Request for Information Regarding Crib Bumpers, 7765-7766 [2016-03013]

Download as PDF Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 30 / Tuesday, February 16, 2016 / Notices and activities of SDs and MSPs as Commission registrants. Issued in Washington, DC, on February 10, 2016, by the Commission. Christopher J. Kirkpatrick, Secretary of the Commission. Appendix to Order Authorizing the National Futures Association as a Commission Designee for Direct Electronic Access to Data in Swap Data Repositories—Commission Voting Summary On this matter, Chairman Massad and Commissioners Bowen and Giancarlo voted in the affirmative. No Commissioner voted in the negative. [FR Doc. 2016–03064 Filed 2–12–16; 8:45 am] all comments, without change, to https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal identifiers, contact information, or other personal information. Do not submit confidential business information, trade secret information, or other sensitive or protected information that you do not want to be available to the public. If furnished at all, submit such information by mail/hand delivery/ courier. Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or comments, go to: https:// www.regulations.gov. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION Timothy P. Smith, Project Manager, Directorate for Engineering Sciences, U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, 5 Research Place, Rockville, MD 20850; telephone: 301– 987–2557; email: TSmith@cpsc.gov. [Docket No. CPSC–2012–0034] SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Request for Information Regarding Crib Bumpers I. Background BILLING CODE 6351–01–P U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: The Consumer Product Safety Commission (‘‘CPSC’’ or ‘‘Commission’’) is seeking information regarding the safety benefits of crib bumpers, whether safety hazards are associated with crib bumpers, existing safety standards that apply to crib bumpers, and potential performance requirements, testing, and other standards that may reduce the risk of injury, if any, associated with crib bumpers. SUMMARY: DATES: Submit comments by April 18, 2016. You may submit comments, identified by Docket No. CPSC–2012– 0034, by any of the following methods: Electronic Submissions: Submit electronic comments to the Federal eRulemaking Portal at: https:// www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. The Commission does not accept comments submitted by electronic mail (email), except through www.regulations.gov. Written Submissions: Submit written comments by mail/hand delivery/ courier to: Office of the Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Room 820, 4330 East-West Highway, Bethesda, MD 20814; telephone (301) 504–7923. Instructions: All submissions must include the agency name and docket number for this notice. CPSC may post mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES ADDRESSES: VerDate Sep<11>2014 22:15 Feb 12, 2016 Jkt 238001 The Consumer Product Safety Commission (‘‘CPSC’’ or ‘‘Commission’’) has granted a petition to initiate rulemaking regarding crib bumpers.1 To determine the need for and appropriate scope of such a rulemaking, the Commission is investigating whether crib bumpers pose a safety hazard to infants and, if so, what performance standards or requirements could mitigate that risk. As part of this effort, CPSC staff has reviewed incident data to identify what features or characteristics of crib bumpers create a safety hazard, if any; is evaluating existing safety standards that apply to crib bumpers and similar products; and is testing various types of crib bumpers. In this Request for Information (‘‘RFI’’), CPSC seeks input from interested parties to supplement the information, standards, and data currently available to the Commission. CPSC would find specific data regarding the safety risks and benefits associated with various types of crib bumpers and the empirical basis 1 On May 9, 2012, the Juvenile Products Manufacturers Association, Inc. (‘‘JPMA’’) filed a petition requesting CPSC initiate rulemaking under sections 7 and 9 of the Consumer Product Safety Act (‘‘CPSA’’; 15 U.S.C. 2051–2089) to create a performance standard for crib bumpers to distinguish ‘‘hazardous ‘soft’ pillow-like’’ crib bumpers from ‘‘traditional’’ crib bumpers. See 77 FR 37836. On May 24, 2013, the Commission granted the petition, but adopted a broader framework than JPMA requested, directing staff to examine the safety benefits and risks associated with crib bumpers, evaluate existing standards, identify test methods and performance requirements that reduce any identified safety risks, and consider all regulatory options for addressing the risk of injury associated with crib bumpers. PO 00000 Frm 00024 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 4703 7765 for, and effectiveness of, existing safety standards particularly helpful. II. Information Requested To supplement the information currently available to CPSC, we request input relevant to the following questions: • What test data or other information is available to identify the specific features or characteristics of a crib bumper that might contribute to a risk of suffocation? • What objective, repeatable test methods, procedures or measures exist to assess the firmness of bedding, mattresses, and other possible sleep surfaces? To what extent, if any, can such tests, procedures or measures be used to assess whether these materials present a risk of suffocation by smothering? • To what extent does the test device specified in Australian/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 8811.1:2013, Methods of Testing Infant Products, Method 1: Sleep Surfaces—Test for Firmness,2 accurately and reliably assess the potential risk of suffocation associated with a sleep surface? • To what extent would a test to accurately and reliably identify hazardous soft bedding or sleep surfaces be relevant to vertically-mounted surfaces, such as crib bumpers? • What safety benefits do crib bumpers offer to consumers? What data are available to demonstrate such benefits? • What, if any, evidence is there to indicate that ‘‘rebreathing’’ of carbon dioxide occurs with crib bumpers and presents a risk of suffocation? • The current U.S. voluntary standard covering crib bumpers is ASTM F1917– 12, Standard Consumer Safety Performance Specification for Infant Bedding and Related Accessories (‘‘ASTM F1917–12’’).3 Are there other standards, aside from state or regional bans, that include performance requirements for crib bumpers? • ASTM F1917–12 includes a requirement that essentially limits the compressed thickness of crib bumpers to 2 inches. What evidence exists to support this requirement, and what, if any, association exists between this ASTM requirement and the risk of infant suffocation? • What alternative or additional requirements beyond those specified in 2 The standard is available from Standards Australia Limited, GPO Box 476, Sydney, NSW 2011 and Standards New Zealand, Private Bag 2439, Wellington 6140, www.standards.co.nz. 3 The standard is available from ASTM International at 100 Bar Harbor Drive, P.O. Box 0700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428, https:// www.astm.org/cpsc.htm. E:\FR\FM\16FEN1.SGM 16FEN1 7766 Federal Register / Vol. 81, No. 30 / Tuesday, February 16, 2016 / Notices ASTM F1917–12 might address the risk of infant suffocation? • To what extent could a mesh-like or other ‘‘breathable’’ material present a risk of suffocation to an infant if the infant’s face were pressed into the material? What specific characteristics would make a bumper ‘‘breathable,’’ and to what extent, if any, would such a bumper address the risk of suffocation? What data or research support these conclusions? • Are incident data or other objective safety information or research available that describe potential hazards associated with mesh-like bumpers or liners? Are similar data or information available on so-called ‘‘vertical bumpers,’’ which essentially are a series of small bumpers that individually cover each crib slat, and other bumper alternatives? Dated: February 10, 2016. Todd A. Stevenson, Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission. [FR Doc. 2016–03013 Filed 2–12–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6355–01–P CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION [Docket No. CPSC–2012–0019] Proposed Extension of Approval of Information Collection; Comment Request—Standards for Full-Size Baby Cribs and Non-Full Size Baby Cribs; Compliance Form Consumer Product Safety Commission. ACTION: Notice. AGENCY: mstockstill on DSK4VPTVN1PROD with NOTICES FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: As required by the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (44 U.S.C. Chapter 35), the Consumer Product Safety Commission (‘‘CPSC’’ or ‘‘Commission’’) requests comments on a proposed extension of approval of information collection requirements regarding a form that will be used to measure child care centers’ compliance with the CPSC safety standards for fullsize and non-full-size cribs (16 CFR parts 1219 and 1220). The Commission will consider all comments received in response to this notice before requesting an extension of this collection of information from the Office of Management and Budget (‘‘OMB’’). DATES: The Office of the Secretary must receive comments not later than April 18, 2016. ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by Docket No. CPSC–2012– 0019, by any of the following methods: SUMMARY: VerDate Sep<11>2014 22:15 Feb 12, 2016 Jkt 238001 Electronic Submissions: Submit electronic comments to the Federal eRulemaking Portal at: https:// www.regulations.gov. Follow the instructions for submitting comments. The Commission does not accept comments submitted by electronic mail (email), except through www.regulations.gov. The Commission encourages you to submit electronic comments by using the Federal eRulemaking Portal, as described above. Written Submissions: Submit written submissions by mail/hand delivery/ courier to: Office of the Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Room 820, 4330 East West Highway, Bethesda, MD 20814; telephone (301) 504–7923. Instructions: All submissions received must include the agency name and docket number for this notice. All comments received may be posted without change, including any personal identifiers, contact information, or other personal information provided, to: https://www.regulations.gov. Do not submit confidential business information, trade secret information, or other sensitive or protected information that you do not want to be available to the public. If furnished at all, such information should be submitted in writing. Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or comments received, go to: https:// www.regulations.gov, and insert the docket number CPSC–2012–0019, into the ‘‘Search’’ box, and follow the prompts. Robert H. Squibb, Consumer Product Safety Commission, 4330 East West Highway, Bethesda, MD 20814; (301) 504–7815, or by email to: rsquibb@ cpsc.gov. CPSC seeks to renew the following currently approved collection of information: Title: Safety Standards for Full-Size Baby Cribs and Non-Full Size Baby Cribs-Verification of Compliance Form. OMB Number: 3041–0161. Type of Review: Renewal of collection. Frequency of Response: On occasion. Affected Public: Child care centers. Estimated Number of Respondents: 74 child care centers. Estimated Time per Response: .25 hour for each child care center to provide the information on the form. Total Estimated Annual Burden: 18.5 hours (.25 hour × 74 child care centers). General Description of Collection: CPSC staff intends to visit child care centers to measure compliance with the SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: PO 00000 Frm 00025 Fmt 4703 Sfmt 9990 crib safety standards. Information from those visits would be recorded on a ‘‘Verification of Compliance Form.’’ CPSC investigators or designated state or local officials will use the form, which will be filled out entirely at the site during the normal course of the visit. The Commission will use the information to measure compliance with the crib safety standards and to develop an enforcement strategy. A pilot program was conducted in 2012, which included visits to approximately 50 child care centers in six states. Results of the pilot program were used to expand the program in 2013, to seven states and 112 inspections. CPSC conducted the program in 2015, in three states, which included 47 inspections. CPSC projects that four states will participate in the program in 2016 and approximately 74 inspections will be conducted. Request for Comments The Commission solicits written comments from all interested persons about the proposed collection of information. The Commission specifically solicits information relevant to the following topics: —Whether the collection of information described above is necessary for the proper performance of the Commission’s functions, including whether the information would have practical utility; —Whether the estimated burden of the proposed collection of information is accurate; —Whether the quality, utility, and clarity of the information to be collected could be enhanced; and —Whether the burden imposed by the collection of information could be minimized by use of automated, electronic or other technological collection techniques, or other forms of information technology. Dated: February 9, 2016. Todd A. Stevenson, Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission. [FR Doc. 2016–02963 Filed 2–12–16; 8:45 am] BILLING CODE 6355–01–P E:\FR\FM\16FEN1.SGM 16FEN1

Agencies

[Federal Register Volume 81, Number 30 (Tuesday, February 16, 2016)]
[Notices]
[Pages 7765-7766]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2016-03013]


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CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION

[Docket No. CPSC-2012-0034]


Request for Information Regarding Crib Bumpers

AGENCY: U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.

ACTION: Notice.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Consumer Product Safety Commission (``CPSC'' or 
``Commission'') is seeking information regarding the safety benefits of 
crib bumpers, whether safety hazards are associated with crib bumpers, 
existing safety standards that apply to crib bumpers, and potential 
performance requirements, testing, and other standards that may reduce 
the risk of injury, if any, associated with crib bumpers.

DATES: Submit comments by April 18, 2016.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by Docket No. CPSC-2012-
0034, by any of the following methods:
    Electronic Submissions: Submit electronic comments to the Federal 
eRulemaking Portal at: https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the 
instructions for submitting comments. The Commission does not accept 
comments submitted by electronic mail (email), except through 
www.regulations.gov.
    Written Submissions: Submit written comments by mail/hand delivery/
courier to: Office of the Secretary, Consumer Product Safety 
Commission, Room 820, 4330 East-West Highway, Bethesda, MD 20814; 
telephone (301) 504-7923.
    Instructions: All submissions must include the agency name and 
docket number for this notice. CPSC may post all comments, without 
change, to https://www.regulations.gov, including any personal 
identifiers, contact information, or other personal information. Do not 
submit confidential business information, trade secret information, or 
other sensitive or protected information that you do not want to be 
available to the public. If furnished at all, submit such information 
by mail/hand delivery/courier.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments, go to: https://www.regulations.gov.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Timothy P. Smith, Project Manager, 
Directorate for Engineering Sciences, U.S. Consumer Product Safety 
Commission, 5 Research Place, Rockville, MD 20850; telephone: 301-987-
2557; email: TSmith@cpsc.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:

I. Background

    The Consumer Product Safety Commission (``CPSC'' or ``Commission'') 
has granted a petition to initiate rulemaking regarding crib 
bumpers.\1\ To determine the need for and appropriate scope of such a 
rulemaking, the Commission is investigating whether crib bumpers pose a 
safety hazard to infants and, if so, what performance standards or 
requirements could mitigate that risk. As part of this effort, CPSC 
staff has reviewed incident data to identify what features or 
characteristics of crib bumpers create a safety hazard, if any; is 
evaluating existing safety standards that apply to crib bumpers and 
similar products; and is testing various types of crib bumpers. In this 
Request for Information (``RFI''), CPSC seeks input from interested 
parties to supplement the information, standards, and data currently 
available to the Commission. CPSC would find specific data regarding 
the safety risks and benefits associated with various types of crib 
bumpers and the empirical basis for, and effectiveness of, existing 
safety standards particularly helpful.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \1\ On May 9, 2012, the Juvenile Products Manufacturers 
Association, Inc. (``JPMA'') filed a petition requesting CPSC 
initiate rulemaking under sections 7 and 9 of the Consumer Product 
Safety Act (``CPSA''; 15 U.S.C. 2051-2089) to create a performance 
standard for crib bumpers to distinguish ``hazardous `soft' pillow-
like'' crib bumpers from ``traditional'' crib bumpers. See 77 FR 
37836. On May 24, 2013, the Commission granted the petition, but 
adopted a broader framework than JPMA requested, directing staff to 
examine the safety benefits and risks associated with crib bumpers, 
evaluate existing standards, identify test methods and performance 
requirements that reduce any identified safety risks, and consider 
all regulatory options for addressing the risk of injury associated 
with crib bumpers.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

II. Information Requested

    To supplement the information currently available to CPSC, we 
request input relevant to the following questions:
     What test data or other information is available to 
identify the specific features or characteristics of a crib bumper that 
might contribute to a risk of suffocation?
     What objective, repeatable test methods, procedures or 
measures exist to assess the firmness of bedding, mattresses, and other 
possible sleep surfaces? To what extent, if any, can such tests, 
procedures or measures be used to assess whether these materials 
present a risk of suffocation by smothering?
     To what extent does the test device specified in 
Australian/New Zealand Standard AS/NZS 8811.1:2013, Methods of Testing 
Infant Products, Method 1: Sleep Surfaces--Test for Firmness,\2\ 
accurately and reliably assess the potential risk of suffocation 
associated with a sleep surface?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \2\ The standard is available from Standards Australia Limited, 
GPO Box 476, Sydney, NSW 2011 and Standards New Zealand, Private Bag 
2439, Wellington 6140, www.standards.co.nz.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     To what extent would a test to accurately and reliably 
identify hazardous soft bedding or sleep surfaces be relevant to 
vertically-mounted surfaces, such as crib bumpers?
     What safety benefits do crib bumpers offer to consumers? 
What data are available to demonstrate such benefits?
     What, if any, evidence is there to indicate that 
``rebreathing'' of carbon dioxide occurs with crib bumpers and presents 
a risk of suffocation?
     The current U.S. voluntary standard covering crib bumpers 
is ASTM F1917-12, Standard Consumer Safety Performance Specification 
for Infant Bedding and Related Accessories (``ASTM F1917-12'').\3\ Are 
there other standards, aside from state or regional bans, that include 
performance requirements for crib bumpers?
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

    \3\ The standard is available from ASTM International at 100 Bar 
Harbor Drive, P.O. Box 0700, West Conshohocken, PA 19428, https://www.astm.org/cpsc.htm.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------

     ASTM F1917-12 includes a requirement that essentially 
limits the compressed thickness of crib bumpers to 2 inches. What 
evidence exists to support this requirement, and what, if any, 
association exists between this ASTM requirement and the risk of infant 
suffocation?
     What alternative or additional requirements beyond those 
specified in

[[Page 7766]]

ASTM F1917-12 might address the risk of infant suffocation?
     To what extent could a mesh-like or other ``breathable'' 
material present a risk of suffocation to an infant if the infant's 
face were pressed into the material? What specific characteristics 
would make a bumper ``breathable,'' and to what extent, if any, would 
such a bumper address the risk of suffocation? What data or research 
support these conclusions?
     Are incident data or other objective safety information or 
research available that describe potential hazards associated with 
mesh-like bumpers or liners? Are similar data or information available 
on so-called ``vertical bumpers,'' which essentially are a series of 
small bumpers that individually cover each crib slat, and other bumper 
alternatives?

    Dated: February 10, 2016.
Todd A. Stevenson,
Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission.
[FR Doc. 2016-03013 Filed 2-12-16; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 6355-01-P
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