Consumer Product Safety Commission, CPSC

The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), created by Congress as an independent agency, began operation in 1973. In the Consumer Product Safety Act, Congress directed CPSC to protect the public “against unreasonable risks of injuries associated with consumer products.”

CPSC is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of injury or death from thousands of types of consumer products under the agency’s jurisdiction. In addition to pool and spa safety, the CPSC is committed to protecting consumers and families from products that pose a fire, electrical, chemical, or mechanical hazard. The CPSC’s work to ensure the safety of consumer products-such as toys, cribs, power tools, cigarette lighters, and household chemicals-contributed significantly to the decline in the rate of deaths and injuries associated with consumer products over the past 30 years.

CPSC Commissioners are nominated by the President and confirmed by the U.S. Senate for staggered seven-year terms. Chairman Inez M. Tenenbaum serves as the chief administrator.

CPSC and the Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act

The Virginia Graeme Baker Pool & Spa Safety Act (P&SS Act) was enacted by Congress and signed by President Bush on December 19, 2007. Designed to prevent the tragic and hidden hazard of drain entrapments and eviscerations in pools and spas, the law became effective on December 19, 2008. CPSC is empowered to implement and enforce the requirements of the P&SS Act.

Join CPSC’s Pool and Spa Safety e-mail list.

To follow CPSC’s Pool Safely campaign on Twitter, follow @poolsafely. You may also want to view campaign videos on the Pool Safely video page or view photos of campaign and partner events on the Flickr page.

Consumers can obtain recall and general safety information at CPSC’s website. You can also join another CPSC subscription list.