United Steelworkers celebrates upcoming fifth anniversary of CPSIA

The USW was part of a broad coalition that rallied behind the CPSIA, which implements comprehensive safety standards on cribs, swings, bath seats, toys, and other products intended for children under the age of 12.

During their "Get the Lead Out" campaign, USW members lobbied lawmakers and participated in protests to draw attention to the flawed trade policies that allowed the importation of harmful products. USW members in more than 30 cities across North America also held lead screening sessions to test toys and educate families on potentially dangerous products.

Over the last five years, the CPSIA gradually reduced limits on lead so that today, products designed for children can now legally contain only a small fraction of what they could in 2008.

Certain products, like cribs, now also require third party testing before they go on the market. Other products, including toys, are subject to new mandatory safety standards. 

The CPSIA also created the Consumer Product Safety Information Database, available at SaferProducts.gov, to promote transparency and help hold companies accountable. The database allows consumers to identify and report products that are dangerous. 

"It's the government's job to make sure public health always comes ahead of corporate profits," said Gerard. "The CPSIA helps them do that." 

The USW represents about 850,000 workers in the United States, Canada and the Caribbean in a wide variety of industries, ranging from glassmaking to mining, paper, steel, tire and rubber to the public sector, service and health care industries.