CPSC Seeks Offerors To Develop TV Safety Standard

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission today invited any interested person or group to offer to develop a safety standard for television receivers or to submit an existing standard that could reduce or eliminate the unreasonable risks of injuries associated with televisions.

In a detailed Federal Register notice, the Commission identified four hazards that must be addressed by a safety standard: fire -- often due to arcing or overheating; electric shock -- associated with exposed metal components; picture tube implosion -- a rapid and sudden inward collapse of the picture tube that can send hot glass fragments and other molten materials scattering; and mechanical or exterior hazards -- resulting from failure of TV handles, unstable integral support stands or sharp points and sharp edges.

The Commission explored the safety aspects of televisions during two days of public hearings on April 23 and 24, 1974, and has received a vast amount of information relating to safety and quality improvement from television receiver manufacturers.

Injury data collected by the Commission's National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) indicate that during 1973 about 100 persons sought hospital emergency room treatment nationwide for injuries related to television fires, about 100 for electric shock injuries and about 12,000 for injuries associated with mechanical failures.

The Commission also has collected injury and accident data from other sources including a field survey and consumer complaint letters.

Since May 1973 when the Commission came into existence, more than 144,296 televisions have been recalled for inspection and where necessary repairs as a result of mandatory defect reporting by companies of potential substantial product hazards. The Commission will consider offers addressed to any one of the identified hazards but would prefer to select a single offeror who will address all four of the hazards.

Regardless of who is selected, there must be wide opportunity for participation by all interested parties, including consumers.

The Commission may agree to contribute to the costs of the development of the proposed standard, but normally expects that the bulk of work will be done by volunteers or funded by non-Commission sources.

Offers should be submitted by March31,1975, to the Office of the Secretary, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, D.C. 20207.

The development period is scheduled to end on July 28, 1975, although the Commission may adjust the time for good cause.

At the close of the development period, the offeror must submit a proposed safety standard for Commission consideration. If the Commission determines that the proposed standard can reduce or eliminate the unreasonable risks of injuries associated with televisions, it may issue the standard as a proposed consumer product safety rule. Prospective offerors should contact the Office of the Secretary if they desire additional information. (Telephone: 202-634-7700).