An international call for safe window coverings
June 17, 2010 11:00 AM
For the first time ever, safety agencies in Canada, Europe and the U.S. are harmonizing on a call for “strong worldwide safety standards on a specific product”—corded window coverings.
Given how difficult it is to get standards passed in just one country, this is an ambitious plan. Altogether, 29 countries are involved. “Although we have different mechanisms for ensuring adequate safety requirements in consumer products and are at different places in our work on corded window coverings, we are in agreement on the need for immediate action,” said a statement from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Health Canada and the European Commission’s Directorate General for Health and Consumers.
It's a big deal. In the U.S. alone 120 children have been strangled and 113 more injured by the cords of window coverings since 1999, so it’s pretty obvious that something needs to be done. Similar incidents have occurred in Canada and Europe.
Given how difficult it is to get standards passed in just one country, this is an ambitious plan. Altogether, 29 countries are involved. “Although we have different mechanisms for ensuring adequate safety requirements in consumer products and are at different places in our work on corded window coverings, we are in agreement on the need for immediate action,” said a statement from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Health Canada and the European Commission’s Directorate General for Health and Consumers.
It's a big deal. In the U.S. alone 120 children have been strangled and 113 more injured by the cords of window coverings since 1999, so it’s pretty obvious that something needs to be done. Similar incidents have occurred in Canada and Europe.
I got the word as I was traveling to Washington D.C. this morning to meet with Inez Tenenbaum, chairwoman of the CPSC, on the need for more effective safety regulations for window blinds. I’m headed into meetings now with the CPSC, various safety advocates, and, we expect, representatives from the Window Covering Manufacturers Association. Despite years of work, that trade organization has been unable to develop an effective voluntary standard. So the safety community is continuing to work to eliminate the hazard. The fact that we’re now working to protect kids in 29 countries makes our determination even stronger.
—Don Mays
Update: My meeting with Inez Tenenbaum also included safety advocates Carol-Pollack Nelson, an independent consultant, Rachel Weintraub of the Consumer Federation of America, and Linda Kaiser of Parents for Window Blind Safety. Also representing the CPSC was commissioner Thomas Moore and several commission staffers. Our message was clear: The industry standard has been ineffective at reducing the number of deaths due to corded blinds and shades and needs to be strengthened by eliminating long, accessible cords. Together the advocates issued a press release applauding this effort.
We will continue to be involved and to update readers on our progress.—D.M.
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