Public Comment

 

From: Bk1492@aol.com [mailto:Bk1492@aol.com]
Sent: Monday, May 15, 2006 7:09 AM
To: Stevenson, Todd A.
Subject: public comment on federal register of 5/15/06 vol 71 #93 pg 28017

fed reg doc e6 7292
garage door issues - we all want to know when any problems have developed with any brand of garage door. please make sure all such accidents that happen are reported to your agency and posted on the internet. it is time that any irregularities are given to the public instead of covered up.  it should be mandatory to report any irregularities in operation of any garage door.
b. sachau
15 elm st
florham park nj 07932

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CPSC Staff Response

Dear B. Sachau –

Thank you for your comment on the federal register notice of 5/15/2006.  Section 15(b) of the Consumer Product Safety Act (CPSA) requires every manufacturer, importer, distributor and retailer of a consumer product distributed in commerce who obtains information which reasonably supports the conclusion that the product fails to comply with an applicable consumer product safety rule, fails to comply with a voluntary standard upon which the Commission relies, contains a defect which could create a substantial product hazard or creates an unreasonable risk of serious injury or death to immediately inform the Commission.  This regulation applies to garage door and garage door operator manufacturers as well as to manufacturers of more than 15,000 other types of consumer products under the agency’s jurisdiction.  If the Compliance staff makes a preliminary determination that a substantial product hazard exists, the staff works with the manufacturer to develop an effective corrective action plan to notify consumers about the recall of that product.  All recalls are regularly posted at CPSC’s Web site at www.cpsc.gov.

  

In addition, consumers can view on-line cases through our National Electronic Injury Surveillance System (NEISS) that can be accessed on our home page simply by entering the words “NEISS home” and following through to the query option.  For example, a query on automatic garage doors would require the product code 0138.  After entering the year 1/1/04 – 12/31/04 and choosing body part “finger,” you would learn that there were 25 cases of finger injuries associated with automatic garage doors for 2004.  This corresponds to an estimated 1,221 injuries across the U.S.  Also, you have the option to view a summary of the 25 cases.

If I can be of further assistance in regard to your garage door issues, please do not hesitate to contact me at 301-504-7664.

Renae Rauchschwalbe

CPSC Compliance Officer