Appliances, furnishings and other household items regulated by the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) enjoy a longer shelf life than products in other categories. While this lengthy life span offers many consumer benefits, the Q3 Index found that it is a key contributing factor in the industry's recall rates. According to the data, numerous household goods recalled over the last five years were actually manufactured and sold in the 1990s. Compared to their newer counterparts, these older products have a significantly higher risk of overheating and fire - the leading cause of recalls in this product category. To put the hazard into perspective, 15 million appliance units have been recalled due to fire concerns since 2010.

“It’s evident from the Q3 Index that age and deterioration should be a key consideration for all household goods manufacturers,” said Kevin Pollack, vice president, Stericycle. “Products in this category are also growing more technologically complex. These advances give manufacturers the opportunity to design early-warning systems, but with more bells and whistles, there is also more that can go wrong. Given this trend, it’s essential that companies have a plan for executing a recall — and continually update it to keep up with the latest advancements.”

The Q3 Index found that children and infants are particularly vulnerable to recalls. Children’s products comprised 12 percent of the quarter’s total consumer events, and more than half of all clothing recalled in the last five years was designed for children and infants. In addition, the report documented that the same root causes are creating problems year after year. For example, drawstrings on children’s clothing have been reported to become entangled in playgrounds, cars and doors, causing strangulation or dragging hazards for children and toddlers. These types of issues resulted in 26 reported deaths and prompted a ruling from the CPSC.

Adding to this complexity is the active resale market associated with children’s clothing and products, which can make it difficult for retailers to stay abreast of recalls and other regulatory developments.

“The CPSC can levy financial penalties against businesses that have sold a recalled product, even if it was unintentional. With recalls frequently initiated more than 10 years after the original sale, navigating this environment requires significant time and resources for both the manufacturer and the retailer,” added Pollack.

Source: Stericycle ExpertSOLUTIONS