Latest news with #safetyhazard
South China Morning Post
03-06-2025
- Business
- South China Morning Post
Keeta's dangerous order-grabbing mechanism should be scrapped
Feel strongly about these letters, or any other aspects of the news? Share your views by emailing us your Letter to the Editor at [email protected] or filling in this Google form . Submissions should not exceed 400 words, and must include your full name and address, plus a phone number for verification Advertisement I refer to the article , 'Keeta riders stage third strike in Hong Kong over pay, work conditions' (May 22), which highlighted the danger of the food delivery platform's order-grabbing mechanism that has drivers vying for jobs while on the road. In the fast-paced food delivery industry, such a feature poses a significant safety hazard. Instead of automatically assigning orders, this mechanism has riders taking on orders on a first come, first served basis, so they must watch out for pop-up alerts on the app and react quickly. This leads to reckless competition, distracted riding and a higher risk of accidents. The system is flawed and urgently needs reform – or even a ban. In an open letter last week, Keeta said nearly 90 per cent of orders were assigned to drivers, while only a small percentage of orders go out through the order-grabbing mechanism, which is intended to supplement drivers' income. I believe the most effective solution is to scrap this feature. Keeta should assign all orders automatically and adopt artificial intelligence-powered distribution to ensure fairness. Advertisement If Keeta refuses to abandon the order-grabbing mechanism, it must disable order acceptance when a rider is moving faster than 10km/h or in motion for more than three seconds. It should also penalise drivers for reckless riding and suspend those caught accepting orders while driving.
The Sun
27-05-2025
- General
- The Sun
Stroller urgently recalled over ‘high risk' of babies and toddlers choking as parents warned to stop using immediately
A POPULAR baby pram has been urgently recalled amid concerns it could cause serious harm to young children. Parents have been warned to stop using the stroller immediately as it can pose a potential choking hazard. 1 The At Performance stroller has been recalled as it poses a 'high risk' of asphyxiation to babies and toddlers when being used. A report from The Office for Product Safety and Standards (OPSS) revealed the risk in an urgent product safety report. The report claims that the Z1 Black and Z1 Gray models are those which pose a safety risk to young children if put in an upright position. It reads: "The product presents a high risk of asphyxiation due to the lack of warnings, instructions and safety information. "Without access to this information, a parent or carer could place the baby in the product in an upright position. "If the baby fell asleep, their head could drop forwards, restricting airflow to the lungs and potentially causing positional asphyxia." As a result, the item does not meet the requirements of the General Product Safety Regulations 2005 and corrective measures have been implemented as a result. This includes imports of the item being rejected at the border with the strollers originally coming from China. The product was recalled on May 23 2025. The stroller is advertised online for as much as £500 and is described as suitable for children up to 36 months. Its description boasts a functional 3-in-1 pushchair that can also be used as an infant carrier and car seat. One of the features mentioned is the stroller backrest which "can be reclined to the lie-flat position in three increments" but if made upright, it presents a potentially fatal risk to a baby or toddler. The At Performance stroller isn't the only baby item to be recalled recently either. Just last month, parents were warned that a Newborn 0-3 Month Hooded Teddy Bear Sleeping Bag, sold via eBay, posed a serious suffocation risk. Some of the items were missing arm openings, meaning a baby may slip down if unattended, while others include a hood which could potentially cover their head or face if left alone. Parents were warned to "stop using them immediately". Earlier this month, ASDA was also forced to recall baby clothes after issuing an urgent warning to parents. The George baby zip rompers had a manufacturing issue that meant some of the zips potentially had sharp edges. ASDA warned it affected all sizes and urged parents to return the item for a full refund. And another trendy pram was recalled earlier this year over concerns with its parking brake. Parents were urged to check if their Stokke YOYO 3 Pram was part of the recall as the £319 stroller may experience an unintentional release of the brake during use, putting children at risk of an insecurely parked pram.
The Sun
14-05-2025
- General
- The Sun
Popular children's toy sold in UK urgently recalled over ‘risk of choking' as parents warned ‘stop using it immediately'
AN URGENT warning has been issued to parents after a popular kid's toy was recalled. Smyths have pulled a magic tricks box from the shelves after a chocking hazard saw it fail to meet safety requirements. 1 The Fantasma Delux Top Hat set comes with a plush rabbit, top hat, cape and over 150 tricks. But there's a risk of the rabbit's nose falling off, which is small enough to become lodged in a child's throat. The product therefore does not meet the requirements of the Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011. A Smyths spokesperson said: "Smyths Toys are voluntarily recalling four batches of Ref.: 198567 Fantasma Magic Set Deluxe due to possible issues with small parts (the eyes of the plush rabbit) detaching too easily. "This may present a choking hazard for younger children." The barcode and item number are 0816344015286 and 198567, respectively. Affected batches include 2401-6009ML-BK, 2406-6009ML-BK, 2407-6009ML-BK, and 2408-6009ML-BK. More information about the recall can be found on the Smyths website under their Product Information section. Shoppers who have the toy are advised to stop using it immediately and away from children. Customers can return the product to their local branch and will be issued a refund. Smyths have a handy store locator which will help direct you to the nearest site. A warning on reads: "The product presents a risk of choking as the plush rabbit's nose may become loose and detach, producing a small part capable of fitting entirely inside of a small parts cylinder. "A young child may put the small part in their mouth and choke. "The product does not meet the requirements of the Toys (Safety) Regulations 2011." This comes after a plush kids toy was urgently recalled after not meeting safety standards last month. The swanky product posed a 'serious' risk of choking to children. And, another popular kids toy sold on Amazon was also recalled over a 'serious risk' of choking. The Togetdream 3D Printed Dinosaur Toy presented "a serious risk of choking as it is supplied with a small part, and is inappropriately labelled", the OPSS said. Shoppers were also warned over a seven-piece toy set for kids sold by Costco in the UK. The Long Handle Hoe and Rake in Stanley Jr. Kids Wheelbarrow and seven-piece Garden Sets have been urgently pulled from shelves. Office for Product Safety and Standards officials confirmed yellow paint on the hoe and rake handles contains "excess concentrations of migratable lead". Health risks of exposure include kidney damage, problems in the circulatory system and developing brains. Your product recall rights Chief consumer reporter James Flanders reveals all you need to know. Product recalls are an important means of protecting consumers from dangerous goods. As a general rule, if a recall involves a branded product, the manufacturer would usually have lead responsibility for the recall action. But it's often left up to supermarkets to notify customers when products could put them at risk. If you are concerned about the safety of a product you own, always check the manufacturer's website to see if a safety notice has been issued. When it comes to appliances, rather than just food items, the onus is usually on you - the customer - to register the appliance with the manufacturer as if you don't there is no way of contacting you to tell you about a fault. If you become aware that an item you own has been recalled or has any safety noticed issued against it, make sure you follow the instructions given to you by the manufacturer. They should usually provide you with more information and a contact number on its safety notice. In some cases, the manufacturer might ask you to return the item for a full refund or arrange for the faulty product to be collected. You should not be charged for any recall work - such as a repair, replacement or collection of the recalled item
CBS News
12-05-2025
- CBS News
Don't participate in TikTok Chromebook challenge, Pittsburgh-area school district warns students
A Pittsburgh-area school district is warning kids not to stick objects in the ports of their Chromebooks, saying the dangerous TikTok trend poses a serious safety hazard. What is the TikTok Chromebook challenge? The Carlynton School District superintendent wrote a letter to parents, raising concerns about a trend that encourages students to put foreign objects like pencils into the ports of Chromebooks in an attempt to cause the laptop to produce smoke or catch on fire. "Please be aware that Chromebooks and similar devices contain lithium-ion batteries, which, when compromised, can reach temperatures exceeding 900°F and produce toxic smoke. Fires involving these batteries are difficult to extinguish and pose a serious safety hazard," Carlynton Superintendent John W. Kreider wrote. Students could face criminal charges, district warns Students who tamper with devices will be disciplined and could even be suspended or expelled, Kreider said. Students who try to catch their Chromebooks on fire may even be referred to law enforcement. In Ohio, a 15-year-old Eastern Heights Middle School student was charged with felony counts of arson and vandalism after police said he tampered with his Chromebook, filling a classroom with smoke, CBS affiliate WOIO reported. While Kreider says he hasn't received any reports of this happening in the Carlynton School District, he's asking parents to talk to their kids about "the dangers of participating in harmful online trends." Students who see anyone tampering with a device are asked to report it to an adult. "We strongly urge all students to use their school-issued devices responsibly and to never engage in activities that could endanger their own safety or the safety of others," Kreider said.
News24
07-05-2025
- Automotive
- News24
Recalled in SA: ‘Choking hazard' baby toy, faulty ebike batteries
• For more financial news, go to the News24 Business front page. The National Consumer Commission (NCC) on Wednesday confirmed the recall of two products: a toy sold with a Fisher-Price baby activity table, as well as the lithium-ion batteries of some Santa Cruz ebikes. Mattel South Africa notified the NCC that a tissue box-shaped toy sold as part of the Fisher-Price 3-in-1 SnugaPuppy Activity Centre had been recalled. Due to a defect, the detachable tissue box toy can come apart, exposing the support brackets. 'This poses a choking hazard to young children,' the NCC said in a statement. 'Consumers are urged to immediately stop using the recalled tissue box toy, remove it from the activity centre, and keep it away from young children.' The product has been sold since 2023 via Amazon, Takealot, Toy Kingdom and others. Owners should contact Fisher-Price to return the tissue toy box, but will only get refunds for the toy – not the activity centre. Ebike batteries Meanwhile, the US bicycle producer Santa Cruz has recalled lithium-ion batteries of its Santa Cruz Heckler 9 ebikes. The interchangeable 720w lithium-ion battery resides inside a black case under the frame. An investigation by Santa Cruz found that a small number of batteries supplied to certain Heckler ebikes may be at an increased risk of an electrical short circuit. 'In such cases, this may pose a fire hazard, resulting in a risk of injury or property damage.' Consumers are urged to stop using the e-bikes immediately and disconnect the battery from the Heckler 9 e-bike and charger. They can check whether their battery is affected by visiting the Santa Cruz Bicycles recall page. If affected, they can register to receive a replacement battery at no extra cost. The Santa Cruz Heckler 9 ebikes have been sold in South Africa since February 2022.
