We live in a complex and technical world in which we expect the products we purchase and use to be designed and manufactured in such a manner that they are safe for our use. We also expect that the sellers and manufacturers of products will give us reasonable warnings of dangerous characteristics of their products.

Unfortunately, not all designers, manufacturers and sellers of products live up to these expectations and the requirements of our laws with regard to their products.

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from more than 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency’s jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $700 billion annually. The CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical or mechanical hazard or can injure children. The CPSC works to ensure the safety of consumer products – such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals – and has contributed significantly to the 30 percent decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.