BEV BUTULA: Product safety database a click away

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The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission maintains a database website focusing on consumer product safety information, SaferProducts.gov.

According to the CPSC, “Through SaferProducts.gov, consumers, child service providers, health care professionals, government officials and public safety entities can submit reports of harm (Reports) involving consumer products. Manufacturers (including importers) and private labelers identified in Reports will receive a copy of the Report, and have the opportunity to comment on them. Completed Reports and manufacturer comments are published online at www.SaferProducts.gov for anyone to search.”

The website allows the researcher to browse by category (e.g. home, toys, babies, etc.) or conduct an advanced search. The advanced search option permits the user to refine the search by injury information, age of victim, date, brand, product, and location. The researcher can also limit the search results to just product recalls or reports.

The FAQ page addresses numerous questions for both the public and manufacturers. The U.S. Government Accountability Office also issued a report in March titled, “Awareness, Use, and Usefulness of SaferProducts.gov.”