3 companies penalized for not promptly reporting consumer safety hazards

October 7th, 2009 10 mining companies put on notice about safetyWASHINGTON — Federal safety regulators on Wednesday warned 10 mining companies that their operations have a potential pattern of health or safety violations. The U.S. Mine Safety and Health Administration said each company has 90 days to take corrective action.

October 1st, 2009 Target penalized for toys with lead paintWASHINGTON — Target Corp. has agreed to pay a $600,000 civil penalty for importing and selling a variety of toys with high levels of lead paint on the surface.

September 8th, 2009 Companies fined for selling hazardous sweashirts.WASHINGTON — A federal consumer agency announced fines against four companies Tuesday for improperly selling hooded sweatshirts or jackets that have drawstrings at the neck, posing a safety hazard. Children's sweatshirts or jackets with drawstrings create a strangulation hazard to children which can result in serious injury or death, the Consumer Product Safety Commission said.

September 8th, 2009 FDA requires faster food safety reportingWASHINGTON — Food makers must alert government officials of potentially contaminated products within 24 hours under a new rule designed to help federal regulators spot food safety issues sooner. The Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday unveiled a new electronic database where manufacturers must notify the government if they believe one of their products is likely to cause sickness or death in people or animals.

August 24th, 2009 Safety agency warns of stadium light pole hazardsWASHINGTON — School officials and facility managers should immediately inspect outdoor stadium light poles made by Whitco Co. LP because the poles can crack and fall, putting bystanders at risk, the government's safety agency said Monday.

August 18th, 2009 Toy importer penalized for choking hazardWASHINGTON — TGH International Trading Inc. has agreed to pay a $31,500 civil penalty after it imported and sold toys with small parts in violation of federal child safety standards, government officials said Monday.

August 3rd, 2009 OSHA alleges safety violations at MillerCoorsDENVER — Regulators have proposed fining MillerCoors $128,500 over alleged safety violations at its brewery in Golden. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration said Monday a maintenance electrician who was missing for several hours was found dead outside an open, energized electrical panel Feb.

July 31st, 2009 Obama picks former Kentucky congresswoman for CPSCWASHINGTON — The White House says President Barack Obama will nominate former Republican Rep. Anne Northup of Kentucky to a seat on the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

July 21st, 2009 Report: Agency withheld distracted driver researchNEW YORK — The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration gathered hundreds of pages of research and warnings about the hazards of drivers using cell phones, but withheld the information from the public in part out of fear of angering Congress, a newspaper reported Monday. The former head of the traffic safety agency, Dr.

July 17th, 2009 Fan distributor agrees to pay $587,500 settlementWASHINGTON — A New York City distributor has agreed to pay more than $500,000 to settle a complaint that it was slow in reporting a defect and fire hazard linked to oscillating fans. The $587,500 penalty is part of a settlement Haier America Trading LLC reached with the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

July 17th, 2009 Company to pay for slow reporting of fan defectWASHINGTON — A New York City distributor has agreed to pay more than $500,000 to settle a complaint that it was slow in reporting a defect and fire hazard linked to oscillating fans. The $587,500 penalty is part of a settlement Haier America Trading LLC reached with the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

June 25th, 2009 Toy importer penalized for lead-paint hazardWASHINGTON — Toy importer OKK Trading has agreed to pay a $665,000 civil penalty after it imported and sold toys with high levels of lead and violated other child safety standards. The penalty is part of a settlement the company reached with the Consumer Product Safety Commission.

June 18th, 2009 GAO: Labor safety program is inadequateWASHINGTON — Congressional investigators say the Labor Department has poorly managed a program that allows companies with good safety records to skip routine inspections — and mistakenly allowed some businesses with serious violations to participate in it. In a report issued Thursday, the Government Accountability Office said the agency's Occupational Safety and Health Administration lacks controls to make sure the right businesses are participating in the program.

June 9th, 2009 Govt. urges people to make homes healthyWASHINGTON — The government is urging parents and homebuilders to make their homes more healthy by getting rid of lead paint, mold, and other hazards. Acting Surgeon General Steven Galson and Housing Deputy Secretary Ron Sims launched a coordinated federal effort Tuesday to prevent diseases and injuries from potential health dangers in the home.

June 5th, 2009 Official: Mattel fined $2.3 million for toy hazardWASHINGTON — Toy maker Mattel Inc. and its Fisher-Price subsidiary have agreed to pay a $2.3 million civil penalty for importing and selling toys with excessive levels of lead.