Each of these non-conforming beds has the potential to kill a child. As I stated during the bunk bed briefing, I have no intention of establishing a general policy of considering a mandatory standard when there is a voluntary standard that is working well. Here, the primary issue is not a matter of changing the quality or content of the voluntary standard. Instead, it is a matter of increasing conformance to the standard. The information presented to the Commission to date strongly suggests to me that certain characteristics of the bunk bed industry set it apart from others where there are voluntary standards.
Many manufacturers are small, and some bunk beds are produced for retail sale in homes and garages.
These companies, along with larger more reputable retailers, may not know about the existing voluntary standard, or think that because it is voluntary there are no serious consequences if they do not comply with the standard. Some people hold the view that the problem will go away by itself and no changes are needed. The staff s work, however, suggests that the Commission's Section 15 activities are not enough. Our bunk bed recalls have treated only the symptoms, not the cause. Unlike other products and industries, the more bunk beds we recall, the more non-conforming bunk beds we find.