Consumer Product Safety Commission
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Products meant for the benefit of and use by consumers should be safe if used properly. Unfortunately, not all companies can be trusted to use diligent practices in their processes or manufacturing and therefore, there is a need for the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC).
The CPSC has a mission to reduce unreasonable risk of injury and death that could be associated with products meant for consumers. To accomplish this, the organization develops both voluntary and mandatory standards, promotes the establishment of recalls on products deemed to be dangerous and provides safety information to the public.
As consumers, Americans have a bottomless appetite for new technology, whether related to electronics, sports equipment, baby toys or kitchen gadgets. It is assumed that the latest products will also be the safest, but without a governing body to ensure they are, products could easily fall prey to lackluster engineering or faulty wiring.
In 1972, Congress passed the Consumer Product Safety Act, which led to the creation of the independent federal regulatory agency, the CPSC. The purpose of the Act and the organization was to protect the public from any unreasonable risks or injuries that could be associated with consumer products.
The organization is headed by three commissioners who are appointed by the president and confirmed by the Senate. CPSC is headquartered in Bethesda, Md., and the agency operates laboratories in Gaithersburg, Md. Roughly 480 people are employed by the organization to review the safety of more than 15,000 products.
Interestingly, the CPSC does not test specific products for safety. Instead, the organization monitors products that are commonly used in and around schools, businesses and homes, helping manufacturers to ensure that their products are safe before they ever reach the market. The CPSC also provides consumers with information and recommendations so they are better informed to make smart decisions about the products they purchase and use.
While it would seem logical that the CPSC would regulate all products used by consumers, some do not fall within its jurisdiction. These products include cars, alcoholic beverages, food, pesticides, drugs and medical devices. Each of these categories represent vertical markets that are regulated and monitored by other federal agencies. When it comes to false advertising, fraud or poor product quality, issues are taken to the Federal Trade Commission because the CPSC is not responsible for such areas.
Recalls on products are generally the most commonly associated activity with the CPSC. If the organization deems a product to be dangerous or pose any type of risk to the public, the CPSC will coordinate a recall, making sure the manufacturer either repairs the product or issues a refund to all customers. While many recalls have been voluntary on the part of the manufacturer, the CPSC will step in where needed to recall or even ban products it considers to be dangerous.
The CPSC is not concerned with specific product brands, but instead educates consumers on product safety features. The organization also conducts research to identify potential safety risks and keeps the public, industry and local governments informed of the risks to maintain an expected level of safety.
