Source: https://www.federalregister.gov/articles/2011/06/28/2011-15981/substantial-product-hazard-list-hand-supported-hair-dryers
Timestamp: 2016-04-29 14:06:50
Document Index: 35582447

Matched Legal Cases: ['§ 1120', '§ 1120', '§ 1120', '§ 1120', 'ART 1120', '§ 1120', '§ 1120', 'art 51']

Federal Register | Substantial Product Hazard List: Hand-Supported Hair Dryers
Dates: The rule takes effect July 28, 2011. The incorporation by reference of the publications listed in this rule is approved by the Director of the Federal Register as of July 28, 2011.
-37641 (6 pages)
Document Number: 2011-15981
Shorter URL: https://federalregister.gov/a/2011-15981 Action
1. Authority (§ 1120.1)
2. Definitions (§ 1120.2)
3. Products Deemed To Be Substantial Product Hazards (§ 1120.3)
The preamble to the proposed rule reviewed the incident data available at that time. As noted in that preamble, a total of 43 electric shock injuries due to hair dryer immersion/water contact, were reported to CPSC staff from 1984 through 2004. Of these electric shock injuries, the most incidents (33) occurred before 1990, compared to 7 from 1991 through 1997, and 3 from 1998 through 2004. Although these are small numbers of reports, they indicate that the number of reported injuries due to electric shock from hair dryer immersion/water contact decreased after 1990.
D. Voluntary Standards Back to Top
E. Recalls Back to Top
F. Substantial Compliance Back to Top
There is no statutory definition of “substantial compliance” in either the CPSIA or the CPSA. Legislative history of the CPSA provision that is related to issuance of consumer product safety standards indicates that substantial compliance should be measured by reference to the number of complying products, rather than the number of manufacturers of products complying with the standard. H.R. Rep. No. 208, 97th Cong., 1st Sess. 871 (1981). Legislative history of this CPSA rulemaking provision also indicates that there is substantial compliance when the unreasonable risk of injury associated with a product will be eliminated or adequately reduced “in a timely fashion.”Id. The Commission has not taken the position that there is any particular percentage that constitutes substantial compliance. Rather than any bright line, the Commission has indicated in the rulemaking context that the determination needs to be made on a case-by-case basis.
In 2007, the three largest suppliers listed accounted for approximately 92 percent of the domestic sales of hand-supported hair dryers. Additional retailers are also listed as supplying hand-supported hair dryers that are in compliance with the UL standards. Since the three largest suppliers (which are listed as producing hair dryers that comply with the UL standards) account for 92 percent of the domestic sales of hand-supported hair dryers, and additional companies are also listed as producing complying hand-supported hair dryers, we estimate that more than 95 percent of hand-supported hair dryers for sale in this country comply with the UL standards. Therefore, the Commission determines that there is substantial compliance with UL 859 and UL 1727.
G. Comments on the Proposed Rule and CPSC's Responses Back to Top
Response: We agree with the commenters. UL 859 and UL 1727 use the terms “hand-held” and “hand-supported.” Underwriters' Laboratories uses the phrase “hand-held” to refer to appliances that are not fully supported by the hand, even though they are in contact with the hand. An upright vacuum cleaner is an example of this meaning of “hand-held.” The user's hand is in contact with the appliance and guides the appliance during use; but the weight of the vacuum cleaner is supported by the floor. UL defines a “hand-supported” device as “an appliance that is physically supported by the hand of the user during the performance of its intended functions.” Thus, the term “hand-supported” describes more accurately the situation with hair dryers. Using the term “hand-supported” in the same context as the UL standards will promote consistency and avoid confusion. We have modified the definition in § 1120.2(b), as well as in related text and preamble discussion, to refer to “hand-supported hair dryers.”
H. Description of the Final Rule Back to Top
I. Commission Determination That Hand-Supported Hair Dryers Without Integral Immersion Protection Present a Substantial Product Hazard Back to Top
Integral immersion protection has been addressed by UL 589 and UL 1727. Both of those standards require that hand-supported hair dryers have integral immersion protection.
J. Effect of Section 15(j) Rule Back to Top
K. Regulatory Flexibility Certification Back to Top
M. Paperwork Reduction Act Back to Top
N. Effective Date Back to Top
O. Preemption Back to Top
List of Subjects in 16 CFR 1120 Back to Top
PART 1120—SUBSTANTIAL PRODUCT HAZARD LIST Back to Top
§ 1120.1 Authority.
Under the authority of section 15(j) of the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA), the Commission determines that consumer products or classes of consumer products listed in § 1120.3 of this part have characteristics whose existence or absence present a substantial product hazard under section 15(a)(2) of the CPSA. The Commission has determined that the listed products have characteristics that are readily observable and have been addressed by a voluntary standard, that the voluntary standard has been effective, and that there is substantial compliance with the voluntary standard. The listed products are subject to the reporting requirements of section 15(b) of the CPSA and to the recall provisions of section 15(c) and (d) of the CPSA, and shall be refused entry into the United States under section 17(a)(4) of the CPSA.
(a) Hand-supported hair dryers that do not provide integral immersion protection in compliance with the requirements of section 5 of Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Standard for Safety for Household Electric Personal Grooming Appliances, UL 859, 10th Edition, approved August 30, 2002, and revised through June 3, 2010, or section 6 of UL Standard for Safety for Commercial Electric Personal Grooming Appliances, UL 1727, 4th Edition, approved March 25, 1999, and revised through June 25, 2010. The Director of the Federal Register approves these incorporations by reference in accordance with 5 U.S.C. 552(a) and 1 CFR part 51. You may obtain a copy from UL, Inc., 333 Pfingsten Road, Northbrook, IL 60062; telephone 888-853-3503; http:// www.comm-2000.com . You may inspect a copy at the Office of the Secretary, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, Room 820, 4330 East West Highway, Bethesda, MD 20814, telephone 301-504-7923, or at the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). For information on the availability of this material at NARA, call 202-741-6030, or go to: http://www.archives.gov/federal_register/code_of_federal_regulations/ibr_locations.html.