More than one year ago, the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a warning concerning liquid laundry packets. They are designed for convenience and ease of use. However, they are also filled with highly concentrated chemicals that can be dangerous if a child swallows them.
Since that time, some manufacturers have implemented changes to improve safety. They include Dial, Procter & Gamble, Sun Products and Cot ‘n Wash. The CPSC would like to see more companies step up to help consumers prevent defective product injuries.
One change has been to include warning labels in several spots on the product — such as “Keep Contents Out of Eyes” and “Keep Out of Reach of Children.” Some stores even have warning posters located near the laundry packets.
Manufacturers are also making changes to the packaging. One of the issues is that the packets may look like candy or a toy to a young child. Some manufacturers have changed the packets so that you can’t see through them.
Beyond that, even more changes are being put into effect, for instance, creating safety standards. The organization overseeing this process is ASTM International, a leader in developing international voluntary consensus standards. Manufacturers are looking into ways to make it more difficult for children to open the containers. They are also researching for ways to reduce the toxicity of the product.
CPSC knows of one case where a 7-month-old died after swallowing the soap. They have received approximately 1,230 reports of children injuring themselves — not only from swallowing the packet, but also the chemical getting onto their skin or in their eyes. The Poison Helpline reports getting close to 17,500 calls regarding incidents with the product.
When someone is seriously or fatally injured as a result of a dangerous or defective product, a claim may be filed against the manufacturer. To learn about one’s rights and legal options, the next step is to contact an attorney. Gacovino, Lake & Associates has a long history of dealing with defective products. Fill out an online contact form for more information.
