Consumer Product Safety: 117

Dear Members of Congress:The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is pleased to submit its report forfiscal year 1997.As an independent federal agency, CPSC helps to keep families—especially children—safein their homes, schools, in recreation and other places by overseeing the safety of 15,000 types of consumer products. To reduce injuries and deaths associated with these products, CPSC identifiesand analyzes product hazards, helps industry to develop voluntary standards for products,monitors compliance with voluntary standards, issues and enforces mandatory standards, obtainsrecalls of dangerous products from the marketplace, and informs the public of potential productrisks.This year, CPSC worked with industry to obtain several large recalls of hazardousproducts that were quickly brought to the public’s attention. These recalls included over 40million halogen torchiere floor lamps, more than one million playpens, and nearly one million babymonitors.In addition, as part of the process to develop a mandatory standard for bicycle helmets,CPSC completed analysis on the issue of special provisions for bicycle helmets for children underage five.The following pages explain in detail CPSC's work in fiscal year 1997, which helpedreduce injuries and save lives.As Chairman, and with my esteemed colleagues Vice-Chairman Mary Sheila Gall andCommissioner Thomas Hill Moore, we will see that CPSC continues to share the responsibility of product safety with our product-safety partners, industry and the American public.Sincerely,Ann Brown

CONTENTS

CPSC Highlights............................................................1Bicycle Helmets-Final Rule..............................................1Ketoprofen...........................................................1Handbook for Public Playground Safety.....................................1Pool and Spa Guidelines.................................................1Recalls..............................................................1Small Business Ombudsman..............................................2CPSC Activities.............................................................2Hazard Identification and Reduction........................................2Data Collection: National Electronic Injury Surveillance System...................3Update of Injury Cost Model.............................................3Studies............................................................3-4Mandatory Standards.................................................4-5Voluntary Standards.................................................5-6International Activities..................................................6Conferences..........................................................7Enforcement and Compliance Activities...........................................8Import Surveillance..................................................8-9Enforcing Product Regulations............................................9Corrective Actions....................................................10Civil Penalties.......................................................10Fast Track Recall Program..............................................10Special Investigations Unit..............................................10Field Activities.............................................................11Telecommuting and Automation.........................................11Recall Round-up.....................................................11Public Information Programs..................................................12Safety Partnerships.................................................12-13Guidelines..........................................................13Publications......................................................13-14Information Services........................................................14Hotline.............................................................14Internet............................................................15Clearinghouse.......................................................15Information Technology................................................15

APPENDICES

Appendix A: Deaths, Injuries, and Cost of Injuries from Consumer ProductsA-1Appendix B: Policies, Final Regulations, and Proposed RegulationsB-1Appendix C: Meetings of Substantial InterestC-1Appendix D: Log and Status of Petitions and ApplicationsD-1Appendix E: Voluntary Standards ActivitiesE-1Appendix F: Voluntary Corrective Action Plans and Product RecallsF-1Subsection A/Regulatory RecallsSubsection B/Section 15 RecallsAppendix G: Litigation and SettlementsG-1Appendix H: Index of Products Regulated by CPSCH-1Appendix I: Federal-State Cooperative ProgramI-1Appendix J: Organizational Structure and FunctionsJ-1