PFWBS, and other Consumer Groups petitioned CPSC for mandatory standard to prohibit cords or to require safety guards.
Voluntary standard revised to require warnings on packaging. CPSC calls to limit cords to no longer than the neck circumference of a child is rejected as unfeasible. Chairman Tenenbaum said, "The new standard fell short of preventing window blind cord strangulation hazards citing the specific danger posed by operating cords…
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PFWBS and other consumer groups walk out of Window Covering Standard Development Process due to lack of transparency in the committee. Wrap-around testing results were not shared among the group leading the WCMA to pull sections out of the draft standard. Hazardous operational cords will continue to be manufactured.
Regulators In the U.S., Canada, and Europe Issue Joint Statement to the Window Covering Manufacturing Association (WCMA) calling for tougher standards. The industry promises a comprehensive revision.
In 2009, the ANSI standard was updated to address Roman shade inner cord hazards, which was (3% of accidents). CPSC and the Industry announced a recall of Roman shades and roll-up blinds. 13 children died in 2009
CPSC counts 18 children fatally strangled by cords on window coverings, many that had met the current safety standard.
In 2007, WCMA created a new ANSI standard in their 3rd attempt, which fell short of preventing operational cord deaths and injuries by allowing long hazardous cords on all product lines.
Letter sent to the U.S. CPSC alerting the agency of deadly non-compliant products that passed the industry standard such as, loops in cords created by cord joiners, accessible inner cords on Roman shades, and accessible inner cords on roll-up shades. 13 children were strangled, and 11 children were injured in…
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The PFWBS Mom-Approved™ program was initially developed to provide clarity to the marketplace. This is an unbiased safety testing program developed by safety experts outside of the window covering industry.