Monday, August 25, 2014

Product Safety – It’s time to “Be at the Table” – Or you may be “On the Menu”




Safety Summit brings over 200 Top Industry members at 4th Annual Safety Summit

Our promotional products industry has made a commitment to have all industry participants become aware of product safety. Last week, in Boston, PPAI staff and along with members of PRAG, PPAI’s Product Safety Awareness Group, produced the 4th annual, Product Safety Summit. 

Event Co-Chairs, Rick Brenner, MAS from Prime Resources, and Gene Geiger, MAS of Distributor, Geiger, led a discussion that outlined not only our Industry’s commitment to product safety, but how we, as an industry, are taking necessary steps to ensurethe delivery of safe products for all of our customers.  Personally, I have made a commitment to attend the last two years, and this year’s event clearly outlined how industry members are gathering together, to make professionals aware and help our industry supply chain become the trusted source our buyers and users expect.

Over 200 participated in sessions, from Product Safety 101, Testing for Electronics and Lithium Batteries, Risk and Crisis Management, Product Recall examples, FDA and CPSC oversight of our Industry and next steps that are being taken to ensure the continued safe manufacturing and delivery of our products.

At a Keynote presented by Marietta Robinson, commissioner of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), our Industry’s commitment was highlighted as “Exhibit A,” regarding how we, as an industry are working pro-actively to build awareness and ensure that participants are aware of, and building best practices. 


After her keynote presentation at the Summit, CPSC Commissioner Marietta Robinson (center) met with (from left) Rick Brenner, MAS, CEO of supplier Prime Resources Corp.; PPAI Public Affairs Director Anne Lardner-Stone; Gene Geiger, MAS, president of distributer Geiger; and PPAI President and CEO Paul Bellantone, CAE.

With the passing of the Consumer Products Safety Improvement Act of 2008, continuing Regulations for Children’s Products, California Proposition 65, and ongoing legislation and other state programs, building awareness and minimum requirements are coming regularly.  Industry Pros will need continuing education to stay aware.

In January of this year, PPAI outlined a new commitment to have all participating companies participate in minimum professional development.  Each member company, will need to have one staff member, complete a minimum, 4 hours of Product Safety Awareness CEU’s, in order to continue to participate in the PPAI Marketplace, in the coming months.

PPAI Staff Presenting Product Safety to Regionals in the Coming Months

 
Tim Brown, MAS PPAI's Product Responsibility Manager



Supporting of Association members, PPAI has a team of staff bringing Safety Awareness to our Regionals. Anne Lardner-Stone, PPAI’s Director of Public Affairs, and Tim Brown, MAS Product Responsibility Manager, have planned sessions across the country to present basic compliance training designed to help our members both become aware of the importance of product safety in our industry, and obtain the minimum requirements that will be needed for all members to participate in PPAI events and marketing channels in the future.

You can see a list of upcoming sessions here:


For more information on our Industry’s Product Safety Initiatives, please visit the PPAI Website:


Mark Shinn, MAS, Incentives West
Mark is a Multiline Supplier Representative on the West Coast, based in Seattle, and was 2008 President of RAC, the Regional Association Council. He can be reached at 866.601.8958 or email to mshinn@incentiveswest.com