Consumer Product Safety: Your Government at Work

Our law firm represents clients injured in accidents involving vehicles, worksites, medical errors, and defective products and premises. Five years ago, in the wake of serious incidents involving dangerous products for children, then-president George Bush signed into law the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA). In the years since the passage of the act, significant steps have improved the safety of children and the well-being of families who care for them. 

Safety improvements flowing from passage of the CPSIA include: 

• Safer toys for children: Under the CPSIA mandate, the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) requires testing to ensure products for children meet safety standards. Manufacturers and marketers must comply with toy standards regarding safety features, toxic substances and durable construction. 
• Safety database: The CPSC maintains the Safer Product database to give consumers the ability to search a full spectrum of products for recall information about goods they may own or may buy. The website also provides an easy-to-use, effective tool for reporting unsafe products. 
• Toxic substances: Childhood exposure to high lead levels can cause permanent brain and nervous system damage. The CPSIA mandates lower levels of toxins such as lead in toys and other products for children. 

Even with the CPSIA in effect, dangerous toys and products still make it onto the market and into the hands of those who suffer injuries as a result. Consider checking state and local databases if you are concerned about a product’s safety. If you or a loved one was injured by a defective product in New York, seek legal advice from a skilled products liability attorney.