-
  tenance Pro-
  ducts

10.General      549       122            107      253       66
   Household
   Appliances

11.Space Heat-  527       121            144      192       70
   ing, Cooling
   and Venti-
   lating Appli-
   ances

12.House-     1,830       206            582      930      111
   wares

13.Home       6,824     1,244          1,191    2,280    2,108
   Furnishings
   and Fixtures

14.Home       12,123    1,153          2,692    4,508    3,770
   Structures
   and Con-
   struction
   Materials

15.Misc.         724      110            300      237       76

A-6

1 Product groups and specific products are included in each group. These products are defined in the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) Coding Manual (1994), Directorate for Epidemiology, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

1.CHILD NURSERY EQUIPMENT AND SUPPLIES

Baby carriages, walkers and strollers
Cribs, playpens and baby gates
High chairs and youth chairs
Miscellaneous

2.TOYS

Children's sports and hobby equipment
Electric trains, cars and accessories
Projectile or flying toys
Toy chests and boxes
Tricycles (children's)
Wagons and other ride-on toys
Miscellaneous

3.SPORTS AND RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES AND EQUIPMENT

Amusement rides
Archery
ATVs, mopeds, minibikes, etc.
Barbecue grills, stoves and fuel
Baseball/softball
Basketball
BB guns, BB's and pellets
Beach, picnic and camping equipment
Bicycles and accessories
Billiards or pool
Bowling
Boxing
Cheerleading
Curling
Dancing
Darts
Exercise equipment
Fencing
Fishing
Football
Golf
Gymnastics and equipment
Hockey, all kinds
Horseback riding
Horseshoes
Ice or snow boating
Lacrosse, rugby and miscellaneous ball games
Martial arts
Mountain climbing
Playground equipment
Racquet sports
Shuffleboard
Skateboards
Skating, all kinds
Snowmobiles

A-7

Snow skiing and snowboarding
Soccer
Swimming activity, pools and equipment
Toboggans, sleds, snow discs, etc.
Track and field
Trampolines
Unicycles
Volleyball
Water skiing, tubing and surfing
Wrestling
Miscellaneous

HOME COMMUNICATION, ENTERTAINMENT AND HOBBY EQUIPMENT

Sound recording and reproducing equipment
Television sets and stands
Miscellaneous

5.PERSONAL USE ITEMS

Cigarettes, etc., lighters, lighter fluids and matches
Clothing, all
Coins
Desk supplies
Drug poisonings to children under 5
Grooming devices
Holders for personal items
Infrared lamps and saunas
Jewelry, watches, keys and key chains
Massage devices
Protection devices (eyes, ears, etc.)
Razors, shavers and razor blades
Miscellaneous

6.PACKAGING AND CONTAINERS FOR HOUSEHOLD PRODUCTS

Cans and other containers
Glass bottles and jars
Paper, cardboard and plastic products

7.YARD AND GARDEN EQUIPMENT

Chain saws
Hand garden tools
Hatchets and axes
Lawn and garden care equipment
Lawn mowers, all types
Other power lawn equipment
Outdoor electric lighting equipment
Pumps
Trimmers and small power garden tools

A-8

8.HOME WORKSHOP APPARATUS, TOOLS AND ATTACHMENTS

Automotive accessories and chemicals
Batteries, all types
Battery chargers
Chains
Engines, non-automotive
Hoists, lifts, jacks, etc.
Power home tools (excluding saws)
Power home workshop saws
Welding, soldering, cutting tools
Wires, cords, not specified
Workshop chemicals
Workshop manual tools
Miscellaneous

9.HOME AND FAMILY MAINTENANCE PRODUCTS

Cleaning agents (excluding soaps)
Cleaning equipment, non-caustics
Drain, oven cleaners and caustics
Paints, solvents and lubricants
Polishes and waxes
Soaps and detergents
Miscellaneous

10.GENERAL HOUSEHOLD APPLIANCES

Cooking ranges, ovens, etc.
Irons and clothes steamers
Refrigerators and freezers
Washers and dryers
Miscellaneous

11.SPACE HEATING, COOLING AND VENTILATING EQUIPMENT

Air conditioners
Chimneys and fireplaces
Fans (excluding stove exhaust fans)
Furnaces
Heating stoves and space heaters
Pipes (heating and plumbing)
Radiators
Water heaters
Miscellaneous

12.HOUSEWARES

Cookware
Drinking glasses
Knives, unpowered
Scissors
Skewers and picks
Small kitchen appliances
Tableware and accessories
Miscellaneous

13.HOME FURNISHINGS AND FIXTURES

Bathtub and shower structures
Beds, mattresses and pillows
Blankets

A-9

Carpets and rugs
Chairs, sofas and sofa beds
Desks, cabinets, shelves, racks, etc.
Drapery rods and accessories
Electric fixtures, lamps and equipment
Fireplace equipment
Holiday and party supplies
Hot tubs, spas and whirlpools
Ladders and stools
Mirrors and mirror glass
Other miscellaneous furniture and accessories
Scales (excluding baby scales)
Sinks and toilets
Tables
Window, table, chair and bed covers
Miscellaneous

14.HOME STRUCTURES AND CONSTRUCTION MATERIALS

Automatic doors and door openers
Cabinet or door hardware
Ceilings and walls of a completed structure
Counters and counter tops
Fences
Glass doors, windows and panels
Handrails, railings and banisters
Insulation
Nails, carpet tacks, etc.
Non-glass doors and panels
Outside attached structures and materials
Outside unattached structures
Porches, open side floors, etc.
Stairs, ramps, landings and floors
Window and door sills (including frames)
Wood panelling and particleboard
Miscellaneous

15.MISCELLANEOUS PRODUCTS

Alarms and escape equipment
Business and office machines
Dollies and carts
Elevators and other lifts
Fireworks and flares
Fuel-burning lighting equipment and fuels
Gasoline and diesel fuels
Generators
Miscellaneous

2 "TOTAL" includes incidents where the age was not recorded. Therefore, the aggregated age groups may not equal the total.

3 The NEISS is a probability sample of the hospital emergency departments in the United States and its territories. All consumer product-related injuries reported in the sample hospitals are transmitted via computer to the Commission on a daily basis. These injury reports not only provide the means for estimating the magnitude of consumer product-related injuries in the United States, but also provide a source for gathering further information concerning the nature and probable cause of the accident.

A-10

Since the estimates shown in this table are based on a sample of hospital emergency departments rather than all hospital emergency departments in the United States, they are subject to sampling error. For a description of the sample design and calculation of the sampling error, write:

National Injury Information Clearinghouse
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Washington, D.C. 20207-0001

4 Each consumer product-related injury seen in the emergency department is assigned a severity value ranging from 10 to 2,516, based on a combination of three factors: injury diagnosis, body part involved and disposition of the case. The estimated mean severity is an average severity value for an estimated number of injuries.

Based on the nature of the injury and the body part affected, all nonfatal injuries are classified to a 6-point scale with injuries ranging from minor to most severe. This ranking is based on medical judgment in terms of expected physical impact, as well as threat to life and potential for permanent impairment. This scale value is then increased by one if the patient is admitted for inpatient hospital care; a seventh point on the scale is established for those injuries with the most severe classification which require hospitalization. Poisonings are an exception to the procedure. A poisoning case which is treated and released is classified as a "2" on this scale, while a poisoning case requiring hospitalization is classified as a "6." Deaths are classified as "8" on this scale, but are grouped with Category 7 in the weighting procedure discussed below.

A geometric inflation factor is used to reflect differences in the degrees of severity among the seven scale categories. Category 1, the least severe category, has been assigned a value of "10." This value is increased by 20 percent to arrive at a value of "12" for Category 2. Therefore, each succeeding scale category value is increased by a geometric proportion of the preceding value; i.e., 40 percent, 80 percent, up to a 640 percent increase for Category 7.

Because the mean severity is based on value judgments, the reader should use caution in interpreting small differences in these measures between product groups.

5 The estimates in Table 3 of the costs of emergency room treated injuries associated with the use of consumer products are from the Injury Cost Model (ICM) developed by the Directorate for Economic Analysis. The ICM includes 11 injury cost components: medical costs; forgone earnings; transportation costs; visitors' forgone earnings; visitors' transportation costs; health insurance administration costs; product liability insurance administration costs; litigation costs; disability costs; retreatment costs; and pain and suffering costs. Since the ICM relies solely on information on the emergency room treated injuries reported in Table 2, the cost estimates in Table 3 do not include the costs of consumer product-related injuries that were treated elsewhere, such as in physicians' offices, health maintenance organizations, and freestanding emergency clinics. Table 3 also excludes the economic losses of fatalities associated with the use of a consumer product. These losses may be substantial.

Injury cost estimates are adjusted to June 1994 price levels using the overall consumer price index and the overall medical care index.

Age group costs may not add to product totals because the age of the victim was not always known.

=================================================================

APPENDIX B:

POLICIES, FINAL REGULATI0NS, AND PROPOSED REGULATIONS

____________________________________________________________
DESCRIPTION    PROPOSED  FINAL     EFFECTIVE      RESOURCE
                                     DATE
____________________________________________________________

CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY ACT
Proposed Action:

Requirements for    07/01/94                       59 FR 33925
reporting choking
incidents pursuant
to the Child Safety
Safety Protection
Act

Safety standard     08/15/94                       59 FR 41719
for bicycle helmets
under the Children's
Bicycle Helmet
Safety Act of 1994

FEDERAL HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES ACT

Final Action:

Amendment of        06/25/93  02/25/94  03/25/94   59 FR 9073 
clacker ball ban
to exclude certain
items from coverage

Proposed Action:

Statement of        03/08/94                       59 FR 10761
enforcement policy
under the Labeling
of Hazardous Art
Materials Act to 
apprise the public
of the Commission's
enforcement focus



Ban under the       07/01/94                       59 FR 33932
Child Protection
Safety Act of 1994
of small balls for 
children under
three years of age
and requirements
for labeling
certain toys and
games for children
three years of age
and older


POISON PREVENTION PACKAGING ACT

Proposed Action:

Child-resistant     05/11/94                      59 FR 24386
packaging
requirement for 
mouthwash packages
containing 3 grams
of more of ethanol

=================================================================

APPENDIX C:

MEETINGS OF SUBSTANTIAL INTEREST

During Fiscal Year 1994, Commissioners and staff at the Consumer Product Safety Commission held meetings to discuss matters related to the mission of CPSC. The list of those meetings complies with the requirements of section 27(j)(8) of the Consumer Product Safety Act, which requires the Annual Report to account for "the extent of cooperation of Commission officials and representatives of industry and other interested parties in the implementation of this Act." We have compiled this list on the basis of meetings announced in CPSC's weekly Public Calendar.

It is important to note that this list of meetings does not account for all meetings between Commission personnel and outside parties because not all such meetings are required to be listed in the Public Calendar. The Commission's Meetings Policy (16 CFR part 1012) requires that meetings concerning matters of "substantial interest" be listed in the Public Calendar while meetings on "non-substantial interest" are not required to be listed, although many are. For example, field staff meet frequently with a wide range of outside organizations in order to inform consumers and others of CPSC's work, but since these meetings are of "non-substantial interest" as defined by CPSC's Meeting Policy, they are not necessarily listed in the Public Calendar. Also, the list may not fully account for all meetings of voluntary standards development organizations with which CPSC participated. For additional information on voluntary standards efforts, see Appendix E.

CPSC's Meetings Policy defines "substantial interest" as concerning "any issue that is likely to be the subject of a regulatory or policy decision by the Commission." The Meetings Policy imposes the following three requirements on CPSC staff and Commissioners who hold or attend meetings involving matters of "substantial interest:" 1) they must announce the meetings in advance in the Public Calendar, 2) they must hold these meetings open to the public, unless certain specified exceptions apply, and 3) they must submit summaries of such meetings to the Office of the Secretary. In addition, summaries of telephone conversations involving "substantial interest" matters also must be submitted to the Office of the Secretary.

Meeting summaries are available from the Office of the Secretary upon request under the Freedom of Information Act.

For copies of the Public Calendar, please write to:
Office of the Secretary
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
Washington, DC 20207

ABBREVIATIONS

We have used the following abbreviations:

EXCE           Directorate for Compliance and Enforcement
CPSA           Consumer Product Safety Act
CPSC           Consumer Product Safety Commission
EC             Directorate for Economic Analysis
EP             Directorate for Epidemiology
ES             Directorate for Engineering Sciences
EXHR           Office of Hazard Identification and Reduction
EXPA           Office of Information and Public Affairs
FO             Directorate for Field Operations
HS             Directorate for Health Sciences
OEX            Office of the Executive Director
OGC            Office of the General Counsel

LIST OF MEETINGS

ADS VENTURES

March 3        ES:  electrical appliance testing

AMERICAN FIBER MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION

February 15    ES & other CPSC staff working on the Infant
               Suffocation Project:  polyester batting

AMERICAN FIREWORKS STANDARDS LABORATORY

March 4        EC:  fireworks sales
August 16      EP & other CPSC staff:  draft testing plan
               for multiple tube mine and shell fireworks
               devices

AMERICAN FURNITURE MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION (AFMA)

January 27     EC & EXHR:  voluntary standards activities
               regarding upholstered furniture
March 29       EC:  upholstered furniture flammability
 
AMERICAN GAS ASSOCIATION (AGA)

February 23    ES:  flammable vapors from water heaters
March 8        EC & other CPSC staff:  carbon monoxide (CO)
               detectors
May 11         EC:  a June 2 workshop on carbon monoxide
               detectors
June 2         EC & other CPSC staff:  Carbon Monoxide
               Detectors Workshop
August 5       EC, EP & other CPSC staff:  carbon monoxide
               deaths and injuries associated with the use
               of household fuel-burning appliances 

AMERICAN LUNG ASSOCIATION
     
April 5        EC:  information and education campaigns on
               carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning and CO
               detectors
July 14        EC & other CPSC staff:  information and
               education efforts on CO poisoning and its
               prevention and detection

AMERICAN NATIONAL STANDARDS INSTITUTE (ANSI) 

November 30    ES:  electrical voluntary standards 
December 13    EXHR:  domestic and international activities 
February 8     EXHR & other CPSC staff:  ANSI voluntary
               standards activities
February 8-9   ES:  safety standards for gas-fired grills


AMERICAN NATIONAL STANDARDS INSTITUTE cont'd.

March 8        ES:  dry cell batteries
April 6        ES:  safety standards for gas-fired
               appliances
April 7        ES:  safety standards for gas-fired
               appliances
April 27-29    ES:  gas-fired central furnace
May 26-27      ES:  decorative appliances
June 9-10      ES:  safety standards for gas-fired grills
July 21        ES:  CPSC electrical hazards program
July 29        Chairman Ann Brown & other CPSC staff: 
               Voluntary Standards Forum
Sept.13-15     ES:  gas-fired central furnaces
Sept.29-30     HS:  draft unified North American standard
               for portable fuel-fired camping equipment

AMERICAN PYROTECHNICS ASSOCIATION

August 16      EP & other CPSC staff:  draft testing plan
               for multiple tube mine and shell fireworks
               devices

AMERICAN SOCIETY OF HEATING, REFRIGERATING, AND
AIR-CONDITIONING ENGINEERS

Nov.7-1        HS & ES:  IAQ '93 Meeting on Operating and
               Maintaining Buildings for Health, Comfort,
               and Productivitity

AMERICAN SOCIETY OF HOME INSPECTORS

March 24       ES:  home inspection issues

AMERICAN SOCIETY OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS

Nov.17-19      EXHR:  participated in the Industry/
               Government Voluntary Standards Conference
     
AMWAY CORPORATION

December 8     HS:  a metered spray package currently on the
               market
July 12        HS:  mouthwash packaging

ARONSTEIN, J. (Consulting Engineer)

March 24       ES:  residential electrical wiring

ARTS AND CRAFTS MATERIALS INSTITUTE

May 4          Chairman Ann Brown/staff:  crayons and other
               children's art products
May 4          Commissioner Mary Sheila Gall/staff:  testing
               of crayons 
May 4          Commissioner Jacqueline Jones-Smith/staff: 
               children's art products
Sept.30        OGC & other CPSC staff:  lead in crayons and
               lead testing of crayons

ASSOCIATION OF HOME APPLIANCE MANUFACTURERS (AHAM)

Sept.7         EP & other CPSC staff:  Investigation
               Guidelines for Range Fires

ASTM 

October 13     EP:  infant and children's garments sizing
               standard
Nov.9-11       ES:  new and revised voluntary standards for
               various nursery products
November 30    HS, EP & ES Laboratory:  draft labeling and
               performance standards for five-gallon buckets
November 30-   ES:  proposed development of safety standards
December 1     for soft-type play equipment
December 1     ES:  revision to voluntary standard for bunk
               beds
December 1-3   EP:  revisions to voluntary standard F 1487
               on public playground equipment
December 8-10  ES:  bicycle headgear and playground
               surfacing voluntary standard
Feb.28-Mar.2   ES & other CPSC staff:  new and revised
               voluntary safety standards for juvenile
               products
March 1-4      ES:  development of a new and revised
               voluntary safety standards for home and
               public playground equipment
March 17       HS & ES:  draft labeling standard and
               information and education efforts on
               plastic five-gallon buckets
March 21-23    HS:  leaded paint encapsulants, removal, and
               testing method standards
March 29       HS:  child-resistant packaging test methods
May 2          ES:  performance requirements for five-gallon
               buckets
May 19         HS:  the negative ballots received on the Toy
               Safety Voluntary Standard revision
May 19-20      ES:  revision to standards on playground
               surfacing and bicycle headgear
June 13        ES:  voluntary standard for five-gallon
               buckets
June 16        EXHR:  ASTM consumer product safety standards
               and activities
June 16-17     HS:  leaded paint encapsulants, removal, and
               testing
June 28        ES:  voluntary standards for toddler beds and
               strollers
July 19        HS & other CPSC staff:  child-resistant
               packaging test protocols
July 20        ES:  performance requirements to address
               drowning in five-gallon buckets
July 22        ES:  provisions for a new voluntary standard
               for toddler beds
July 25        Chairman Ann Brown, EXHR & other CPSC staff: 
               F-15 committee activities and future plans
August 2       ES & HS:  a revision of the ASTM voluntary
               standard for toy safety
September 21   ES & other CPSC staff:  voluntary labeling
               and performance standards for five-gallon
               buckets
Sept.27-30     ES:  voluntary standards for home & public
               playground equipment

BENNETT INDUSTRIES

April 26       Commissioner Mary Sheila Gall/staff:  infants
               drowning in buckets

BINNEY AND SMITH

September 20   Commissioner Mary Sheila Gall/staff:  scented
               crayons
September 20   Commissioner Jacqueline Jones-Smith/staff: 
               lead in crayons and scented crayons

BIONAIRE

August 11      Commissioner Jacqueline Jones-Smith/staff: 
               upcoming housewares convention

BRK ELECTRONICS
     
Nov. 15-16     ES:  various models of BRK smoke detectors
               obtained through the Operability Survey and
               the Fire Incident Study of The National Smoke
               Detector Project
May 5          EC:  carbon monoxide detectors and a June 2
               workshop on carbon monoxide detectors
May 11         EC:  a June 2 workshop on carbon monoxide
               detectors

BUCKET INDUSTRY REPRESENTATIVES

December 13    HS:  labeling and performance standard for
               five-gallon buckets
April 26       Chairman Ann Brown:  infant drownings
April 26       Commissioner Jacqueline Jones-Smith/staff: 
               five-gallon buckets

CARBON MONOXIDE SAFETY AND HEALTH ASSOCIATION

April 15       EC:  the CPSC model building code proposal
               for CO detectors 

CARPET AND RUG INSTITUTE (CRI)

November 1     HS & EP:  industry proposals for consumer
               response programs and occupational
               investigations
September 12   HS & EP:  CRI research program

CASE MANAGEMENT, INC.

Nov. 15-16     ES:  various models of BRK smoke detectors
               obtained through the Operability Survey and
               the Fire Incident Study of The National Smoke
               Detector Project

CENTER FOR EMISSIONS CONTROL

February 24    HS & OGC:  Methylene Chloride Project

CHARCOAL MANUFACTURERS

April 22       EP:  warning labels

CHEMICAL SPECIALTIES MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION (CSMA)

May 5          HS:  child-resistant packaging
July 25        HS & other CPSC staff:  comments on proposed
               changes to the child-resistant packaging test
               protocols
August 10      HS:  propylene glycol ethers

CIBA-GEIGY CORPORATIONS
     
January 11     HS & other CPSC staff:  the proposed
               child-resistant packaging regulations
               for lidocaine/dibucaine
September 9    Commissioner Mary Sheila Gall/staff: 
               child-resistant packaging for topical
               anesthetics
September 9    Commissioner Jacqueline Jones-Smith/staff: 
               lidocaine/dibucaine product packaging

COALITION FOR SAFE STEEL CONTAINERS

May 9          Commissioner Mary Sheila Gall/staff:  safety
               concerns
May 9          Commissioner Jacqueline Jones-Smith/staff: 
               safety concerns

COLOR PIGMENTS MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION, INC.

April 6        CE:  the Labeling of Hazardous Art Materials
               Act and its applicability in their industry

COMBE, INC.

September 8    OGC:  lidocaine, ointments, creams and gels
September 12   Chairman Ann Brown/staff & other CPSC staff: 
               PPPA requirements for lidocaine
September 12   Commissioner Mary Sheila Gall/staff:  PPPA
               requirements for lidocaine
September 12   Commissioner Jacqueline Jones-Smith: 
               lidocaine/dibucaine

CONSUMER FEDERATION OF AMERICA (CFA)

June 3         EXHR:  upcoming CPSC conference on multi-use
               helmets
August 30      Commissioner Jacqueline Jones-Smith/staff: 
               Child Safety Protection Act and CPSC's
               implementation
September 12   Commissioner Mary Sheila Gall/staff:  Child
               Safety Protection Act

CONSUMER REPRESENTATIVES

December 13    HS:  labeling and performance standards for
               five-gallon buckets
April 18       Chairman Ann Brown/staff:  Chairman's goals
               for the agency and ideas the group may have

CONSUMERS UNION

August 30      Commissioner Jacqueline Jones-Smith/staff: 
               Child Safety Protection Act and CPSC's
               implementation
September 12   Commissioner Mary Sheila Gall/staff:  Child
               Safety Protection Act

COOPER INDUSTRIES   

September 2    ES:  electrical wiring devices

CPSC NATIONAL STATE & LOCAL COMPLIANCE SEMINAR

March 2        Chairman Jacqueline Jones-Smith/staff: 
               Chairman gave opening remarks

DEGENKOLB, JOHN G. (fire protection engineer/code
consultant)

June 14        EC & other CPSC staff:  carbon monoxide
               detector building code proposals

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT (HUD)

November 3     EC & other CPSC staff:  HUD requirements for
               manufactured housing and the use of carbon
               monoxide detectors

DISABILITY COMMUNITY REPRESENTATIVES

June 1         Commissioner Mary Sheila Gall/staff:  PPPA
               protocol initiatives

ELECTRICAL WIRING REPRESENTATIVES

January 26     ES:  home electrical systems

ELECTRICAL WIRING SYSTEMS INTERESTED PARTIES

June 7         ES:  electrical inspections of older homes
June 8         ES:  innovative technology for
               detecting/monitoring conditions that could
               lead to electrical wiring system fires
June 9         ES:  electrical wiring methods for
               residential rehabilitation work to correct
               unsafe conditions

EMORY UNIVERSITY

September 7    EXHR:  areas of mutual interest, including
               upcoming Chairman's Roundtables on
               Multi-Activity Helmets and Baseball

FERMAGALICH, DR. DAN 

November 2     ES & other CPSC staff:  baby walkers

FIRST ALERT

April 29       Commissioner Jacqueline Jones-Smith/staff: 
               CO detectors and upcoming CO workshop

FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION

November 5     HS:  musk xylol

GAITHER AND MURPHY LAW FIRM

September 26   Chairman Ann Brown/staff:  ignition of
               flammable vapors from gas water heaters
September 26   Commissioner Jacqueline Jones-Smith/staff: 
               ignition of flammable vapors from gas water
               heaters
September 26   Commissioner Mary Sheila Gall/staff: 
               injuries resulting from ignition of
               flammable vapors from gas water heaters

GAS APPLIANCES MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION (GAMA)

November 8     ES, EP & other CPSC staff:  consumer
               information program on ignition of
               flammable vapors
March 8        EC & other CPSC staff: carbon monoxide (CO)
               detectors
June 28        Commissioner Mary Sheila Gall/staff:  gas
               water heaters

GAS APPLIANCE TECHNOLOGY CENTER

November 3-4   ES:  status of gas appliance research

GAS RESEARCH INSTITUTE

June 2         EC & other CPSC staff:  Carbon Monoxide
               Detectors Workshop
August 5       EC, EP & other CPSC staff:  carbon monoxide
               deaths and injuries associated with the use
               of household fuel-burning appliances

GRACO CHILDREN'S PRODUCTS, INC.

May 25         HS & other CPSC staff:  design of baby
               walkers

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY INTERNATIONAL

September 24   ES:  electrical wiring methods when
               rehabilitating older homes

HALOGENATED SOLVENTS INDUSTRY ASSOCIATION

February 24    HS & OGC:  Methylene Chloride Project

HARBORVIEW INJURY PREVENTION AND RESEARCH CENTER

February 18    ES & other CPSC staff:  Forum on Head
               Protection in Recreational Sports

HARDWOOD PLYWOOD AND VENEER ASSOCIATION

April 19       HS & other CPSC staff:  various topics
               relating to formaldehyde emissions
               from pressed wood products

HEALTHCARE COMPLIANCE PACKAGING COUNCIL

November 9     HS & CE:  definition of a failure for unit
               dose packaging
May 3-4        HS:  spoke on the revised test methods for
               child-resistant packaging at the National
               Symposium on Patient Compliance

HEDSTROM, INC.

March 24       ES:  provisions in the voluntary standard for
               home playground equipment

HEARTH PRODUCTS ASSOCIATION

October 18     HS & other CPSC staff:  CPSC Wood Stoves
               project

HELP! (encapsulant manufacturers group)

December 8-9   HS:  lead paint encapsulants

HERON CABLE INDUSTRIES, LTD.

June 13        ES:  test results on heat tapes
     
HOMEPRO SYSTEMS, INC.

January 27     ES:  electrical wiring inspections

HYDROAIR INDUSTRIES

January 26     EXCE:  the performance of suction drain
               covers and hair entrapment in spas and
               whirlpool baths

IKEA

January 25     EXHR & ES:  toy safety standards

INCHCAPE TESTING SERVICES

February 15    ES & other CPSC staff:  testing procedures
               for toys and bicycles

INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE

November 17    ES:  development of a National Safe Home
               Coalition 

INDOOR AIR QUALITY PUBLICATIONS 

October 27-29  HS:  Lead Tech '93 Conference on lead in
               paint levels, detection and abatement
     
INSTITUTE FOR STANDARDS RESEARCH
     
January 18     HS:  child-resistant packaging test methods
May 2          HS:  child-resistant packaging test methods
August 11      HS & other CPSC staff:  comments on the
               proposed changes to the child-resistant
               packaging test protocols
August 23      HS:  child-resistant packaging test protocols

INTERNATIONAL APPROVAL SERVICES

April 14       Safety standards for gas-fired grills

INTERNATIONAL CONSUMER PRODUCT HEALTH AND SAFETY SYMPOSIUM

March 3        Chairman Jacqueline Jones-Smith/staff: 
               Chairman gave opening remarks
March 3-4      ES & EXHR:  participants

INTERNATIONAL SECURITY CONFERENCE AND EXPOSITION

August 30-     EC:  carbon monoxide detectors
September 1

JACUZZI WHIRLPOOL BATH

January 26     EXCE:  suction drain covers and hair
               entrapment in spas and whirlpool baths

JENNER AND BLOCK

April 14       ES:  five-gallon steel buckets
May 9          Commissioner Mary Sheila Gall/staff:  safety
               concerns as related to steel buckets
May 9          Commissioner Jacqueline Jones-Smith/staff: 
               steel buckets

JUVENILE PRODUCTS MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION (JPMA)

April 22       EXPE & members of the Crib Project Task
               Force:  crib deaths associated with old cribs

KGM INDUSTRIES COMPANY

November 30    CE, HS, EP & OGC:  novelty lighters     

LEEVON TRADING PTY, LTD.

January 27     EP & other CPSC staff:  safety alert on soft
               bedding under sleeping babies

LEGO SYSTEMS

September 20   Commissioner Jacqueline Jones-Smith/staff: 
               toy labeling and choking incidents
September 20   Commissioner Mary Sheila Gall/staff:  toy
               labeling bill

LETICA CORPORATION

April 26       Commissioner Mary Sheila Gall/staff:  infants
               drowning in buckets

MANUFACTURED HOME CONSTRUCTION AND SAFETY STANDARDS (MHCSS)

October 28-29  ES:  heat tape 
April 7-8      ES:  ground-fault circuit interrupters and
               heat tapes

MARYLAND NATIONAL CAPITAL PARK AND PLANNING COMMISSION

November 17    ES:  presentation on public playground safety

MCDONALD'S CORPORATION

August 2       Commissioner Jacqueline Jones-Smith/staff: 
               product safety

MEDICAL EXPERTS 

June 20        Chairman Ann Brown/staff & other CPSC staff:  
               injury reduction

METHYLENE CHLORIDE LABELING INTERESTED PARTIES

May 25         HS & other CPSC staff:  methylene chloride
               labeling 

MEXICO DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE AND INDUSTRIAL DEVELOPMENT

November 4     Chairman Jacqueline Jones-Smith: 
               introductory/courtesy visit

MINNESOTA SAFE KIDS COALITION

May 6          ES:  Playground Safety Conference

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CONSUMER AGENCY ADMINISTRATORS
(NACAA)

September 30   Chairman Ann Brown:  priorities and plans for
               the future and consumer areas

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF HOME BUILDERS

April 11       EXPA & HS:  public information on
               child-resistant cigarette lighters

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MANUFACTURERS (NAM)

September 16   Chairman Ann Brown:  roundtable discussion
               regarding priorities for the agency

NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF STATE FIRE MARSHALS

January 19     Chairman Jacqueline Jones-Smith/staff: 
               objectives and activities of the Association
June 2         EC & other CPSC staff:  Carbon Monoxide
               Detectors Workshop
July 1         Chairman Ann Brown/staff:  residential fire
               injuries from cooking fires

NATIONAL COTTON COUNCIL

August 2       Chairman Ann Brown/staff:  children's
               sleepwear
August 2       Commissioner Jacqueline Jones-Smith/staff: 
               children's sleepwear

NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE (NEC) COMMITTEE PANEL 20

January 20-22  ES:  proposed revisions to NEC
     
NATIONAL ELECTRICAL MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION (NEMA)

November 12    ES:  receptacle-type ground-fault circuit
               interrupters
May 8          ES:  ground-fault circuit interrupters
          
NATIONAL FIRE ALARM CODE TECHNICAL COMMITTEE/HOUSEHOLD
EQUIPMENT

April 11-13    EC:  carbon monoxide and fuel gas detectors  

NATIONAL FIRE PROTECTION ASSOCIATION (NFPA)

October 14-15  ES:  safety standard for LP-gas use
November 15    ES:  status of activities of the National
               Smoke Detector Project
November 15-17 ES:  inspection code for existing dwellings
April 11       EXPA & HS:  public information on
               child-resistant cigarette lighters  
May 16-18      ES:  home electrical systems fires

NATIONAL FIREWORKS ASSOCIATION

August 16      EP & other CPSC staff:  draft testing plan
               for multiple tube mine and shell fireworks
               devices

NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND TECHNOLOGY (NIST)

October 19     ES:  residential smoke detector performance
               in the United States

NATIONAL LIGHTER ASSOCIATION

April 11       EXPA & HS:  public information on
               child-resistant cigarette lighters

NATIONAL PARTICLEBOARD ASSOCIATION

April 19       HS & other CPSC staff:  various topics
               relating to formaldehyde emissions from
               pressed wood products
NATIONAL PROPANE GAS ASSOCIATION (NPGA)

October 10-12  ES:  safety standards for residential LP-gas
               use
March 4        ES:  safety standards for residential LP-gas
March 14-16    ES:  safety standards for LP-gas

NATIONAL RECREATION AND PARK ASSOCIATION

October 20-22  ES:  Playground Safety Workshop

NATIONAL RETAILERS FEDERATION

June 28        Commissioner Mary Sheila Gall/staff:  strings
               and cords on children's clothing

NATIONAL SAFE KIDS CAMPAIGN

June 27        Chairman Ann Brown/staff, EXPA & other CPSC
               staff:  cooperative efforts
August 3       EC, EXHR, HS & other CPSC staff:  carbon
               monoxide poisoning prevention and detection
August 30      Commissioner Jacqueline Jones-Smith/staff: 
               Child Safety Protection Act and CPSC's
               implementation
September 12   Commissioner Mary Sheila Gall/staff:  Child
               Safety Protection Act

NATIONAL SMOKE DETECTOR PROJECT

June 24        ES & other CPSC staff:  smoke detector
               operability
June 28        ES & other CPSC staff:  accomplishments of
               Project activities

NATIONAL SWIMMING POOL INSTITUTE

May 26         EXHR & OGC:  door alarms  to restrict
               children's access to residential swimming
               pools

NEWCO, INC.

March 24       ES:  provisions in the voluntary standard for
               home playground equipment

N-METHYLPYRROLIDONE PRODUCERS GROUP

December 3     HS, OGC & EP:  paint stripping formulations 
February 15    HS & EP:  specific issues concerning testing
               and consumer education for safe paint
               stripping
April 19       HS & members of the Methylene Chloride
               Project team:  current CPSC activities
               concerning paint strippers

NON-PRESCRIPTION DRUG MANUFACTURERS ASSOCIATION

April 18       HS &  other CPSC staff:  voluntary program to
               place mouthwashes with ethanol in child-
               resistant packaging
May 25         HS & other CPSC staff:  proposed child-
               resistant packaging for products containing
               lidocaine or dibucaine

NORTH AMERICAN PACKAGING CORPORATION

April 26       Commissioner Mary Sheila Gall/staff:  infants
               drowning in buckets
May 11         Office of Commissioner Mary Sheila Gall: 
               voluntary labeling and I & E programs for
               five-gallon buckets

OUTDOOR POWER EQUIPMENT INSTITUTE

November 2     ES:  riding mower program
December 9     ES & EP:  voluntary standard for riding
               mowers
Feb.23-24      ES:  riding mower stability
September 8    Chairman Ann Brown/staff, ES & other CPSC
               staff:  riding lawn mowers
September 8    Commissioner Jacqueline Jones-Smith/staff: 
               riding lawn mowers
September 8    Commissioner Mary Sheila Gall/staff:  riding
               lawn mowers

OUTSIDE INTERESTED PARTIES

July 27        Chairman Ann Brown & other CPSC staff:  falls
               from windows
September 19   Chairman Ann Brown & other CPSC staff: 
               multi-activity helmets

PACE, INC.

July 5         ES:  electrical circuit breakers

PASS AND SEYMOUR

June 23        EP:  design of ground-fault circuit
               interrupters

PAUL, JAKE CONSULTING SERVICES

May 25         EXHR:  stair safety

PERRITT LABORATORIES

June 27        HS & other CPSC staff:  child-resistant
               packaging test protocols

PLASTICAN, INC.

April 26       Commissioner Mary Sheila Gall/staff:  infants
               drowning in buckets

POLYSEAL

August 30      HS & other CPSC staff:  proposed senior test
               for child-resistant packaging

PROCTOR AND GAMBLE

February 4     HS & other CPSC staff:  child-resistant
               packaging regulations

RAYCHEM CORPORATION

December 15    ES & EXPA:  heat tape safety messages 
May 26         ES:  test results on Raychem products
June 15        ES:  test protocols and results for
               electrical heat tapes

RESEARCH INSTITUTE FOR FRAGRANCE MATERIAL

November 5     HS:  musk xylol

RIDING MOWER WORKING GROUP

May 18         ES, OGC & EP:  the voluntary standard for
               riding mowers

ROPAK

October 18     HS & other CPSC staff:  bucket design and
               labeling 
April 26       Commissioner Mary Sheila Gall/staff:  infant
               drowning in buckets
May 11         Office of Commissioner Mary Sheila Gall: 
               five-gallon buckets voluntary labeling and
               I&E programs
May 13         Chairman Ann Brown/staff:  five-gallon
               buckets

SLEEP PRODUCTS SAFETY COUNCIL

November 13    Chairman Jacqueline Jones-Smith & EXPA: 
               Chairman speaking at  the First Annual Sleep
               Products Safety Council Safety Conference
April 11       EXPA & HS:  public information on child-
               resistant cigarette lighters

SMITH-GATES

March 4        EP & EXPA:  cooperative campaign on new
               listed heat tapes

SOCIETY FOR ACADEMIC EMERGENCY PHYSICIANS

May 11         Chairman Ann Brown:  expanded collaboration
               with CPSC on collection of injury data

SQUARE D COMPANY

May 10         ES:  electric wiring devices

STEORTS, NANCY HARVEY

July 6         EC:  CPSC's carbon monoxide detection project
September 9    EC:  carbon monoxide detectors

TECHNICAL RESEARCH CORPORATION

March 2        ES:  electric wiring devices

TELEDYNE CORPORATION

August 3       EXCE:  child-resistant packaging for tubes

TOBACCO INSTITUTE

June 16        ES:  cigarette studies related to the Fire
               Safe Cigarette Act of 1990

TOY MANUFACTURERS OF AMERICA (TMA)

Feb. 16-18     EXPA & other CPSC staff:  Toy Safety Seminar
February 16    Chairman Jacqueline Jones-Smith/staff:  gave
               opening remarks at Toy Safety Seminar
April 19       Chairman Ann Brown/staff:  issues of mutual
               interest
May 1-2        Chairman Ann Brown/staff:  keynote speaker at
               TMA Summer Conference
May 10         Chairman Ann Brown:  matters of mutual
               interest
July 19        Commissioner Jacqueline Jones-Smith/staff: 
               Child Safety Protection Act
July 19        Commissioner Mary Sheila Gall/staff:  Child
               Safety Protection Act
July 29        Chairman Ann Brown:  Child Safety Protection
               Act

UNDERWRITERS LABORATORIES, INC. (UL)

December 7     EXHR & ES:  various product safety issues and
               UL standards
December 9     ES:  UL/CSA Heat Tape Standard Harmonization
February 16    Chairman Jacqueline Jones-Smith: gave open
               remarks at Annual UL/CPSC Meeting
February 17    ES:  effects of tight building construction
               on heating appliances
August 10      EXHR:  ground-fault circuit interrupters
August  11     EXHR & ES:  standards for ground-fault
               circuit interrupters
September 7    EP & other CPSC staff:  Investigation
               Guideline for Range Fires
September 12   Chairman Ann Brown/staff, OCR & OGC:  CPSC/UL
               activities

UPHOLSTERED FURNITURE ACTION COUNCIL (UFAC)

January 27     Chairman Jacqueline Jones-Smith/staff: 
               UFAC's activities over the past year

U.S. ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY

June 2         EC & other CPSC staff:  Carbon Monoxide
               Detectors Workshop
July 14        EC & other CPSC staff:  information and
               education efforts on CO poisoning and its
               prevention and detection

U.S. FIRE ADMINISTRATION

April 11       EXPA & HS:  public information on child-
               resistant cigarette lighters

U.S. PUBLIC INTEREST RESEARCH GROUP

August 30      Commissioner Jacqueline Jones-Smith/staff: 
               Child Safety Protection Act and CPSC's
               implementation
September 12   Commissioner Mary Sheila Gall/staff:  Child
               Safety Protection Act

VENTEX, INC.

September 13   ES & other CPSC staff:  open flame testing of
               mattresses and upholstered furniture

WATER HEATER INDUSTRY

August 30      ES:  safety standards for gas-fired water
               heaters
September 22   ES:  safety standards for gas-fired water
               heaters

WHEATLEY BLAIR, INC.

May 5          EC:  a June 2 workshop on carbon monoxide
               detectors
May 11         EC:  a June 2 workshop on carbon monoxide
               detectors

WILEY, REIN & FIELDING

December 13    ES & EXPA:  heat tape safety messages 
May 26         Tests and results on Raychem products 
     
WOODSET, INC.

March 24       ES:  voluntary standard for home playground
               equipment

=================================================================

APPENDIX D:

LOG AND STATUS OF PETITIONS AND APPLICATIONS

The Consumer Product Safety Amendments of 1981 repealed former section 10 of the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA). That section provided that any person could petition the Commission to issue, amend or revoke a consumer product safety rule, and required the Commission to grant or deny the petition within 120 days.

The Administrative Procedure Act (APA) requires each agency to give interested persons the right to petition for the issuance, amendment, or repeal of a rule. Therefore, notwithstanding the revocation of former section 10 of the CPSA, the Commission continues to receive and act on petitions for rulemaking under the CPSA and the other statutes which the Commission administers:

The Federal Hazardous Substances Act (FHSA);

The Flammable Fabrics Act (FFA);

The Poison Prevention Packaging Act (PPPA); and

The Refrigerator Safety Act (RSA).

Although the Commission is no longer required to act on petitions for consumer product safety rules within 120 days, the Commission addresses all petitions as responsively and expeditiously as possible.

The status of each petition under consideration during Fiscal Year 1994 is listed in this appendix using the following terminology:

Granted - The Commission has decided to initiate a rulemaking proceeding.

Denied - The Commission has decided not to initiate a rulemaking proceeding.

Decision - Commission review and analysis of the petition is incomplete at this time.

Pending

Petition                 Summary of          Disposition as of 
Number    Petitioner     Petition            September 30, 1994

CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY ACT


CP 92-1   William        Requests amendment       Denied 11/3/93
          O'Keefe        of safety standard
                         for architectural
                         glass.

CP 93-1   John M.        Requests issuance        Denied 3/24/94
          Urbancic       of a safety standard
                         for floor furnaces.

CP 94-1   Bernard        Development of a         Decision
          Schwartz       safety standard for      Pending
                         for portable electric
                         heaters.

FEDERAL FLAMMABLE FABRICS ACT

FP 93-1   National       Requests issuance of     5/12/94-Granted
          Assoc. of      a safety standard for    as to small 
          State Fire     upholstered furniture.   open-flame ig- 
          Marshals                                nation; Denied
                                                  as to large
                                                  open-flame ig- 
                                                  nation;Deferred
                                                  as to cigarette
                                                  ignition

FEDERAL HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES ACT

HP 93-1   New York City  Requests rule on back-   Decision Pend-
          Dept. of Con-  yard play sets.          ing
          suer Affairs
HP 94-1   Charles De     Issuance of child seat   Decision Pend-
          Stefano        standards for shopping   ing
                         carts.


POISON PREVENTION PACKAGING ACT

PP 93-1   State of New   Request for issuance     Granted
          York           of a rule to require     11/12/93
                         child-resistant packag-
                         ing of mouthwash con-
                         taining 5% ethanol.

PP 94-1   Douglas        Petition for exemption   Decision Pend-
          Ingoldsby      from PPPA requirements   ing
                         for unsweetened iron-
                         containing powders.

=================================================================

Petition                 Summary of          Disposition as of 
Number    Petitioner     Petition            September 30, 1994

CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY ACT


CP 92-1   William        Requests amendment       Denied 11/3/93
          O'Keefe        of safety standard
                         for architectural
                         glass.

CP 93-1   John M.        Requests issuance        Denied 3/24/94
          Urbancic       of a safety standard
                         for floor furnaces.

CP 94-1   Bernard        Development of a         Decision
          Schwartz       safety standard for      Pending
                         for portable electric
                         heaters.


FEDERAL FLAMMABLE FABRICS ACT

FP 93-1   National       Requests issuance of     5/12/94-Granted
          Assoc. of      a safety standard for    as to small 
          State Fire     upholstered furniture.   open-flame ig- 
                                                
          Marshals                                nation; Denied
                                                  as to large
                                                  open-flame ig- 
                                                  nation;Deferred
                                                  as to cigarette
                                                  ignition

FEDERAL HAZARDOUS SUBSTANCES ACT

HP 93-1   New York City  Requests rule on back-   Decision Pend-
          Dept. of Con-  yard play sets.          ing
          suer Affairs

HP 94-1   Charles De     Issuance of child seat   Decision Pend-
          Stefano        standards for shopping   ing
                         carts.


POISON PREVENTION PACKAGING ACT

PP 93-1   State of New   Request for issuance     Granted
          York           of a rule to require     11/12/93
                         child-resistant packag-
                         ing of mouthwash con-
                         taining 5% ethanol.

PP 94-1   Douglas        Petition for exemption   Decision Pend-
          Ingoldsby      from PPPA requirements   ing
                         for unsweetened iron-
                         containing powders.

=================================================================

APPENDIX E:

VOLUNTARY STANDARDS ACTIVITIES

During FY 1994, CPSC provided technical support to the development of 36 voluntary safety standards. Nearly all of these were handled by three standards development coordinating organizations - ASTM (formerly called the American Society for Testing and Materials), the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), and Underwriters Laboratories, Inc. (UL). These standards provide performance safety provisions addressing potential hazards associated with consumer products found in our homes, schools, and recreational areas.

A number of new or revised national consensus safety standards were approved and published in FY 1994, for which the CPSC staff provided technical assistance. In November 1993 a new national consumer product safety standard for public playground equipment (ASTM 1487) was published. The provisions of this standard seek to reduce the over 168,000 annual injuries from head entrapment, swing impact, entanglement, and other causes associated with the use of public playground equipment. This is one of the most comprehensive national consensus voluntary safety standards for which the staff has provided technical support.

On November 16, 1993, the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) membership adopted a new residential electrical maintenance code (NFPA-73) for existing one- and two- family dwellings. This code provides provisions to help reduce the deaths, injuries, and property damage resulting from an estimated 43,500 fires annually which are associated with home electrical systems. It is anticipated that improvements to this code will be recommended by the CPSC staff based on information obtained while conducting the FY 1994 and FY 1995 priority project on home electrical system fires. Also in November 1993, ANSI gave final approval to a revised national consensus standard on gas flexible connectors. This revised safety standard includes more demanding test provisions to reduce the likelihood that gas flexible connectors will develop leaks, which can lead to death and serious injury from explosions and fires.

ANSI approved a new American National Standard for Medium Density Fiberboard (ANSI A208.201994)" on February 4, 1994, This provides for the first time a national consensus standard that establishes a maximum emission level (0.3 ppm) for formaldehyde in medium density fiberboard. In addition, a proposed new ANSI standard which limits formaldehyde emissions in hardwood plywood was in the final approval process at the close of the year.

In June 1994, the "Classification of Child-Resistant Packages (D3475-94-1)" standard was revised. This revision includes classification for new child-resistant packaging developed since the standard was last revised. Also during that month, a revised national consensus standard, "Consumer Safety Specification for Bunk Beds (ASTM F1427-94)," was approved. The revised standard addresses structural failure of metal bunk beds. Bunk bed collapse can result in serious injury or death to those in the lower bunk. New safety provisions added to the bunk bed standard include a dynamic structural integrity test similar to that in a European (EN) standard for bunk beds.

At the end of FY 1994, a significant revision to the ASTM toy safety standard (ASTM - F963-92) was nearing final approval. This revision adds safety requirements to address flammability, toxicity, labeling, battery operated toys, and miscellaneous safety issues. Additional issues relating to strings and cords; crib and playpen toys; and small parts were scheduled for early FY 1995.

Other important events took place in the areas of monitoring conformance to voluntary standards and accelerating the standards development process. The CPSC staff completed a voluntary standards conformance monitoring study on pool, spa, and hot tub covers and a