Kaye Calls Window Covering Program Positive but Prods for More

CPSC Chairman Elliot Kaye tempered his reaction that a window covering certification program is a “positive step” with strongly worded encouragement for continued movement away from certain units. This followed the May 6 launch of the Best for Kids program by the Window Covering Manufacturers Association (WCMA).

Under the third-party certification program, manufacturers would submit units for assessment of whether they are cordless or have inaccessible inner cords. The basis would be criteria in ANSI/WCMA A 100.1-2012, Corded Window Covering Products. Passing models would be eligible to be labeled and marketed as certified under the program.

Additionally, certain units with accessible inner cords could be certified. Those would need to have no operating cords and the inner cords would need to be unable to create hazardous loops under criteria specified in appendix D of the standard.

In the program’s announcement, WCMA Executive Director Ralph Vasami explained:

“Cordless technology continues to evolve and is currently available in many popular styles; however, it is not available affordably in all product styles and sizes. In addition, cordless solutions are often not appropriate for and/or don’t work in certain applications or for certain consumers. Corded products that comply with the current safety standard are essential to meet the needs and desires of disparate consumers, including the elderly and users with disabilities,”

Kaye’s full reaction:

“We should all be determined to take whatever steps are necessary to put an end to the decades’ long cycle of a child dying nearly every month from strangulation in a window covering cord. I have spoken with far too many parents who suffered the unspeakable loss of their child from this hidden hazard. Having a new label that better informs parents about blinds and shades that are safer for children is a positive step, but it should be coupled with a real effort to move away, as Target and IKEA are doing, from the sale of products that are known to strangle children.”

Kaye was referring to announcements by those retailers last year to eliminate corded units by 2015 and 2016 respectively. He praised those decisions, and urged other retailers – calling out Walmart, Lowes, and Home Depot by name – to do likewise (PSL, 11/10/14).

The commission in January (PSL, 1/12/15) opened an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (ANPR) prompted by a 2013 petition that sought a cord ban where alternatives exist or mandated guarding components. The ANPR’s five options range from banning corded units to deferring to a voluntary standard. CPSC recently (PSL, 3/23/15) extended the comment period on the proposal to June 1 at the request of WCMA.

WCMA last year expressed willingness (PSL, 9/8/14) to open the A 100.1 standard for revisions but with warnings that it might have difficulty with a CPSC desire to limit operating cords to 8 inches as well as with issues related to cord cleats and tension devices.

CPSC has been looking at the issue for many years, including cooperation with counterparts in Australia, Canada and Europe to leverage industry action. The EU in 2013 (PSL, 5/13/13) outlined the strategy as effective. That cooperation was under the direction of former chairman Inez Tenenbaum (PSL, 2/27/12).