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The United States Government Manual
Consumer Product Safety Commission
4330 East-West Highway, Bethesda, MD 20814
301-504-7923
http://www.cpsc.gov
COMMISSIONERS
| CHAIR | Robert S. Adler, Acting |
| Dana Baiocco | |
| Ann Marie Buerkle | |
| Peter A. Feldman | |
| Elliot F. Kaye |
INDEPENDENT OFFICES
| Directors | |
| Communications | Joseph Martyak |
| Equal Employment Opportunity and Minority Enterprise | Brittany Woolfolk |
| Legislative Affairs | Christopher Hudgins |
| General Counsel | Patricia Hanz |
| Secretary | Alberta Mills |
OFFICES OF THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
| Executive Director | Mary T. Boyle |
Operations Support
| Deputy Executive Director | Monica Summitt |
| Assistant Executive Director | |
| Information and Technology Services | James C. Rolfes |
| Chief Officers | |
| Financial | Jay Hoffman |
| Information | James C. Rolfes |
| Directors | |
| Facilities Services | Mark Oemler |
| Financial Management, Planning, and Evaluation | Jay Hoffman |
| Human Resources Management | Donna M. Simpson |
Safety Operations
| Deputy Executive Director | DeWane Ray |
| Assistant Executive Directors | |
| Compliance and Field Operations | Robert Kaye |
| Hazard Identification and Reduction | Duane Boniface |
| Directors | |
| International Programs | Richard O'Brien |
| Import Surveillance | James Joholske |
| Small Business Ombudsman | Shelby Mathis |
| Inspector General | Christopher W. Dentel |
The Consumer Product Safety Commission protects the public by reducing the risk of injury and death from consumer products.
ESTABLISHMENT AND ORGANIZATION
On October 27, 1972, President Richard M. Nixon approved Public Law 92–573, which is commonly cited as the Consumer Product Safety Act (15 U.S.C. 2051 et seq.). The Act established the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) as an independent regulatory agency. The CPSC became operational on May 14, 1973.
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/STATUTE-86/pdf/STATUTE-86-Pg1207.pdfThirty six years later, President George W. Bush approved the reauthorization and modernization of the CPSC by signing the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 (PL 110–314) on August 14.
https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/STATUTE-122/pdf/STATUTE-122-Pg3016.pdfThe Commission comprises a maximum of five commissioners. The President appoints each commissioner by the advice and with the consent of the Senate for a term of 7 years. The President also designates one commissioner to serve as Chair. No more than three of the commissioners may be affiliated with the same political party (15 USC 2053).
https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?path=/prelim@title15/chapter47&edition=prelimThe CPSC implements provisions of the Flammable Fabrics Act (15 U.S.C. 1191), Poison Prevention Packaging Act of 1970 (15 U.S.C. 1471), Federal Hazardous Substances Act (15 U.S.C. 1261), Children's Gasoline Burn Prevention Act (15 U.S.C. 2056 note), Virginia Graeme Baker Pool and Spa Safety Act (15 U.S.C. 8001 et seq.), and an act of 2 August 1956 (15 U.S.C. 1211) prohibiting the transportation of refrigerators without door safety devices.
https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?path=/prelim@title15&edition=prelimThe CPSC's organization and functions are found in 16 CFR 1000.
https://www.ecfr.gov/cgi-bin/text-idx?gp=&SID=09442eace6033ddfb202786dac3646bf&mc=true&tpl=/ecfrbrowse/Title16/16CIIsubchapA.tplThe agency's organizational chart is available in Portable Document Format (PDF) for viewing and downloading on the "About CPSC" web page.
https://www.cpsc.gov/About-CPSCACTIVITIES
To protect the public from risk of injury, the CPSC requires manufacturers to report defects in products presenting substantial hazards; conducts outreach programs for consumers, industry, and local governments; collects information on consumer product-related injuries and maintains the National Injury Information Clearinghouse; conducts research on consumer product hazards; and encourages and assists in the development of voluntary standards affecting the safety of consumer products. When appropriate, the CPSC requires manufacturers to correct hazards associated with specific consumer products already in circulation, establishes mandatory consumer product standards, and bans hazardous products.
http://www.cpsc.gov/en/about-cpsc/national-injury-information-clearinghouseThe Commission also has a special project to reach as many Americans as possible with lifesaving safety information. The Neighborhood Safety Network disseminates safety information to hard-to-reach populations by partnering with other organizations already active within their communities.
http://www.cpsc.gov/en/safety-education/neighborhood-safety-networkSources of Information
All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs)
ATVs are powerful, fast, and potentially dangerous. The CPSC posts ATV safety information online.
http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Safety-Education/Safety-Education-Centers/ATV-Safety-Information-CenterAnnual Reports
The CPSC posts its annual reports online.
https://www.cpsc.gov/About-CPSC/Agency-Reports/Annual-ReportsArchived Records
The records of the CPSC are referenced in the "Guide to Federal Records in the National Archives of the United States." The Guide is accessible online, and CPSC records have been assigned to Record Group 424.
https://www.archives.gov/research/guide-fed-records/groups/424.htmlBlog
The CPSC maintains a blog on its "OnSafety" website.
https://onsafety.cpsc.govCareer Opportunities
To carry out its mission, the CPSC relies on attorneys and paralegal specialists, compliance officers, economists, engineers, IT specialists, product safety investigators, program analysts, statisticians, toxicologists and pharmacologists and chemists, and other skilled professionals.
http://www.cpsc.gov/en/About-CPSC/JobIn 2018, the CPSC ranked 14th among 29 small agencies in the Partnership for Public Service's Best Places To Work Agency Rankings.
http://bestplacestowork.org/BPTW/rankings/detail/SK00Contact Information
Contact information for specific offices and other public information are available on the CPSC's website.
https://www.cpsc.gov/About-CPSC/Contact-Information/Contact-Specific-Offices-and-Public-InformationData
The CPSC makes it data, deliberations, and decisions accessible to consumers, developers, and stakeholders.
https://www.cpsc.gov/DataFire Safety
Several generations living in a home increases the need for fire safe practices. To learn more, download the multigenerational fire safety toolkit from the "Neighborhood Safety Network Toolkit" web page.
https://www.cpsc.gov/safety-education/neighborhood-safety-network/toolkits/fire-safetyFreedom of Information Act (FOIA)
The Electronic Freedom of Information Act Amendments of 1996 require Federal agencies to use electronic information technology to foster access to and availability of FOIA documents.
https://www.cpsc.gov/Newsroom/FOIA | Email: cpsc-foia@cpsc.govThe CPSC informs the public by using various means: local and national media coverage, publication of booklets and product alerts, responses to FOIA requests, and the National Injury Information Clearinghouse. The agency also maintains its public information center, website, and telephone hotline for the same purpose.
http://www.cpsc.gov/newsroom/foia/guide-to-public-informationFrequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
The CPSC posts answers to FAQs on its website.
https://www.cpsc.gov/About-CPSC/Contact-InformationHotline
The Commission operates a toll-free consumer product safety hotline in English and Spanish, on weekdays from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Phone, 800-638-2772. TTY, 301-595-7054.
Injury Statistics
The CPSC posts injury statistics and technical reports by product category and by hazard category on its website.
https://www.cpsc.gov/Research--StatisticsLanguage Assistance
Read Spanish more easily than English? Visit the en Español version of the CPSC website.
https://www.cpsc.gov/es/SeguridadConsumidorRead Vietnamese more easily than English? Visit the Tiếng Việt web pages of the CPSC website.
https://www.cpsc.gov/vi-VN/business-and-manufacturing-landingNewsroom
The online newsroom features CPSC data, Freedom of Information Act documents, press statements, recent news releases, videos, and a public calendar.
http://www.cpsc.gov/en/NewsroomOpen Government
The CPSC supports the Open Government initiative by promoting collaboration, participation, and transparency.
https://www.cpsc.gov/About-CPSC/Agency-Reports/open | Email: feedback@cpsc.govRecalls
Six Federal agencies with different jurisdictions are collaborating to make the American people more aware of defective, hazardous, and unsafe products.
http://www.recalls.govSafety Publications
Safety guides, safety alerts, and Neighborhood Safety Network posters are available online to download.
https://www.cpsc.gov/Safety-Education/Safety-Guides/General-Information/Publications-ListingSite Map
The website map allows visitors to look for specific topics or to browse content that aligns with their interests.
https://www.cpsc.gov/sitemapSocial Media
The CPSC has a Facebook account.
https://www.facebook.com/USCPSCThe CPSC tweets announcements and other newsworthy items on Twitter.
https://twitter.com/USCPSCThe CPSC posts videos on its YouTube channel.
https://www.youtube.com/uscpscSwimming Pools / Spas
Pool and spas safety information is available online.
http://www.poolsafely.govToolkits
The Neighborhood Safety Network has toolkits for all-terrain vehicle (ATV) safety, carbon monoxide (CO) awareness, child safety, multigenerational fire safety, and older adults, who are the fastest growing segment of the U.S. population.
https://www.cpsc.gov/Safety-Education/Neighborhood-Safety-Network/Neighborhood-Safety-Network-ToolkitsThe Sources of Information were updated 10–2019.