Consumer Reports, the independent, non-profit member organization, submitted two sets of comments to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) regarding two separate proposed rulemakings, which aim to address the risk of strangulation to children eight years old and younger associated with hazardous cords on window coverings.
The CPSC proposed a rule under section 15(j) of the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA) that would deem that one or more of the following readily observable characteristics of a window covering product present a substantial product hazard: (1) the presence of a hazardous operating cord on a stock window covering; (2) the presence of a hazardous inner cord on a stock or custom window covering; and (3) the absence of a manufacturer label on a stock or custom window covering.
The CPSC also proposed concurrently a mandatory standard for hazardous operating cords on custom window coverings through its authorities provided by sections 7 and 9 of the CPSA.
We commend the CPSC for proposing both rules, which are based on a robust body of evidence and would help protect children from the serious risk of injury or death. The CPSC’s parallel rulemaking efforts to address hazardous cords found on both stock and custom window coverings are appropriate and necessary to provide clarity in the marketplace and to protect children from harm.
In addition, Professor Adam Finkel, Sc.D., CIH, prepared comments addressing the CPSC’s cost-benefit analysis for the proposed rule for hazardous operating cords on custom window coverings with partial support from Consumer Reports and Consumer Federation of America.
For CR’s full comments to CPSC’s proposed rule to add hazardous window covering cords to the substantial product hazard list, click here.
For CR’s full comments to CPSC’s proposed rule for hazardous operating cords on custom window coverings, click here.