CPSC Conducts Workshops To Create Database, Viewable as Webcast
The Consumer Product Safety Commission is conducting public workshops in order to develop a publicly searchable database. The creation of the database is a requirement of the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act of 2008 and will consist of a compilation of consumer incident reports. The workshops will be held over two days, January 11 and 12. The workshops will cover five topics: Data Analysis and Reporting, Reports of Harm (incident reporting form), Manufacturer Notification and Response, Additional Database Content, and Materially Inaccurate Information. According to the CPSC's schedule, Data Analysis and Reports of Harm will be presented on January 11 from 9 a.m. to noon and 1 to 4 p.m. respectively. Manufacturer Notification, Additional Database Content and Materially Inaccurate Information will be presented on January 12 from 9 to noon, 1 to 2:20, and 2:30 to 4 p.m. respectively. The schedule, along with other information, can be found at the on line registration page, http://www.cpsc.gov/cgibin/dbworkshop.aspx . The workshops can be viewed via webcast at the CPSC's website, http://www.cpsc.gov/webcast/index.html . No registration is required to view the workshops by webcast.
After implementation, the database could prove to be a valuable tool to both adjusters and forensic investigators. It is easy to forsee using the database to establish a history of problems with a particular product. Moreover, such a history would not only be useful in identifying problem products but also identifying defective design methods and criteria. Such information would be extremely valuable in subrogation cases involved in litigation.
