Within a month of taking office, CPSC Chairman Ann Brown initiated a commendation program to recognize outstanding contributions to product safety by companies and individuals. This award was in keeping with the Chairman's approach -- using voluntary measures, whenever possible, to encourage production of safer products.

Criteria for the award include recognition for voluntary actions that are not mandated by government regulations, that anticipate government regulations or that go beyond what the government requires.

Chairman Brown has particularly targeted the awards to areas of high priority -- children's products, poison-prevention packaging, sporting goods and home appliances. Thus far, there have been eight recipients of the commendation, which is regarded as a prestigious recognition of exceptional safety achievement in the consumer product marketplace. Awardees to date include the following:

The Procter & Gamble Company: "(for) voluntarily marketing a major product in senior-friendly child-resistant packaging."

Playskool, a division of Hasbro, Inc.: "(for) developing an innovative passive restraint to help prevent children from sliding under the trays of highchairs and strangling."

Sunbeam Plastics: "(for) its long-term commitment to developing innovative and effective senior-friendly child-resistant packaging for a broad range of consumer products."

Toys R Us: "(for) its corporate commitment to child safety, as exemplified by its product safety programs."

Rollerblade, Inc. and International In-line Skating Association: "(for) their commitment to in-line skating safety.

Whirlpool Corporation: "(for) its corporate commitment to consumer safety through its outstanding and effective product safety program."

Karl Wojahn, toy safety expert and Vice President of Quality Assurance, Mattel Toys: "(for) making toys safer through his leadership and efforts to improve toy safety standards in the United States and around the world."

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