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second nature to you.
What voluntary
and mandatory standards apply to the
product? When and where was it tested?
What was it tested for? CPSIA? Prop
65? Phthalates? Toy Safety? UL2056 (for
lithium ion)? Is it UL certified or certified
by another Nationally Recognized Testing
Lab (NRTL)? Ask to see the full copies
of test reports and give them to a person
qualified to understand what they say. Are
they current? Are they thorough? Were
tests for all seven phthalates conducted?
Which toy safety (ASTM F963) tests were
conducted? Does the test report include
color photos of the products tested? Do
the photos match exactly with the product
you plan to buy? Get an actual sample
of the product and hold it in your hand.
Does it seem well-made? Is the fit and
finish that of a quality product? Can you
easily pull it apart? Are there sharp edges?
Is it a product you have experience with
and knowledge of its material, design
and construction? Are you aware of the
technology used and the key quality
differentiators with that product? Would
you be able to differentiate between a
high-quality, well-made, safe product
and one with lesser quality? Sometimes
the differences are hidden inside,
especially with electronics where the
protective circuits need the highest quality
components that won’t fail under stress.
These are just some of the questions
you should be asking yourself for
every product you sell. Remember that
when you select a product for your
customer—particularly one that will be
decorated with your client’s brand or
logo—your client is trusting that you
have the professional skills, knowledge
and experience not to put their brand
and logo in harm’s way by selecting an
inappropriate, unsafe or non-compliant
product. Of course you wouldn’t do that
intentionally, but once you develop a
true product safety culture you will begin
thinking of that responsibility differently,
as if you were deciding on a toy for your
own newborn infant. That’s the level of
caring and diligence your clients deserve.
Buy from the most reliable factories and
suppliers you can find but don’t put blind
faith in anyone.
10
When you speak to your supplier
about safety and compliance,
speak to the person in charge
of safety and compliance, not a customer
service rep or a salesperson.
Compliance
can be complex and nuanced based on the
particular circumstances, even for those us of
who deal with it every day. Over the past nine
years, I have conducted dozens of workshops
and training classes throughout the industry
to educate and raise awareness on the basics
of product safety and compliance in the
promotional industry. But merely attending
a class likemine or reading froma website
description or an FAQdoesn’t qualify anyone
to give advice. Always speak to an expert
when seeking actionable information about
product safety and compliance.
11
Regardless of the job title of the
person you speak to, do not rely
solely
on what that person tells
you or what you may read on their website.
As noted,
you
are ultimately responsible.
12
Learn how to read a test report.
Speaking about test reports, this
is a good time to reiterate a topic
that has caused more misunderstandings
and “gotchas” than anything else in the
promotional world: worthless test reports.
Here’s what happens: You ask for a test
report and your supplier or factory sends
you what they have. It might be for the
product you are considering, or it might be
for a similar one or for a different product
altogether. The test may be from a CPSC-
certified lab or not. The report may be
complete or not—with some tests covered
and other ones not. Or, it could be for
European standards instead of U.S. It may
include a photo and may not. The point is,
tests are expensive and most of the people
handling these reports are not experts.
So buyer beware. Learn how to read a
test report and know what you’re looking
for. Or find someone in your company
who is an expert and verify that the tests
are complete, in date and applicable to
the specific product and color you’re
purchasing. PPAI has presented webinars
on this topic which are available online
to members. There’s also a monograph
to accompany the webinar that explains
step-by-step how to read a test report.
13
Adopt a sensible risk
management strategy.
Quality
and compliance is critical but it
isn’t your only job. You have to find a way
to manage this risk within the context of
your time available. You already do this in
your everyday family life without thinking
about it as a formal strategy. You probably
devote much more time selecting healthy
foods for your children than you might
spend deciding what outfit to wear in the
morning. One has a much higher risk
factor than the other. Similarly, when you
don’t have extensive time to research a
particular purchase, you probably pick
the brand with which you’ve had the best
experience. So you already know a lot
about risk management. How does that
translate to our industry? Devote the most
time to the highest-risk products and the
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The Case For Revisiting Product Safety
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FEATURE