The U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced in October 2005 that it has set three new records in the fiscal year past – a dubious distinction for an agency in charge of tracking consumer safety. The three records were for number of recalls, number of industry reports about hazardous products, and the amount of fines levied against companies who fail to report possible hazards in their products.

In total, there were 397 recalls of consumer products in the 2004/2005 fiscal year – the highest number of recalls ever recorded of products not covered by a mandatory safety standard. Rechargeable batteries and ATVs both had alarming increases in the number of recalls issued.

But the “lowlight” of the year was a recall on vending machine jewelry designed for kids. It included 150 million pendants and other toys that were made of metal – some of which had lead in them. In a previous case, one child swallowed a similar item and received lead poisoning. This serious condition can cause behavioral problems, learning disabilities, and other medical problems.

The rising number of civil penalties is also cause for alarm. In 2005 the CPSC handed down fines to six different companies totaling $8.8 million for failing to report defects in their products. “One of our top priorities has been to encourage companies to follow the law and report possible hazards to CPSC,” said CPSC Chairman Hal Stratton. “I believe that imposing penalties against companies who fail to comply with the law will result in a higher degree of reporting and compliance with our statutes.”

But apparently the “degree of reporting” was not the problem this year: there were also a record number of defects reports to the CPSC, 547 to be exact. That’s over 100 more than last year, which was also a record-breaking year.

Federal law requires manufacturers, distributors, retailers and importers to file a safety hazard report to CPSC if they find a product that “does not comply with a safety rule, contains a defect that could create a substantial risk of injury to the public, or presents an unreasonable risk of serious injury or death.”

Consumer products cost the U.S. an estimated $700 billion every year due to death, injury, and property damage. As the “global village” expands and more products are imported from around the world, the chances of unsafe products entering our country increase. Even “Made in the USA” products manufactured to safety standards can still have a potentially dangerous defect.

If you or a loved one has been injured by a consumer product whether it was under recall or not, contact the personal injury experts at Jim S. Adler & Associates for a free case review. The firm has more than 30 years of litigation experience against manufacturers small and large. Don’t sign a settlement or agree to a low-ball package. Get Jim S. Adler & Associates on your side and make sure your rights are protected.