Thermomix Court case

Disregard for consumer safety and the law

Record fines for breaching the product safety laws have been ordered in the Federal Court. Findings showed Thermomix's clear disregard for consumer safety and the law. Well done to the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission for taking…
Product safety policy

ACCC on product safety - policy and priorities

The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission has raised the profile of product safety over the past month. Following its work on the massive compulsory recall of Takata airbags, the ACCC has taken some key steps to promote the cause…
Electric kettle safety

Is your electric kettle safe? A lesson for all product suppliers

We all want to feel assured our kettles will hold themselves together when we're making a nice cup of tea. A handle coming away from a kettle full of scalding hot water is an obvious hazard - scald injuries can be very serious. There…
IoT product safety

Product safety in the Internet of Things

  The 'Internet of Things'. Yes, it's a strange term. 'Internet' - yes. 'Things' - yes. But together? The 'Internet of Things' is the term that's being used for all the interconnected devices appearing on the market.  An increasing…
Gail Greatorex 30 years in product safety

30 years in product safety

October 2017 marks 30 years that I have worked in consumer product safety.  I enjoyed 25 years in government consumer agencies and I now run my own product safety advocacy and consultancy business. Much has changed in that time. My…
Product recall costs

Product recall costs revealed

Patties' frozen berry case in the courts This case provides a good insight into the costs associated with product recalls. In 2015, Australian leading frozen food supplier, Patties was forced to recall Nanna’s and Creative…

Suppliers - choose packaging with product safety in mind

We’ve all seen courier vans buzzing around our streets delivering goods that have been purchased online. Are the couriers careful with the boxes? Are the goods in sound condition when they arrive? I recently read an article in Melbourne’s…
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Podcast interview - David Schwebel

  Also available on iTunes. Gail:           Thank you David for agreeing to the interview. Your work centres around preventing unintentional injury in children, adolescents and young adults. I think that’s quite…
Furniture tip-over guide

Workshop: Furniture tip-over prevention best practice

Momentum is building for furniture suppliers to play their part in helping prevent tip-over injuries. Government agencies are pressing for action; Customers are demanding safer, compliant products; Insurers are considering their options.…

Product safety podcast - Interview with Jeremy Opperer

Welcome to this Maze podcast. I’m Gail Greatorex of Product Safety Solutions and this is an interview I did with Dr Jeremy Opperer from Exponent in the UK while we were attending International Product Safety Week in Brussels last November. Jeremy…