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Safetyzone Autumn 2020

Safetyzone

Welcome to the Autumn 2020 edition of Safetyzone, the Office of Fair Trading’s (OFT) product safety newsletter.

Features

National drive to find faulty Takata airbags

The Queensland Office of Fair Trading (OFT) has joined with consumer protection agencies from around Australia on a nation-wide compliance operation to find thousands of vehicles that still contain dangerous Takata airbags.

In Queensland, the operation ran from November 2019 to January 2020, and focussed on second hand motor dealers, auction houses and wreckers, checking they are doing the right thing under the Takata Recall Notice, and not passing the problem on to unsuspecting consumers.

In total OFT conducted 679 proactive compliance visits at second hand motor dealers, auction houses and wreckers and checked more than 20,300 vehicles. Of these vehicles, 105 were identified as being under active recall, including four which fell under critical recall. These 105 vehicles were removed from circulation. 

The recalled Takata airbags are dangerous because they degrade in heat and humidity. If a vehicle with one of these airbags is in an accident, even a minor one, the bag will deploy with so much force it may rupture the inflator housing, blasting metal shrapnel into the car causing potentially fatal injuries to drivers and passengers. 

As at January 2020, there were still more than 256,000 vehicles across Australia that need to have their airbags replaced, with almost 44,000 of those in Queensland, but we are particularly concerned about 11,196 of them nationally which have been identified as critical.

Whether you’re a consumer or a trader that owns or leases motor vehicles, we strongly recommend you check you do not have dangerous Takata airbags installed by checking the active or future recalls lists, or searching manufacturers’ websites.

For more information on the recall, visit the Product Safety Australia website.

More dangerous airbags in circulation

The compulsory Takata airbag recall has certainly been well publicised, but many don’t know that the models involved is an evolving story.

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) is now warning consumers about another faulty Takata airbag model. These airbags, which are fitted with a NADI 5-AT propellant, come with the same risk of fatal injuries by misdeploying in even a minor accident and propelling parts or metal fragments into the car at high speed.

If your car was manufactured between 1996 and 2000, you need to urgently check if your car is included in the new recall at Product Safety Australia.

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Top tips for safe Easter accommodation

Easter is coming and it’s a busy time for holiday makers hoping to squeeze in a good-weather getaway before winter hits.

To help you keep your family safe, we’ve listed our top tips for safe holiday accommodation below.

Bunk beds

Children love bunk beds, especially if they don’t have them at home.  You should always ensure the top bunk has guardrails and there are no gaps that could trap your child's head; the ladder is secure; kids don’t jump or play on the bunks; and that children aged nine years or younger only sleep on the bottom bunk.

Portable cots

You may have your own portacot, or you may be looking to rent or buy one. Safe portacots are just as important as safe cots for your little one. Always ensure for any portacot you’ll be using:

  • that it complies with the mandatory Australian standard (AS/NZS 2195)
  • the mesh is not torn or broken
  • the sides and ends are locked into place
  • any change table or bassinette is securely in place with no straps hanging inside the cot.

And NEVER add an extra mattress or other items in an attempt to make it softer or more comfortable. This can increase the risk of your child slipping between the mattress and flexible side and suffocating or getting a foot hold to climb out.

Blind and curtain cords

Tragically, children have died after becoming tangled in long cords. Always ensure all blind or curtain cords are out of reach of small children and that beds, cots and other furniture are not close enough for your child reach blind or curtain cords.

Pool and spa areas

Nothing beats supervision, but you should always ensure your children follow the safety rules and stay away from filter inlets and outlets, and that all pool toys or floating aids are safe.

Furniture

The safety precautions you take at home are even more important in holiday accommodation as you don’t know how stable the furniture is or if it is secured to a wall.

Don’t let children climb on furniture or open all the drawers; and don’t put tempting items such as feeding bottles, favourite toys and remote controls on tables or shelves.

Which car seat does your child need?

The type of child restraint you install will generally depend on the child's age, but you may need to consider the child's size as well.

Babies up to 6 months of age must be in a standards-compliant, rear-facing restraint that is properly fastened and adjusted. We recommend babies stay in a rear-facing restraint for as long as their size allows, and that you have the capsule installed by a professional.

Babies and children from 6 months and up to 4 years must be in an approved, standards compliant child restraint that is properly adjusted and fastened. The child restraint may be rear-facing or forward-facing with a built-in harness. However, we recommend babies and children stay in a rear-facing restraint for as long as their size allows.

Children aged 4 years and up to 7 years may be in an approved, standards compliant child restraint that is forward-facing with a built-in harness that is properly adjusted and fastened. They may also be in an approved, standards compliant booster seat secured with an adult lap-sash seatbelt or a fastened and adjusted H-Harness. However, research has indicated that the booster seat with an H-Harness option provides a lower level of safety in some types of crashes.

For more information, including when to move your child to the next type of restraint based on their size rather than their age, visit the Queensland Government website here.

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Bicycle Helmets

Bicycle helmets play a crucial role in protecting cyclists from significant head injuries and should be used regardless of the distance you intend to travel or location in which you plan to ride. A major study conducted by the University of New South Wales concluded that bicycle helmet use can reduce the odds of serious head injuries by almost 70%. These results highlight the importance of wearing a helmet that complies with the relevant mandatory safety standards whenever you ride a bike.

When choosing a helmet, you should ensure that it is the right size for you and should not move on your head during normal use or obscure your vision. To be effective, a helmet must fit and be worn correctly.

Complying bicycle helmets must also be made from materials that remain stable as they age and are durable under normal use and when exposed to sunlight, extreme temperatures and rain. They must also be permanently and legibly marked to show the following:

  • The registered name and address of the manufacturer and/or Australian agent.
  • The materials used during construction.
  • The model and brand designation.
  • Identifying the front and rear of the helmet.
  • The helmet size, and
  • The month and year of manufacture.

Remember, if your helmet shows signs of damage or receives a severe blow, even if it seems undamaged, ensure you dispose of it and replace it.

If you are opting to purchase a second-hand bicycle helmet, ensure you check over the product carefully prior to buying to ensure it meets the above guidelines. Please refer to the mandatory standard for bicycle helmets for more information.

Beanbags - Ensure the Whole Family is Relaxing Safely

As cooler weather begins to make an appearance, so will some of our warmer comforts, such as bean bags.

While bean bags aren’t something we normally associate with danger, if they don’t meet the required safety standards or they are used incorrectly, they can cause devastating injuries.

What to look for

In Australia, bean bag safety is covered by Consumer Goods (Bean Bags) Safety Standard 2014. It states:

  • All bean bags—including baby bean bags—must have a warning prominently displayed that states they are not a safe sleeping surface for children under 12 months of age.
  • All openings that allow for the insertion or removal of filling must be fitted with a child resistant slider faster—usually a zipper with its tag removed—that locks into place to prevent easy opening.

The same rules apply other items that have an opening that allows filling to be accessed or escape such as:

  • aqua bean bags for swimming pools
  • chairs
  • cushions
  • pillows
  • lounges
  • footstools
  • futon mattresses
  • novelty cushions for children
  • nursing and therapeutic pillows and cushions
  • pet beds
  • stable tables.

Safe use

Babies and young children should only be allowed to use bean bags under the strictest of supervision, with cots that meet Australian standards the safest place for babies to sleep.

The risks to small children of incorrect or unsupervised use of bean bags include:

  • suffocation—if a bean bag is not sufficiently firm to support the infant’s head and neck, the child can sink into the beanbag which in turn can restrict their breathing.
  • crawling inside a bean bag cover and having their breathing restricted by the bag and its contents.
  • inhaling and choking on the polystyrene beads used as filling in bean bags.

For more information on the Consumer Goods (Bean Bags) Safety Standard 2014 , visit the Product Safety Australia website.

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Powerful Magnets

While magnets may appear fun to play with, there are serious dangers associated with young children swallowing them.

If two or more magnets are swallowed, they can join together across different layers of the stomach or intestines, causing blockages, perforation and haemorrhaging. These can then lead to circulatory shock or sepsis, both of which can be fatal if not treated quickly.

To help protect Australian consumers, there are two safe-guards in place:

  • A permanent national ban on loose or separable small, high-powered magnets in products such as adult toys, games, puzzles, construction kits for mental stimulation or stress relief, and jewellery items worn in or around the mouth or nose.
  • A safety standard for children’s toys that contain loose magnets, or magnets embedded in components, that are small enough to swallow and powerful enough to be difficult to pull apart.

Parents and carers

It is vitally important you know the signs of magnet ingestion. Small children, who are most likely to put things in their mouths, can’t necessarily articulate their pain or that they have swallowed something they shouldn’t have; while older children can fail to comprehend the consequences of not advising they have swallowed something dangerous can far outweigh the consequences of fessing up.

Symptoms of magnet ingestion injury include abdominal pain, vomiting and fever, which can easily be attributed to other, less serious childhood ailments, but you know your child best.

Delays in diagnosis and treatment can lead to severe and even fatal injuries. If you suspect your child may have swallowed any type of magnet contact the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 16 or your nearest emergency department for immediate medical attention.

Suppliers

If you supply products containing magnets that are intended, or likely to be used for personal, domestic or household purposes, you should ensure they are safe and comply, where applicable, with the relevant toy safety standard or the permanent ban.

You can find more information on the relevant toy safety standard and small high-powered magnets ban including the dangers associated with swallowing powerful magnets can be found on the Product Safety Australia website.

Button Batteries

Like powerful magnets, lithium or ‘button’ batteries can be killers if ingested, and tragically, children have died as a result of injuries caused by swallowing these innocuous-looking discs.

As we all know, children will generally determine if something is a toy to be played with, regardless of the product’s intended use, and these small shiny batteries are very attractive to them.

If they inadvertently swallow a button battery, it can cause them to choke or lead to severe soft tissue burns in as little as two hours. Once burning begins, damage can continue even after the battery is removed. Repairing the damage can be painful and may require multiple surgeries.

It is critical you ensure all products containing button batteries around the home, or products that you are considering buying, have a battery compartment that is secured by screw or some other fastener that requires a tool to access the batteries.

You should also keep any replacement or spare button batteries out of reach of children.

Small children can’t always tell you what they have swallowed, so if there is any doubt contact the Poisons Information Centre on 13 11 16 or contact your local emergency department for immediate medical attention.

For information on the national button batteries safety strategy, visit the Product Safety Australia website.

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Buy online or try before you buy?

Buying online can be incredibly convenient and sometimes a cheaper option. It can also give you access to items you might not find in your local stores. However, buying a product based solely on a description or picture can be fraught with problems.  Will that new executive chair be as sturdy and comfortable as you imagined?  Will your child be safe in the embossed baby bath seat you’ve just purchased?

Regardless of how you shop, you should always do your homework to ensure the items you buy are safe and fit for the purpose for which you are buying them.

  • Do your research first and learn all you can about the product you are thinking of buying.
  • Make sure any items you are considering meet any relevant Australian safety requirements.
  • Only buy from websites that you know and trust. Check if the company has a physical street address and landline phone number.
  • Check terms and conditions carefully so you know where you stand if there is a problem.
  • Be careful of scams! As the old adage goes, if it sounds too good to be true it probably is.
  • Keep records—always write down any reference numbers and print out copies of the order form and receipts.

For more information on how to protect yourself when buying online, visit our website.

New safety standard for miniature motorbikes

On 18 December 2019, the Consumer Goods (Miniature Motorbikes) Safety Standard 2019 was introduced. The new standard sets out mandatory requirements for the design, construction and performance of miniature motorbikes, as well as the user manual and safety warnings.

The standard defines a miniature motorbike as a vehicle that resembles a motorcycle but is scaled down to about half the size, that:

  • is designed to be used by a single person, and
  • has a seat height no greater than 600 millimeters, and
  • has major dimensions which are scaled down in proportion to the seat height.

Requirements for design and construction, include:

  • a self-closing, hand-operated throttle
  • an effective braking system
  • adequate foot pegs
  • an effective steering system
  • a supplemental engine stop
  • a speed-limiting device.

Suppliers

The introduction of the standard includes a 12-month transition period for suppliers. Up to and including 18 December 2020, you have the option to comply with the new safety standard or the existing Consumer Protection Notice No. 24 of 2011.

From 19 December 2020, all miniature motorbike products you supply, as well as their user manuals and related safety warnings, must comply with the new standard.

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Responsible sourcing of products is everyone’s responsibility

Under the Australian Consumer Law (ACL), suppliers are responsible for selling consumer products that are safe and fit for purpose, no matter where they sit in the supply chain.

Whether you are an importer, manufacturer, wholesaler or retailer, you are legally responsible for safety of any products you supply, regardless of whether they are subject to a mandatory standard or ban.

There are a number of measures you can take to ensure products you manufacture or purchase for supply are safe, compliant and of acceptable quality.

These include:

  • Developing documented quality assurance (QA) and quality control (QC) processes.
  • Training staff in QA and QC processes, mandatory safety standards and the ACL.
  • Performing random stock audits in distribution centres or stores.
  • Commissioning factory audits.
  • Engaging the services of professional QA and QC consultants.
  • Purchasing recall insurance.

For information on product liability and product testing, or to download ‘Product safety: a guide to testing’, visit Product Safety Australia. Download ‘Consumer product safety – Guidelines for suppliers’.

Recalls roundup

A product safety recall is the most common way for a supplier to remove unsafe goods from the supply chain. If you own one of the below items, follow the relevant link to find out what you need to do to make your item safe, or if you are entitled to a refund or replacement.

More information on product recalls can be found on the ACCC recalls website.

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Need help?

If you need help to identify product hazards, work with standards or develop a compliance plan, please contact the OFT's Consumer Product Safety Unit at OFT.Safety@justice.qld.gov.au. Fines for non-compliance with standards can be substantial so it’s better to be safe than sorry.

For more information on regulated products subject to mandatory standards and bans or to check for information about consumer products and services, visit the Product Safety Australia  website.

Want to report a product safety problem or seek advice?

Do you have some information you’d like to verify or are unsure about a product? The first step should be to visit the Product Safety Australia and OFT website. If you can’t find what you’re looking for, you can email the OFT Product Safety Unit at OFT.Safety@justice.qld.gov.au. We will try to answer any queries you may have concerning Product Safety within Queensland with a safety first approach, because your safety matters.

Feedback

If you find this Safetyzone newsletter useful, please tell us what you think by emailing OFT.Safety@justice.qld.gov.au.

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Last updated:
28 August 2023
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