<![CDATA[Bub Hub Pregnancy & Parenting Forum - Blogs - Consumer affairs and Product Safety by Consumer Affairs Victoria]]> http://www.bubhub.com.au/community/forums/blog.php?96132-Consumer-affairs-and-Product-Safety en Wed, 19 Jun 2013 08:53:11 GMT vBulletin 10 http://www.bubhub.com.au/community/forums/images/styles/BubHub/misc/rss.jpg <![CDATA[Bub Hub Pregnancy & Parenting Forum - Blogs - Consumer affairs and Product Safety by Consumer Affairs Victoria]]> http://www.bubhub.com.au/community/forums/blog.php?96132-Consumer-affairs-and-Product-Safety Keep baby sleeping safe and sound http://www.bubhub.com.au/community/forums/entry.php?479-Keep-baby-sleeping-safe-and-sound Mon, 28 May 2012 02:09:45 GMT *Infant and nursery safety* Every year hundreds of children in Australia need hospital treatment for injuries caused by infant and nursery products. While most manufacturers work to ensure their products are safe, from time to time some enter the market that may fail to meet safety...

Infant and nursery safety

Every year hundreds of children in Australia need hospital treatment for injuries caused by infant and nursery products.

While most manufacturers work to ensure their products are safe, from time to time some enter the market that may fail to meet safety standards.

Over the past five months, national product safety regulators have conducted inspections across Australia to check for unsafe items and, where required, seized nursery products to keep children safe.

Unsafe cots can cause infants to suffocate, particularly when trapped against bedding or soft toys.

Household and folding cot tragedies

In 2006, an infant in Australia suffocated after becoming wedged between the side of a cot and a mattress. There was a dangerous gap in one side of the cot, which trapped the child's face against the mattress.

The gap was caused by a missing part in a corner bracket under the cot. The corner of the cot was loose due to this missing part, which caused the mattress to move.

Maintenance issues such as this can undermine safety features on new and second-hand cots and can cause serious injuries and death.

Folding cots can also present significant safety risks if they are not used properly. In 2004, an infant suffocated after he was wedged in a gap between the mattress and the side of a borrowed folding cot. An additional mattress, which did not touch all sides of the cot, had left a dangerous gap between the mattress and the side.

Five simple tips to help your baby sleep safe and sound

1. Always check that new and second-hand household cots meet mandatory standards.
2. If parts are broken, always get a reliable cot supplier to organise repairs so that all safety features are retained.
3. If the supplier cannot organise to have the cot fixed, stop using it immediately and dispose of it.
4. Only use mattresses specifically designed for your cot. Ill-fitting mattress can create dangerous gaps that can trap a sleeping child and cause suffocation.
5. Never place an extra mattress in household or folding cots. While the mattress that comes with the cot may look thin and uncomfortable to you, it has been designed for the comfort and safety of babies and infants.

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This household cot does not comply with safety laws because it has:
  • Spaces capable of trapping a baby’s limbs and head
  • Extensions that could catch children's clothing and strangle them
  • A base that can’t support a child's weight
  • No warning or safety labelling

General safety advice for parents

When you’re buying products for your baby, always ensure they:
  • meet safety standards
  • come with instructions for safe assembly and use
  • are complete with no worn or missing parts
  • have not been recalled for safety reasons: www.recalls.gov.au

Order yourself a free copy of Keeping Baby Safe, which provides advice on unsafe baby products and easy-to-follow tips.

You can also visit http://productsafety.gov.au for all current safety warnings, product recalls and standards.

 ]]> Consumer Affairs Victoria http://www.bubhub.com.au/community/forums/entry.php?479-Keep-baby-sleeping-safe-and-sound Curtain and blind cords: making your home safe http://www.bubhub.com.au/community/forums/entry.php?353-Curtain-and-blind-cords-making-your-home-safe Thu, 05 Apr 2012 06:23:59 GMT Have you checked the safety of curtain and blind cords in your home? Attachment 20575 (http://www.bubhub.com.au/community/forums/attachment.php?attachmentid=20575) At least 15 Australian children have died since the early 1990s from strangulation by looped curtain and blind cords. Children -... Have you checked the safety of curtain and blind cords in your home?

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At least 15 Australian children have died since the early 1990s from strangulation by looped curtain and blind cords. Children - particularly infants - can get tangled in the cords when they play near them or reach for them from cots, beds or other furniture.

Check your curtain and blind cords - especially door and window coverings bought before 2010, when new safety standards were introduced for new curtains and blinds.

You can also help to keep children safe by telling family, friends and others about curtain and blind cord safety.

You can get rid of looped cords by cutting them or using tassels. Alternatively, secure looped cords with tie-downs or tension devices. For more safety tips, visit the blind and curtain cord safety page on the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission website.

For many types of blinds, curtains and frames, you can buy safety devices from your local curtain and blind retailer or hardware store.

If you live in Victoria, you can order a free safety kit from Consumer Affairs Victoria. Each kit has five safety devices suitable for roller blinds with looped cords and wooden window frames.

For more information about product safety, visit Consumer Affairs Victoria’s website. You can also see regular updates relating to product safety on our Facebook timeline. ]]> Consumer Affairs Victoria http://www.bubhub.com.au/community/forums/entry.php?353-Curtain-and-blind-cords-making-your-home-safe How to handle door-to-door salespeople and telemarketers! http://www.bubhub.com.au/community/forums/entry.php?262-How-to-handle-door-to-door-salespeople-and-telemarketers! Tue, 28 Feb 2012 10:41:12 GMT
Answering the door or phone to electricity and gas salespeople can be
daunting and confusing. But understanding your rights can help you decide if
what's on offer is right for you and your family.


Here are a few tips for when you're approached by telemarketers and door-to-door salespeople.

  1. Make sure you understand documents and agreements before signing them. It also pays to check with your current energy retailer whether any cancellation fees apply if you decide to switch.
  2. Under the Australian Consumer Law, you have up to 10 business days to end an agreement made from door-to-door and telemarketing sales.
  3. Always ask door-to-door salespeople for formal identification - by law, they must show this on request. They must leave your property immediately if you ask them to. You're also under no obligation to show your electricity bill to a salesperson.
  4. Watch out for suspicious salespeople. We have received numerous complaints about salespeople who give the impression they are from the government when they are not.
  5. It is important not to feel pressured into making a decision on the spot. Take time to research all of the energy service retailers in your area, and work out which offers the best deal for your circumstances.

Other useful tools:

The Victorian Government website yourchoice.vic.gov.au provides impartial tips and tools to help you choose an energy retailer.

If you do not wish to be contacted by telemarketers, register with the Do Not Call Register at donotcall.gov.au or by calling 1300 792 958.

If you do not want to be visited by salespeople, order a Do Not Knock sticker from donotknock.org.au.

For more information on dealing with door-to-door salespeople and telemarketers, contact Consumer Affairs Victoria on 1300 55 81 81 or visit consumer.vic.gov.au/energy
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]]> Consumer Affairs Victoria http://www.bubhub.com.au/community/forums/entry.php?262-How-to-handle-door-to-door-salespeople-and-telemarketers!