The U.S.
Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) announced
today that 14 firms have agreed to pay a total of
$1,055,000 in civil penalties.
The penalties settle allegations that the firms
knowingly failed to report to the CPSC immediately, as
required by federal law, that children's hooded
sweatshirts or jackets they sold had drawstrings at the
hood and/or neck. Children's upper outerwear with
drawstrings, including sweatshirts or jackets, pose a
strangulation hazard that can cause death to children.
The garments were eventually recalled as appropriate.
The settlements have been provisionally accepted by the
Commission.
CPSC has ordered the following firms to pay civil
penalties to the U.S. Treasury:
--
The TJX Companies Inc., d/b/a T.J. Maxx, of Framingham,
Mass.
-- Marshalls of MA Inc., of Framingham, Mass.
-- Concord Buying Group Inc., d/b/a A.J. Wright, of
Framingham, Mass.
-- Bob's Stores Corp., of Meriden, Conn.
-- Kidz World Inc., d/b/a High Energy USA, of New York
City, N.Y.
-- The Bon-ton Stores Inc., of York, Pa.
-- Coolibar Inc., of St. Louis Park, Minn.
-- Brents-riordan Co. LLC, of Shreveport, La.
-- Forman Mills Inc., of Pennsauken, N.J.
-- Urgent Gear Inc., of Los Angeles, Calif.
-- Seventy Two Inc., of La Puenta, Calif.
-- Orioxi International Corp., of Brea, Calif.
-- Outfitter Trading Co. LLC, of Littleton, Colo.
--
Retco Inc., of Breckenridge, Colo.
In February 1996, CPSC issued drawstring guidelines to
help prevent children from strangling or getting
entangled on the neck and waist drawstrings in upper
outerwear, such as jackets and sweatshirts. In May 2006,
CPSC's Office of Compliance announced that children's
upper outerwear with drawstrings at the hood or neck
would be regarded as defective and a substantial risk of
injury to young children.
Federal law requires manufacturers, distributors, and
retailers to report to CPSC immediately (within 24
hours) after obtaining information reasonably supporting
the conclusion that a product contains a defect which
could create a substantial product hazard, presents an
unreasonable risk of serious injury or death, or
violates any consumer product safety rule or any other
rule, regulation, standard, or ban enforced by the CPSC.
In agreeing to settle the matters, the firms deny CPSC's
allegations that they knowingly violated the law.
The U.S.
Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with
protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious
injury or death from thousands of types of consumer
products under the agency's jurisdiction. The CPSC is
committed to protecting consumers and families from
products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or
mechanical hazard. The CPSC's work to ensure the safety
of consumer products -- such as toys, cribs, power
tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals --
contributed significantly to the decline in the rate of
deaths and injuries associated with consumer products
over the past 30 years.
To report a dangerous product or a product-related
injury, call CPSC's hotline at (800) 638-2772 or CPSC's
teletypewriter at (800) 638-8270, or visit CPSC's web
site at
https://www.cpsc.gov/talk.html
. To join a CPSC email subscription list, please
go to
https://www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx
. Consumers can obtain this release and recall
information at CPSC's Web site at
https://www.cpsc.gov . CPSC
Hotline: (800) 638-2772
Learn more about
children's outerwear,
children's jackets, and
children's coats.