Consumer Product Safety Act of 1972

• Author: Phyllis Bunn, Laurie Barfitt
• Pages: 149-150

Page 149

Congress passed the Consumer Product Safety Act in 1972 to "assist consumers in evaluating the comparative safety of consumer products; to develop uniform safety standards for consumer products and to minimize conflicting state and local regulations; and to promote research and investigation into the causes and prevention of product related death, illnesses, and injuries." The act also established the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to "protect the public against unreasonable risks associated with consumer products." The CPSC has authority to set mandatory standards, ban products, order recalls of unsafe products, and institute labeling requirements.

The CPSC is an independent regulatory agency charged with protecting consumers from unreasonable risk of injury associated with consumer products. The most serious risks include amputation, electrocution, burns, asphyxiation, and cancer. Examples of recent product liability lawsuits in which defendant companies lost include breast implants that leaked silicone gel and football helmets that did not have enough padding. The commission has jurisdiction over about 15,000 types of consumer products, such as automatic coffeemakers, toys, furniture, clothing, and lawn mowers. The CPSC works to reduce the risk of injury and death from consumer products by:

U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission Chairman Hal Stratton warns against recalled toys and other products that pose serious safety threats to children (Bethesda, MD, November 25, 2003). AP IMAGES

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Developing voluntary standards with industry

Issuing and enforcing mandatory standards and banning consumer products if no feasible standard would adequately protect the public

Obtaining the recall of products or arranging for their repair

Conducting research on potential product hazards

Informing and educating consumers through the media, state and local governments, and private organizations, and by responding to consumer inquiries

The CPSC has three key program areas:

The Office of Hazard Identification and Reduction, which collects and analyzes consumer injury and death data to determine trends in consumer product hazards.

Page 150

The Office of Compliance and Enforcement, which supervises compliance and administrative activities related to the act. This office also reviews proposed standards and rules with respect to their enforceability.

The Office of Information and Public Affairs, which is...