# Presentation: 525374

## U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission

**Electrical Safety**
**Consumer Issues**

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## Electrical SafetyConsumer Issues

- William King
- Chief Engineer for Electrical & Fire Safety
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
- Phone: 301-504-0508
- Fax: 301-504-0533
- E-mail: wking@cpsc.gov

## Recalling Unsafe Products from Consumers and from the Marketplace 

- Manufacturers, distributors, importers and retailers need to report to their government when they have reason to believe that a consumer product from their business may involve a substantial risk of injury to a consumer.
- Penalties need to be assessed for not reporting or late reporting.
- Other nations are modeling the U.S. law (described in Section 15 of the Consumer Product Safety Act, Public Law 92-573).

## International Electrical Safety Standards – What do they represent for consumers?

- International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) was founded in 1906 at the International Electrical Congress held in St. Louis (USA) in 1904.
- IEC represents all the industrial countries of the world (~50 nations).  Malaysia, Singapore and Thailand are members.
- IEC promotes international understanding and cooperation on matters related to electrical & electronic standards.  IEC issues international standards.
- In the U.S., developers of electrical safety standards, such as UL, are utilizing provisions contained in IEC standards whenever possible.
- Consumers benefit from a larger selection of products manufactured to harmonized, global safety requirements.

## Certification Marks – What do they mean to users of products?

- For citizens in homes and public places using appliances, electrical equipment, wiring, and luminaires (lamps, lighting fixtures).
- Familiar marks provide assurance that the design meets accepted safety standards.  UL, CSA, and ETL are among those common in the U.S.
- In the U.S., certification marks are not required by federal law, but lack of a mark may result in closer scrutiny of the product design by the CPSC.  Some local jurisdictions, retailers, and others require a mark.
- For workers in factories, offices, construction sites, and farms that use electrical devices and equipment.
- In the U.S., the mark of a nationally recognized testing laboratory (NRTL) on a piece of electrical machinery indicates compliance with federal Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) regulations.

**Notes:**
Design of Wiring Systems - Standardized design tools for developing, installing and maintaining wire systems.  Areas where design standards are needed for such elements as separation of wiring systems, safety margins, risk assessments and their variations over time, inspections, maintenance inspections and minimum requirements for lifelong operation.  Configuration control of changes applied to the wiring system throughout its life.

Inspection of Wiring Systems:  In most applications, wiring is not inspected or tested - other than visual inspection - because inspection techniques are instrusive and can inadvertently damage adjacent systems and components.
Diagnostic procedures are needed that can detect 

## Slide 6

## How Consumers Can Improve Electrical Safety

- Every consumer has a voice.
- Most standards are developed by the private sector based on the consensus of interested parties, including users (consumers, workers, etc.), industry, government, and independent experts.  All standards developers seek public comments.
- Government regulators, such as CPSC in the U.S., accept input from all parties.  Any individual or group could petition the CPSC to consider the need for a mandatory standard.
- Government agencies have toll-free telephone numbers and internet sites to conveniently report unsafe products and complain about unsafe conditions.  CPSC number: 1-800-638-2772, web site:  _[www.cpsc.gov](http://www.cpsc.gov/)__._