What is a Product Recall?
A request from a manufacturer to return a product after the discovery of safety issues or defects that might endanger the consumer or put the user at risk.
As a public sector risk manager, I am always looking out for product recall information and I receive e-mails that alert me about them on a periodic basis. These recalls typically involve various vehicles (the vehicle’s brakes or exhaust are most often the culprits) or food products (usually it seems to be lettuce that is the guilty party). Sometimes a recalled product may become national news, but not always, so it is important to be aware of this information, especially if you work with children.
The most efficient way to research recalls is at the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission’s website. This federal agency is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction.
On the website, a quick search will indicate that many product recalls are recreation-related, especially if you search on recreation or even more specific categories, such as games, swimming pools/hot tubs or playgrounds. I encourage you to visit this website to sign up directly to receive direct recall alerts after clicking on CHOOSE YOUR RECALL E-MAILS.
This website is also a safety resource for information you can share with your staff and the public. You can print out notices to be posted at your workplace, distribute them as handouts or share news directly with your followers through social media (sharing is very simple). Overall, the user-friendly website provides a centralized resource about recalled products to assist the public both for at work and at home.
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
https://www.cpsc.gov - U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission/ Product Recalls
https://www.cpsc.gov/Recalls