CPSC Accepting Nominations for Chairman's Commendation Circle Awards

Program Recognizes Exceptional Contributions to Product Safety and Saving Lives

WASHINGTON, April 24, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The U. S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) begins accepting nominations for the Chairman's Commendation Circle Award program today. Completed nominations should be received at CPSC by May 31, 2012.

(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20030904/USCSCLOGO)

The program was established in 2011 by CPSC Chairman Inez Tenenbaum to identify and honor people and organizations that have made significant contributions to consumer product safety.

"I want to recognize the innovators, highlight those who demonstrate a relentless commitment to product safety, and show appreciation to those who are out there saving lives and preventing injuries like we strive to do every day at the CPSC," Tenenbaum said.

Nominees can be individuals, organizations, businesses, state and local governments or other groups residing in or outside of the United States.

Nominations should include a cover form (available online), a description of the individual or organization, a description of how and to what extent the nominee has contributed to improving consumer product safety, and a summary of additional information.  Up to three letters of support or other supporting documents may also be provided.  Additional details are available at www.cpsc.gov/award.

A CPSC panel will screen nominations and forward recommendations to the Chairman. The Chairman will make the final selection of who will receive an award and how many annual awards to present. The announcement of awardees will be made on a date to be determined.

Last year's awardees included:

ASTM Subcommittee F15.18 on cribs, toddler beds, play yards, cradles and changing tables for their crucial work in helping develop CPSC's new mandatory crib standards, making U.S. crib standards the strongest in the world.

Nancy Cowles, executive director of the Chicago-based Kids in Danger for her tireless work on behalf of children's safety issues.

Consumers Union for its research, consumer education and support of CPSC in preventing deaths and injuries.

Dr. Gary Smith, director of the Center for Injury Research and Policy at Nationwide Children's Hospital, Columbus, Ohio, for being a long-time advocate of preventing injuries through design changes, educating consumers and eliminating product hazards.

Gene Rider, president of Intertek Consumer Goods, North America, for more than two decades of his work identifying risks and improving the safety of consumer products for children, specifically in the prevention of childhood injuries and deaths due to choking, strangulation and aspiration hazards.

CPSC is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death associated with the use of the thousands of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction. Deaths, injuries, and property damage from consumer product incidents cost the nation more than $900 billion annually. CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard. CPSC's work to ensure the safety of consumer products—such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals—contributed to a decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.

Under federal law, it is illegal to attempt to sell or resell recalled products.

To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, go online to: SaferProducts.gov, call CPSC's Hotline at (800) 638-2772 or teletypewriter at (301) 595-7054 for the hearing and speech impaired.  Consumers can obtain this news release and product safety information at www.cpsc.gov.  To join a free e-mail subscription list, please go to www.cpsc.gov/cpsclist.aspx.

CPSC Hotline: (800) 638-2772
CPSC Media Contact: (301) 504-7908

SOURCE U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission