U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

This presentation was prepared by CPSC staff, has not been reviewed or approved by, and may not reflect the views of, the Commission.

CPSC Electrical Product Safety Strategies

Electrical Product Hazards

• Electricity is a powerful, useful energy source but consumers often forget that is potentially hazardous.

• Product failures or misuse can cause fires, electric shock, thermal burns (such as from exposure to hot surfaces) and chemical burns (such as from batteries).

Electrical Product Hazards

U.S. Data - From 2006 to 2008:

50,100 structure fires per year- 400 deaths, 2,990 injuries & $1.3 billion

property losses- Fires caused mostly by:

- Electric cooking equipment- Electrical distribution system

components- Electric heating and cooling equipment

53 electrocutions per year

Electrical Product Hazard Prevention Strategies

CPSC staff promotes electrical safety through a multi-

pronged approach

• Supporting improvements to voluntary standards/codes

• Creating and enforcing technical regulations and bans

• Identifying products with defects and hazards through surveillance activities and recalls

• Developing education programs to consumers

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Voluntary Consensus Standards

• The electrical product safety system relies on compliance with voluntary industry-consensus standards.

• Most of the electrical product safety standards are developed by Underwriters Laboratories (UL).

• There are very few mandatory requirements for electrical products under CPSC’s jurisdiction.– OSHA requires certification for electrical products used

in the workplace – Some states and municipalities also require certification

CPSC Voluntary Standards Monitoring

Participate in

committees Analyze

injury/death

data for hazard

patterns

Review standards for

inadequacies

Conduct tests and evaluatio

ns to support findings

Propose standar

ds development or revision

s

CPSC staff does not vote.

Voluntary Standards Monitoring

Example: In 2010, there was an increase in the rate of severe injuries due to ingestion of button and coin cell batteries.

CPSC participated in UL 60065 - Audio, Video, and Similar

Electronic Apparatus committee.

Consumer Electronics Association drafted

proposal adding accessibility requirements

for coin cell batteries used in remote controls.

New requirements were added to UL

60065 in June 2012.

Technical Regulations

Regulatory process can be started by vote of the Commission or by a petition from an interested party CPSC statutes specify that

voluntary standards should be relied upon. However, a

regulation may be issued if:the current voluntary

standard does not

adequately reduce the

risk

there is not substantial compliance.

or

Technical Regulations

Three electrical products under CPSC’s jurisdiction

with technical regulations:

• Electric toys - 16 CFR 1505 – Requirement for electrically operated toys or other electrically operated articles intended for use by children

• Citizen’s band (CB) base station antennas and supporting structures

• Handheld hair dryers: UL 859 and UL 1727 require immersion protection

Other Requirements

Safe Installation = Electrical Safety

• The National Electrical Code covers the installation of electrical equipment in public and private premises.

• The NEC is a consensus code published by the National Fire Protection Association.–This is NOT a national standard, but

it is widely adopted as law by state and local municipalities.

Voluntary Standards and Recalls

In some cases, failure to comply with a consensus voluntary standard indicates to the CPSC that a product contains a defect that presents a substantial product hazard.

Example: These lights do not meet the voluntary Underwriters Laboratory (UL) standard due to insufficient wire size. They can overheat and pose a fire and shock risk.

CPSC can seek a recall.

This hair dryer is missing a leakage current interrupter (ALCI) plug and presents a risk of electrocution if dropped in water. It does not meet the technical regulation issued by the CPSC .

CPSC will seek a recall.

Technical Regulations and Recalls

• Compliance with applicable regulations, standards and the NEC are highly effective ways to mitigate hazards from equipment that generates, distributes, or uses electrical energy.

• Importers, although reliant on foreign producers, are directly responsible for the safety of products they bring into the United States.

Responsibility to Comply

All equally responsible

ManufacturersImporters

Distributors Retailers

Surveillance Databases

Death certific

ates

In-depth investigations

National

Electronic

Injury Surveill

ance System

National Fire

Incident Reportin

g System

IPII DTHS

INDP

NEISS

NFIRS

*Hotline, On-line consumer reports, Newspapers, News on Internet

Surveillance Activities

Retail•Program plan for regulated products; surveillance for defects and other risks

Internet•Check for conformity with regulations and for recalled products

Ports and airports

•Investigators at key ports of entry•Analysts identify most likely at-risk products

• Imported products frequently recalled or stopped at ports:

• Indoor Extension Cords

• Decorative Lights

• Lamps

• Hair Dryers

• A spot-check of a few key features can reveal potential safety problems like undersized wire and inadequate strain relief.

Import Surveillance

Hazard Analysis

Technical staff assists the Office of Compliance in evaluating products:

• Involved in incidents and which exhibit a pattern of failure

• Involved in consumer or manufacturer reports

• Picked up by CBP officers or CPSC import surveillance staff

• www.cpsc.gov

• www.SaferProducts.gov

• Press releases

• Neighborhood Safety Network

• Publications

• News Conferences

• Social media

Consumer Education

Consumer Education

Example of consumer education:

Press release on dangers of counterfeit products

The CPSC warns consumers that unlike a fake purse or watch, counterfeit electrical products could pose a risk of injury or death. Counterfeit circuit breakers, power strips, extension cords, batteries and holiday lights can cause fires, explosions, shocks and electrocutions.

Dangers of Counterfeit Products

Tips to help avoid counterfeit hazards:

• Scrutinize the product, the packaging and the labeling. Look for a certification mark from an independent testing organization, such as Underwriters Laboratories (UL), and the manufacturer's label. Trademarked logos that look different than usual may signal a counterfeit.

• Trust your instincts. If the price is "too good to be true," it could be because the product is an inferior and unsafe counterfeit.

Dangers of Counterfeit Products

• Be extra vigilant when buying from an unknown source such as a street vendor, non-authorized dealer, online retailer or an individual. Ask about the return policy. Get a receipt and look for missing sales tax.

• Stay informed. Sign up for CPSC e-mail alerts, so when a dangerous product is recalled, you'll know about it right away.

• Report safety-related incidents to the manufacturer and CPSC.

Conclusions

Manufacturers and importers should use best practices to ensure safe products enter into chain of commerce.

– Comply with consensus standards and technical regulations.

– Seek products with third-party certification.

– Be wary of material or component substitutions.

– Conduct spot inspections.

Conclusions

Consumers should take great care to:

–Carefully inspect electrical products for damage before use and discard damaged products.

–When purchasing new, look for products that are certified.

– Follow all instructions and use only as intended.

Contact Information

Dean W. Woodard M.S.Director, Office of Education,

Global Outreach, andSmall Business OmbudsmanE-mail: Dwoodard@cpsc.gov

Phone: 301-504-7651