Late last week officials marked the start of a new generation for child cribs. Back in December of 2010, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) voted to approve a new set of mandatory crib standards. These new standards are the most stringent crib safety standards in the world. All importers, distributors, manufacturers and retailers are now required to offer only cribs that meet the CPSC’s new full-size and non-full-size crib standards.
From now on, cribs should be safer and cause less injury to children in Chicago and elsewhere. For decades, dropside cribs have caused death and injury to hundreds of children – an issue the government was monumentally slow in tackling.Our Illinois personal injury attorneys understand that these regulations are supposed to be some of the strictest rules to date. They reportedly require the manufacturer to stop the sale of dangerous traditional drop-side cribs, to strengthen mattress supports and crib slats, to require that all crib hardware be more durable and to make sure that safety testing is more rigorous.
“A safe crib is the safest place for a baby to sleep. It is for this reason that I am so pleased that parents, grandparents and caregivers now can shop with confidence and purchase cribs that meet the most stringent crib standards in the world,” said Chairman Inez Tenenbaum. “From the start, our goal has been to prevent deaths and injuries to babies in cribs, and now the day has come where only stronger and safer cribs are available for consumers to purchase.”
Since 2007, the CPSC has recalled more than 11 million dangerous cribs. Drop-side cribs with detaching side rails were reportedly the cause of approximately 32 infant suffocation and strangulation deaths since 2000. A number of other deaths happened because of faulty or defective crib hardware. These new standards look to prevent these fatal accidents and to keep children safer in their cribs.
Starting in December of 2012, a number of places will be required to use only cribs that comply with the new crib standards. This applies to family child care homes and infant Head Start centers, other child care facilities and places of public accommodation, including hotels and motels and rental companies.
Baby cribs aren’t the only product that has been in trouble with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC). Last month, the CPSC announced that Macy’s Inc., of Cincinnati, Ohio, has agreed to pay a civil penalty of $750,000.
The settlement is the result of CPSC staff allegations that accused Macy’s of knowingly failing to report to CPSC immediately, as required by federal law, that it sold children’s sweatshirts, sweaters and jackets that had drawstrings at the neck between 2006 and 2010.
The child clothing that is the subject of the penalty agreement was reportedly sold by Macy’s and Macy’s-owned stores, including Bloomingdale’s and Robinsons-May. According to the CPSC, the store chain knowingly sold the clothing after a recall had been issued.
Back in 1996, the CPSC issued a new set of drawstring guidelines that were meant to help prevent children from strangling themselves or getting entangled in the neck and waist drawstrings of clothing. Once a recall has been issued, all sales of the affected product must be halted.
If you or a loved one has been injured in an accident, the personal injury attorneys and wrongful death lawyers at Abels & Annes offer free and confidential appointments to discuss your rights. Call (866) 99-ABELS. There is no fee unless you win.
More Blog Entries:
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Woman killed, 2 children injured in deadly Illinois truck accident, Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, May 11, 2011
8-year-old injured in Illinois hit-and-run pedestrian accident, Chicago Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, May 4, 2011