Corded Window Covering Products - BC Injury Research and ... Hartman.pdf · 11/4/2008 · type of...
Transcript of Corded Window Covering Products - BC Injury Research and ... Hartman.pdf · 11/4/2008 · type of...
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: [email protected]: www.healthcanada.gc.ca/blindcords
Corded Window Covering Products
Thank you!
Judy HartmanProduct Safety OfficerBC RegionHealth Canada