Judy HartmanProduct Safety OfficerBC RegionHealth Canada

Corded Window Covering Products

Definition

“Corded Window Covering Product” – interior window covering that incorporates a bead chain, cord or any type of flexible looped device in its operation.

Includes mini blinds, vertical blinds, roman shades, pleated shades, cellular shades, roll-up blinds, and curtains.

Incident Data

27 deaths and 22 near misses in Canada since 1986. Children 10 months to 4 years of age.

1 to 3 incidents per year in Canada since 1993.

U.S. CPSC is aware of 200 deaths between 1990 and 2004.

Examples of Canadian Incidents

Quebec 2006 - Child’s crib was beside vertical blinds with beaded chain loop, strangulation fatality

Alberta 2007 - Child was playing in living room, climbed on the back of sofa, entangled in chain, strangulation fatality

Ontario 2007 – In retail store, child climbed up on ledge, inserted head into looped chain, fell off ledge and hung before caregiver intervened, no injury.

Strangulation Scenarios

Also when a child climbs onto furniture or a window ledge and gains access to cords

Most incidents involve a child in a bed or crib

Hazardous Looped Cords

Multiple cords connected by one tassel

Inner cord loopsContinuous loop pull cords and bead chains

Hazardous Non-Looped Cords

Children can strangle in non-looped cords left long and dangling:

They can become entangled in the cords.

They can insert their head into loop formed when cords are knotted together

Regulatory Proposal

Amend Part II of Schedule I to the Hazardous Products Act and create the Corded Window Coverings Regulations.Proposed Regulations reference standard: CAN/CSA Z600 Safety of Corded Window Covering Products CAN/CSA Z600 revision likely published in fall 2008. Standard referenced “as amended from time to time.”Health Canada participates on the Canadian and US Standards committees.

Requirements (cont.)

Hang tags and bottom rail labels describe strangulation hazard and how to avoid itLabelling and instructions must be in English and French HC contact info (toll free phone number) on labels, and either this number or web address on instructions

Requirements

If there is a continuous loop pull cord, it must have a tension deviceTension device must be attached to cord by manufacturerInstructions must show how to install tension device

Requirements (cont.)

If product has inner cords that can be pulled out, stop devices must be attached to keep large inner cord loop from forming

Performance testing required for these devices

Onus on user to adjust distance of cord stops for adjustable-length stock products

Requirements (cont.)

Products can have cord release devices (aka break away devices)

These connect ends of pull cords and release if force applied inside loop

Performance testing required

Requirements (cont.)

Requirements (cont.)

Requirements

Limits the lead content of the product to 0.2% per weight (200 mg/kg)

Four year record keeping requirement for industry

Prohibition of direct or indirect reference to the Act or the Regulations on the product labelling

Next Steps

Continue educational initiatives

Inform and educate industry about requirements when regulations come into force

Begin enforcement activities

Safety Tips

Never put cribs or beds near blinds and curtains with cords.Keep furniture that children can climb up on, like sofas or bookcases, away from blind and curtain cords.Cut cords short when blinds are fully down or when curtains are fully closed.Do not leave blind or curtain cords hanging. Keep cords high and out of reach of children.Replace corded window coverings with cordless ones.Never tie knots in cords to form a loop.

Contact Information

Consumer Product SafetyPhone: 604-666-5003Toll Free: 1-866-662-0666Fax: 604-666-5988Email: Bby_ProdSafe@hc-sc.gc.caWeb: www.healthcanada.gc.ca/blindcords

Corded Window Covering Products

Thank you!

Judy HartmanProduct Safety OfficerBC RegionHealth Canada