The Consumer Product Safety Commission regularly evaluates over 15,000 product categories for safe usage and potential hazards. The information gathered is displayed on their website, www.cpsc.gov.

The site is relatively easy to navigate and is loaded with information of product safety, recalls and research reports. It’s particularly useful in researching safety issues related to children’s toys and products.

The CPSC “Most Wanted” list includes the Playskool Team Talkin’ Tool Bench. A 2 year old League City, Texas, boy suffocated when an oversized plastic toy nail got caught in his throat. Playskool recalled 255,000 of these toys but many are still in use.

Deaths, injuries and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $700 billion annually. The Consumer Product Safety Commission’s efforts have contributed significantly to the 30% decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the last 30 years.

Spokesperson Mark Ross was interviewed on the Homework Houston radio show on April 21, 2007. He encouraged consumers to use the website and keep up to date on recalls. “You can look up recalls by a specific company, by generic type of product, dates and many other ways,” said Ross. “You can also do a search on the home page. Enter the companies name and information will be displayed that relates to that name.”

Consumers can also sign up to receive information directly via e-mail such as recall notices, press releases and safety information.

Ross pointed to CPSC successes such as the implementation of child safety caps on medicines and other products that have greatly reduced injuries to children.

Consumers are encouraged to report products considered to be unsafe. Complaints can be filed at www.cpsc.gov or by telephone at 800-638-2772. “The operator will take an incident report,” said Mark Ross. “Call if you think there is a problem product that has a defect that could cause a safety problem or if you’ve had a problem with a product.”

Ross said every report gets evaluated. “We’re looking for trends. If it sounds like something that is a hazard and could harm consumers, we’ll investigate,” said Ross.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission was created in 1972 by Congress under the Consumer Product Safety Act and began operation in 1973. The CPSC is directed to protect the public against “unreasonable risks of injuries associated with consumer products.”

Web site: www.cpsc.gov