OnSafety is the Official Blog Site of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. Here you'll find the latest safety information as well as important messages that will keep you and your family safe. We hope you'll visit often!

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CPSC.gov: The Beginning of Online Change

By CPSC Blogger on December 17, 2010

Welcome to a new and improved CPSC.gov home page.

CPSC.gov home page

CPSC.gov home page


We’ve made some significant changes to make it easier and faster for you to find the information you want at CPSC.gov. Today, you’ll see the first step toward a more modern CPSC.gov.

The rotating top photo area highlights important safety messages, consumer product safety recalls and news. Just below that, the tabs take you quickly to the latest recalls, news and video from CPSC. We encourage you to watch, share and embed our videos. Plus, you’ll see easy ways to subscribe to recall news and to get safety information by topic.

Prominent buttons makes it easier for consumers and businesses to report an unsafe product.

To the right, look for the “Get Involved” area. These are our active social media websites and tools where you can connect with us. Places like Twitter, YouTube and Flickr.

Business users now have easy home page access to find the laws, regulations, standards and guidance that affect their products. A new “Publications” area makes it easier to find just the right safety message to share with others.

This page is just the start of major changes to CPSC.gov. We’re hard at work rebuilding the entire website. Throughout our process, we’re keeping your needs front and center. By the end of the summer, you’ll see an entirely new website designed to serve you better.

As always, if you have questions or comments about these changes, e-mail us at feedback@cpsc.gov.

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This address for this post is: http://www.cpsc.gov/onsafety/2010/12/cpsc-gov-the-beginning-of-online-change/

A Lesson in Testing

By CPSC Blogger on November 3, 2010

CPSC scientists recently opened the agency’s lab to fifth graders from Capitol Hill Day School in Washington, D.C. The students spend the year studying China. As part of a school project, each student is identifying a testable question about a consumer product and designing a “fair test” to answer that question. They came to the CPSC Product Testing Laboratory to learn how to test whether something used in the home is hazardous.

An airplane? No, a cigarette lighterWhat’s this product? Students were surprised to learn that the airplane is really a cigarette lighter.

Testing elements in a productHow do you know the elements that are in a product? With chemical tests, CPSC scientists measure stimulated emissions similar to light and color. That tells the chemists how much lead, cadmium and other elements of interest are in the product.

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This address for this post is: http://www.cpsc.gov/onsafety/2010/11/a-lesson-in-testing/

Photos from China

By CPSC Blogger on October 25, 2010

(Last Update: 10/29/2010)

CPSC staff is promoting product safety in meetings, discussions and trainings at the Trilateral Summit on Consumer Product Safety. CPSC is attending the summit with representatives from the European Union and China. We’ll be posting photos here throughout the trip.

Concluding session of the Second China-US-EU Consumer Product Safety Summit

In the concluding session of the Second China-US-EU Consumer Product Safety Summit, the parties reached consensus on a Joint Statement that outlines steps and a timeline for improved product safety. Items such as a six-month road map for implementation of best manufacturing practices represent a major step forward in delivering safer products to U.S. consumers from China.


Bilateral Meeting between U.S. CPSC and AQSIQ counterparts in Shanghai

On Tuesday, Chairman Tenenbaum and CPSC staff participated in a Bilateral Meeting with Zhi and AQSIQ staff in Shanghai. Both sides voiced enthusiasm for the efforts being made to increase cooperation and enjoyed frank discussions on ways forward to address difficult issues faced by each side.


Chairman Tenenbaum and CPSC staff tour a commercial testing facility in Shanghai, China, on Monday.

Chairman Tenenbaum and CPSC staff tour a commercial testing facility in Shanghai, China, on Monday.


China Factory Tour

CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum tours a childrens' clothing factory in Shanghai. The factory management described their current quality control processes and adjustments made to meet manufacturing requirements in the U.S and European Union.

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This address for this post is: http://www.cpsc.gov/onsafety/2010/10/photos-from-china/

The Dry Max Review

By CPSC Blogger on September 2, 2010

Scientists and safety experts at CPSC and Health Canada have reviewed consumer safety reports involving Pampers Dry Max Diapers. About 4,700 of you sent diaper comments to CPSC from April 11 through August 30, 2010. Almost 85 percent were in May, when CPSC announced that it was investigating. The comments talked about Dry Max and other diaper issues.

We care about the health and well being of babies and take the reports submitted to us very seriously. Yet thus far, the diaper research done in the U.S. and Canada has not identified a specific cause linking the complaints from parents and caregivers to the Dry Max diapers. CPSC and Health Canada looked at the materials used to make the diapers, how the diapers were constructed and heat and moisture issues with diapers. They evaluated relevant diaper data. Plus, they studied the results of Proctor and Gamble’s diaper testing.

CPSC staff believes that some babies may be more prone to developing a rash or other skin problems from this or other products.

As many parents know, diaper rash is a common occurrence. Most babies get at least one diaper rash in their lifetime.

If you believe that your child is suffering from a diaper rash that you think is related to the diaper, we recommend that you stop using the diaper and contact your pediatrician.

If you continue to have problems with this or any other baby product, definitely let us know. The more details you give, the better.

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This address for this post is: http://www.cpsc.gov/onsafety/2010/09/the-dry-max-review/

Port Partnership Improves Safety

By CPSC Blogger on April 26, 2010

CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum and U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Alan Bersin sign memorandum.

CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum and U.S. Customs and Border Protection Commissioner Alan Bersin
signed a memorandum today that allows the two agencies to quickly share information about products coming through U.S. ports.

What does that mean? It means federal agencies are cooperating to make U.S. consumers more safe.

“By identifying and checking consumer products at our ports, we can reduce the flow of dangerous products into our homes,” said CPSC Chairman Tenenbaum.

“This is an important first step in strengthening our ability to promote consumer well-being and safety”, said Commissioner Bersin. “With this Memorandum of Understanding, CBP and the Consumer Products Safety Commission will be able to further protect consumers against the importation of dangerous goods into the U.S.”

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This address for this post is: http://www.cpsc.gov/onsafety/2010/04/port-partnership-improves-safety/

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