The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) today published in the Federal Register a ban of unstable refuse bins.
On January 3, 1975, Stephen R. Redmond, the Commissioner of Health of Dutchess County, New York, petitioned CPSC to establish safe design criteria for the manufacture of refuse bins. The Commission began reviewing the problem and studied 19 in-depth investigation reports of accidents associated with tip-over of unstable refuse bins. The 19 accidents involved 21 victims and resulted in 13 deaths. Of the 21 victims, 20 were children 10 years of age and under. On this basis the Commission determined that there is an unreasonable risk of injury or death from tip-over of unstable refuse bins.
The Commission further found that refuse bins are used for many years before being discarded. Also, a substantial number of these bins are rented to persons who make them available for use by many consumers. The combination of these factors, long life and continuing availability to the public, convinced the Commission that no feasible standard for these bins would adequately protect the public from these unstable refuse bins and, therefore, a ban was necessary.
The ban will become effective in one year, on June 13, 1978. The Commission believes the one year period prior to the effective date will allow refuse bin owners to retrofit these bins and eliminate the stability problem.
The ban will apply to unstable metal refuse bins that have an internal volume of one cubic yard or greater that are being distributed in commerce after June 12, 1978. The ban prohibits the manufacture, sale, and distribution in commerce of these unstable refuse bins. The owner of a bin who rents or leases it to persons who make it available for use by consumers is considered to be distributing it in commerce.
Copies of this banning regulation can be obtained from the Office of the Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission, 1111 - 18th Street., N.W., Washington, D.C. 20207.
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of the thousands of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $900 billion annually. CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical or mechanical hazard. CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products - such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters and household chemicals - contributed to a decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.
Federal law bars any person from selling products subject to a publicly-announced voluntary recall by a manufacturer or a mandatory recall ordered by the Commission.
To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury go online to www.SaferProducts.gov or call CPSC's Hotline at (800) 638-2772 or teletypewriter at (301) 595-7054 for the hearing impaired. Consumers can obtain news release and recall information at www.cpsc.gov, on Twitter @OnSafety or by subscribing to CPSC's free e-mail newsletters.