AHAM commends the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) for taking action on June 2, using its new authority, to ensure that all hair dryers are safe by containing integral immersion protection to prevent electrocution if the product is dropped into the sink or bath.
AHAM members helped develop and have complied for many years with a voluntary safety standard requiring this protection and we supported the CPSC action to deem any product that doesn't use immersion protection as a “substantial product hazard.”
Noncompliant products, if destined for import into the United States, may be stopped at foreign or US ports before they even enter the US stream of commerce. The rule that was finalized by CPSC makes transparent a position that CPSC has had for many years, but now formalizes the process whereby stakeholders may comment through a rulemaking process. Additionally, under the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, CPSC was provided funding for the policing of ports and products, adding teeth to the enforcement of this new law. AHAM supported the CPSC’s desire to formalize the process under Section 15J, and added substantial technical support to this specific hair dryer rule. AHAM encourages the CPSC to continue to use this process in a focused and judicious manner.
