Warning over dangerous toys

PARENTS have been issued with a warning this Christmas to think twice before buying toys that fire plastic projectiles.

Council chiefs are concerned about the safety of the toys, which could pose health and safety risks to younger children. Despite changes to toy safety standards in 2007, Hampshire County Council’s Scientific Service found that more than half were failing to meet important guidelines.

In a sample of 19 popular gifts, 58 per cent failed to meet the essential safety requirements set out by British Standards and the Toy (Safety) Regulations Act, posing risks of choking or eye injuries, while more than one in four toys struck their targets with “too much” force.

Hampshire scientists have now alerted Trading Standards officers to the potential dangers and have encouraged parents to buy from recognised retailers.

County Council Leader, Councillor Ken Thornber said: “Some of this year’s must-have Christmas toys can be quite expensive and the temptation may be to opt for cheaper alternatives, but it’s important that parents and adults buying these toys don’t compromise on vital safety standards. Toys with small detachable parts can pose a real danger.”

Read the original article here: http://www.thisishampshire.net/news/8747955.Warning_over_dangerous_toys/ 

Alastair McLaughlin, Toy Safety Specialist from leading product safety experts, TÜV SÜD Product Service said that:

“Projectile toys have multiple risks associated with them, each of which must be addressed by good design, robust safety and quality systems during manufacturing, and testing of samples to show that the safety concerns are met.  The toy safety standards were updated in 2007 to address the specific risks of projectiles, but many designs on the market still do not meet the requirements.'

'Projectiles obviously have the potential to cause injury when they hit a person. The speed and mass of the projectile and its impact surface area are all taken into account to ensure safety.'

'Projectiles are often small, and can be a choking hazard. In 2007, the toy safety standard EN 71 was updated to address this risk, setting minimum dimensions of toy projectiles such as sucker darts and foam projectiles. The suckers and other parts of the toy must not detach easily as any small parts may cause a choking hazard if the minimum dimensions are not met.'

'In a recent survey of projectile toys on the market, enforcement authorities in the UK said they found over half of the products sampled did not comply with the up to date safety standard.'

'TÜV SÜD Product Service can help manufacturers stay up to date, and advise you on using the latest standards and applying all the relevant tests. TÜV SÜD Product Service offer a complete consultancy service to guide you through compliance with the Toy Safety Directive, as well as training, testing and documentation review services.”

Driving in the snow :: Avoid overtaking snowploughs and gritters where possible

Munich. In the morning traffic on the A8 major road near Holzkirchen, the drivers' faces are barely visible through the hastily cleared patches on the fogged-up windscreens. The traffic is making progress, but speeds of more than 60 to 80 kilometres per hour are not possible on the winter roads. Too slow for some truck drivers, who try to get ahead by roaring past the cars. These examples show that the main danger lies not only in icy roads, but also in the behaviour of some road users. Here are some tips from TÜV SÜD for safe driving in wintry conditions.

It's the same picture every winter: traffic jams, slippery roads and poor visibility – self-induced – are obstacles to drivers' accustomed mobility, and snowploughs are just another obstruction – for many drivers, things are moving too slowly. When icy roads and haste are added to the mix, stress is the result. As a consequence, drivers over-estimate their abilities and under-estimate the dangers lurking in the road conditions, tempting even professionals like truck drivers to attempt overtaking manoeuvres in icy conditions. "The first commandment in winter is to plan plenty of time and to consider whether it is really necessary to take the car for your journey, or whether it would be better to use a different method of transport", advises Philip Puls from TÜV SÜD. Unsure drivers are particularly advised to leave their cars at home when winter hits the roads. A further tip: avoidance of short journeys is especially sensible in winter, and short trips should be combined wherever possible. 

Think first: Driving in snow and ice is always a safety risk. For this reason it is better to start planning which trips are absolutely essential on the previous evening or before the start of the week. Short trips such as shopping trips are easy to combine with a little planning. Car pools for school or work runs are also a good way of minimizing time spent driving on slippery roads.

Get up early: Clear visibility is absolutely vital in winter. All car windows must be properly cleared of ice and snow – otherwise a crash may ensue, and a ten-euro fine may be another consequence. This also applies to rear visibility; don't forget the wing mirrors when clearing your windscreen.

Be a late starter: When the engine is cold, fuel consumption can rise to as much as 40 litres per 100 kilometres, also increasing exhaust emissions. In this state the catalytic converter is still inactive, and the engine does not warm up and reach its normal performance at normal fuel consumption until around four kilometres have been driven. So make sure you perform any activities such as buckling your safety belt or clearing the windows before starting the engine, and then drive off immediately, making use of every drop of fuel to actually move forward!

Leave in good time: It would seem only logical that driving on winter roads takes longer than in summer. And yet many drivers pile on the stress, under the impression that they are making slow progress. As a result their concentration is poor, and they put their foot down and attempt daring overtaking manoeuvres – and may end up crashing. To avoid this, plan extra time for all trips. "Calmness and concentration are essential for safe driving", advises Philip Puls.

Leave space: Adequate space is paramount on winter roads. To drive safely, it is particularly important to keep your distance from the vehicle in front – including snowploughs or gritters, a tough test of patience for many drivers. "Especially on motorways, it is important to maintain sufficient distance from road-clearing vehicles and to refrain from overtaking", warns Puls. Snowploughs and gritters often proceed as a team in a convoy, making overtaking a dangerous enterprise if sprays of slush and salt land on the windscreen and obscure visibility. Smart drivers will fall into place behind the ploughs because they can be sure of driving on a freshly cleared road surface.

Think: This year, as always, cars with running engines are everywhere - waiting to pick up the children outside school, in the drive-in queue or at level-crossings. Modern engines save fuel even when switched off for a few minutes – and fears that the engine will not start again in cold weather are groundless with today's cars, say the experts at TÜV SÜD. Make sure, then, to switch off the engine even for short periods of waiting.

Ten tips for making Christmas gift-giving a time of pleasure

As Christmas approaches, retailers have prepared for the rush to buy toys, wide-screen TVs, computer games, mobile phones or winter jackets. But just how safe are those gifts under the Christmas tree? TÜV SÜD Product Service provides consumers with ten tips on how to keep risks to a minimum when buying presents.
1. No hotline to Santa Claus?
Then it’s best to get your presents from specialist retailers, respectable online shops or reputable discounters, where you can return defective goods and also claim damages if the worst comes to the worst.

2. Even Father Christmas has a home address!
Are the manufacturers or importer’s name and full address given on the present you have chosen? Beware if these details are missing, as is often the case with cheap – and possibly dangerous – products without identifiable origin.

3. Being thrifty may be nifty - but not at Christmas.
Ensure that the price of your present is in relation to its material value. Cut-price offers frequently compromise on safety and reliability.

4. A ‘passport’ but not a safety label.
CE marking only reflects a manufacturer’s declaration that its products comply with the minimum requirements of the relevant European directives. Neither product nor production facilities, however, undergo third-party inspection by a certification body. As a ‘passport’ for ensuring free trade in the European Union, CE marking primarily addresses the requirements of the EU authorities, not those of consumers.

5. A safe and merry Christmas.
“GS“ stands for “Geprüfte Sicherheit” or “tested safety“, which means products identified by this mark have been tested by an approved third-party certifier. This test mark also covers the inspection of the production facilities at least once a year. Here at TÜV SÜD Product Service only one in three products passes the type approval test straight away. Any products that fail will need to be re-worked before being re-tested or may never make it on the market. Some product certification organizations have further improved the GS mark, testing additional product characteristics such as fitness for use or energy efficiency. TÜV SÜD Product Service confirms such characteristics by issuing the TÜV SÜD Octagon mark.

6. Christmas in the air? Follow your nose.
avoid buying products with a strongly chemical or scented smell, which may be an indication of pollutants. Painted toys should always be sweat and saliva proof. Run a wetted finger over the present you have selected. If the paint comes off, it’s best to put the product back on the shelf.

7. Festivities free from rough edges: especially where children’s toys are concerned.
Take the toy in your hand and test it for rough edges or sharp corners which may cause injuries.

8. The bigger the present the better!
This primarily holds true for children up to the age of three, who tend to put toys in their mouths. To avoid the risk of suffocation, toddlers should not be allowed to get hold of anything the size of a one pound coin or smaller. Also watch out that toys cannot be taken apart. Take the age restrictions provided by manufacturers seriously!

9. Teddy bears under the shower!
Clean washable presents before they are used, especially if this is recommended in the instructions for use. Allow rag dolls, Father Christmases and other soft toys to dry out thoroughly to prevent mould spores from forming. A 24-hour stay in the freezer takes care of dust mites.

10. Caution: technical jargon!
Does the present come with instructions for use in plain and understandable language? If there are no instructions for use or if the translation sounds as if it was computer-generated you should sit up and take notice. Read the instructions for use thoroughly before using the present for the first time. Be sure to heed all warning notices issued by the manufacturer!

Lighting up the Christmas tree

Christmas is the time of festive decorations and lights – houses, fences, reindeer, angels, Santas, stars and of course Christmas trees are all aglow during the festive period. Fairy lights or strings of lights are an essential part of Christmas decorations. As a practical alternative to candles, they provide romantic lighting without the need for constant supervision. However, string lights are not all sweetness and light. The damage caused when Christmas trees and decorations catch fire adds up to roughly 10 million pounds every year. Major causes of these fires are not only candles, but also – and increasingly frequently – defective string lights, which may make trees or decoration go up in smoke if not handled correctly.

TÜV SÜD Product Service gives tips on how to avoid incorrect installation of string and rope lights:

Smouldering and short circuits

Purchasers of string lights should look out for products bearing the TÜV SÜD Octagon or TÜV SÜD GS mark, showing that these products have been thoroughly tested and meet the relevant safety requirements. String lights must satisfy the requirements of class II or III equipment (recognisable by their international symbols, i.e. a square inside a square or a Roman numeral III within a diamond). String lights without these symbols should not be sold on the market. Home owners planning to brighten up their façade or garden should only use string lights that are designed for outdoor use and are sufficiently weatherproof. The product pros advise do-it-yourselfers to fasten their light decorations with cable ties, which,  unlike staplers, cannot damage electric wires. Christmas decoration fans should be particularly careful when using extension cords, which are not generally weatherproof. Power strips are also unsuitable for permanent outdoor use. “Slowly but surely, moisture inevitably penetrates and will cause a short circuit”, explains Richard Poate, Compliance Service Manager at TÜV SÜD Product Service. Given this, power strips should only be used in dry places. In addition, string lights may only be extended if expressly permitted by the manufacturer. These sets of lights come with water-resistant connectors, and the maximum number of extension sets is given on the package and must be strictly observed, otherwise the wattage specified by the manufacturer may soon be exceeded. Given this, decoration-lovers should take measurements, decide on the length of string lights they require before they buy and, if necessary, go to a specialist shop.

Rapid overheating

String lights with transformers offer higher safety both indoors and out. The transformer steps down the voltage to a maximum of 50 volts, reducing the danger of electric shock in the case of contact with a defective live part. This may be a critical feature, particularly in households with children. Special splashproof transformers identifiable by protection class IP 44, IP 54 or IP 64 are available on the market. The experts also recommend the installation of ‘residual current devices’ or RCDs, which immediately interrupt the electricity supply if a defect occurs. A common mistake made by consumers is to underestimate the heat generated by the individual bulbs of a string of lights, and cover the lights with hand-made decorations made of paper or similar materials. Covering the bulbs causes the developing heat to build up, and may set the decoration alight. Another potentially dangerous situation arises if several bulbs blow at the same time. “In this case, the voltage is spread over the remaining bulbs and causes heat radiation to rise to a critical level. With this in mind, users should check bulbs frequently and replace defective ones immediately to keep fire hazards to a minimum”, advises Richard Poate. If bulbs cannot be replaced, the best move is to pull the plug.

TÜV SÜD: Be well-prepared for winter traffic chaos

When winter first hits, the resulting chaos on roads and motorways can be a tough challenge, particularly for commuters. Weather forecasters predict that the present winter weather is likely to stay for a while. All the more reason, then, for drivers to prepare as well as possible for the difficult traffic conditions that lie ahead. And as the traffic experts from TÜV SÜD know, preparation for spending hours in the car is the most important of all.
Think before you drive: It is generally true to say that cars are definitely not the transport of choice on snow and ice. If you have the option of taking the train or staying at home, do it. If driving is unavoidable, TÜV SÜD expert Philip Puls recommends heeding the following advice before setting off: "Drivers should definitely make more time for their journeys." To be on the safe side, a tow-rope, jump leads, warm blankets, a hand broom, an ice scraper, snow chains and of course a high-visibility vest should be in every car. And talking about high-visibility vests, "If the car breaks down, drivers must leave the car and warn other road users of the obstruction by switching on their hazard warning lights and setting up their warning triangles", advises Puls. "Staying in the car is extremely dangerous under these circumstances", warns the road expert.

Not only because of the new regulations concerning winter tyres, Puls believes "it would be sheer madness to drive in the kind of bad weather we are currently having." If driving is absolutely essential, car owners should ensure their fuel tank is full before setting out. "When the stress of winter traffic is compounded by the fear of running out of petrol in the middle of a motorway traffic jam, drivers place themselves under a lot of strain."

Be prepared for long traffic jams: Most commuters in particular tend to set out for work in the clothes they wear to the office – a suit, light shoes and perhaps a jacket. After all, who thinks of spending hours on the road when that cosy office is only a few miles away? But this is a mistake. "On days when chaos rules the roads, even a 30-kilometre journey can turn into hours of torture", warns Puls. Check the weather forecast and make the appropriate preparations: "A warm jacket, sweater and perhaps a flask of hot tea are certainly a good idea." Puls also recommends warm winter shoes for the car: "Particularly if the car breaks down and the driver has to get out, sturdy winter shoes are no mere luxury, but are essential."

Exercise moderation: Generally, motorists who have got stuck try first of all to get their cars moving again on their own, as can be witnessed time and again in excessive revving and spinning tyres. However, this only makes matters worse. It is better to increase the load on the driving axle and accelerate carefully – preferably using second gear. Observe basic safety principles in attempts to free the car, too; ensure the car is visible by switching on the hazard lights.

Rock to get rolling: Where patience and stress are fruitless, motorists can resort to a combination of the two: rocking the car to and fro. To do so, drivers must get their cars swinging by alternately pressing the gas pedal and releasing the clutch at regular intervals. The rocking distance must then be gradually extended and the rocking momentum used to get the car over the obstacle. Motorists driving a car with automatic transmission must alternate carefully between the R and D position of the gear lever.

Get a grip: A helpful hint when trying to get your car unstuck is to place a door mat or special grid under the wheel of the driving axle to ensure the necessary grip and traction. But note that people in the vicinity of the car must keep their distance. Items placed under wheels may turn into missiles.

Digging out: Shovel, snow chains and lamps are all helpful assistants in releasing a car from the grip of the snow. Blankets and hot drinks prove invaluable when motorists have to wait for help. TÜV SÜD's tip: when shovelling snow take care to clear the snow both in front of and behind the wheels on the driving axle, and make sure that both the axle and the underbody are free. Clearing the snow from the wheels is futile if the car itself is actually sitting on a mound of snow.

Chaining up: A set of snow chains or snow socks is a useful companion. To escape from a snow drift, snow socks are sufficient, and, in fact, in most countries their use is limited to traction assistance. Motorists driving in snowy regions should always take along snow chains. They are needed whenever the use of snow chains is signposted as mandatory.

Spraying: In TÜV SÜD's experience, spray-on "snow chains" and other coatings to improve grip and traction do not live up to their promises.

Towing: If the car has become damaged after skidding and has to be towed, use a rod instead of a rope on icy roads to prevent keeping your distance from the car in front turning into a gamble. TÜV SÜD's experts therefore advise drivers always to keep a tow-rod in their boot during winter.