Info and News
March 2005
Convenient link to Up-to-Date FCC Rules
There’s a useful link at the FCC’s website that provides access to the FCC’s rules:
http://www.fcc.gov/oet/info/rules/
There are a number of ways to get the FCC’s rules. They can be ordered in printed form from the US Government Printing Office, or accessed on line, at http://www.access.gpo.gov. However, the information provided by the GPO is usually updated annually, so it may be out of date with respect to recent regulations. At the FCC site mentioned above, a more current version of the Part 15 rules is available (updated several times per year).
CPSC Fines Manufacturer for Not Reporting Dangerous Defects
A near million-dollar settlement was agreed to by the U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and Polaris Industries, a Minnesota maker of all terrain vehicles (ATVs). The case was settled with Polaris’ agreement to pay a civil penalty, while Polaris continues to deny any allegations that the law was violated.
Although few of our readers are active in the ATV market, this incident is instructive—the same CPSC rules apply to any consumer product, including electrical equipment, capable of causing injury. The CPSC must be notified quickly when this occurs.
Over the period of 1998 through 2001, Polaris had two separate problems. In the first, there were 88 reports of a sticking throttle, some of which involved personal injuries. The company made three engineering changes. Finally, in August 2000, Polaris reported the situation to the CPSC and announced a recall.
In a second incident, a group of ATVs experienced problems with the oil lines. There were 1450 reports of oil-line blow-offs and disconnections. Some of these resulted in the spraying of hot pressurized oil, which presents a risk of burn injury and fire. Again, Polaris did analysis and instituted a number of changes, but did not report to the CPSC until it was ready to initiate a recall.
Although the CPSC was finally contacted and recalls initiated, it wasn’t enough. Federal law requires manufacturers, retailers, and distributors to report to the CPSC immediately (within 24 hours) after obtaining information that reasonably shows a product to contain a defect which could cause substantial risk of injury or death, or that violates a Federal safety standard.
Canada Issues New Edition of Telecom Terminal Standard CS03
Canada’s regulatory authority for telecommunication terminal equipment, Industry Canada, has released an updated edition of its technical specification, CS-03. CS-03, Issue 9, is now in effect, replacing earlier editions. The changes that have been included bring the Canadian requirements into closer conformity with those used in the United States, which are based on EIA/TIA standard TIA-968-A. They also make permanent a number of interim amendments that had been made to CS-03, Issue 8 over the past six years.
Full details on the changes can be found at Industry Canada’s website:
http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/epic/internet/insmt-gst.nsf/en/sf08265e.html
The text of CS03 and other compliance related information may be found at this link:
http://strategis.ic.gc.ca/epic/internet/insmt-gst.nsf/en/sf01590e.html
Wacky Warning Labels
Equipment compliance is indicated by, and often involves, careful attention to marking and labeling. Some readers might be amused to hear of the “Wacky Warning Labels Contest” run annually by The Michigan Lawsuit Abuse Watch (M-Law) since 1997. The public interest group runs the contest to call attention to the impact that legal action has on business and personal life.
The contest is open to all, and entry is easy. Simply send an original label to the address indicated on M-Law’s site, www.mlaw.org. This year’s contest, the ninth, is open until December 31, 2005.
Last year’s winner for the wackiest label was a flush toilet brush whose label warned users, “Do not use for personal hygiene.” Past winners have included:
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a snow blower bearing the instruction “Do not use snowthrower on the roof”
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a multi-hooked fishing lure with the admonition “Harmful if swallowed”
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a household iron with the label, “Never iron clothes while they are being worn”
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a laser toner cartridge with the warning, “Do not eat toner.”
The top three winners receive cash prizes and a
copy of the book, “The Death of Common Sense,” by Philip K. Howard.
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