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As we enter the holiday season, most of us will be shopping for toys for the children on our lists. The ASTM International (American Society for Testing and Materials) announced October 20, 2016 that the World Toy Safety Standard has been updated and will be published as F963-16: Standard Consumer Safety Specification for Toy Safety. F963 was created in 1986 by ASTM International Committee on Consumer Products (F15), and is the modern edition of the world’s first comprehensive safety standard, dating to 1976.  

The 2016 update includes the following changes, among others: 

• New requirements to the already-extensive section on battery safety;
• Soaking and compression tests for magnets;
• Changes to requirements for toys involving projectiles;
• New requirements for materials and toys that could expand if accidentally swallowed;
• New requirements and clarifications related to microbiological safety;
• Clarifications to requirements related to heavy elements in the substrate materials of toys and the addition of an optional, alternate test method for total screen testing;
• A new curb impact requirement, a clarification of overload and stability requirements, and a strap exemption for ride-on toys; and,
• Clarification of requirements and supplemental guidance for impact hazards. 

The ASTM standards are used by manufacturers, importers, and retailers when designing and selling products to be sure they comply with laws such as the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Act and the Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act (CPSIA), which mandates that all toys comply with F963. 

Regulatory bodies and testing laboratories also use the standard. For example, labs use the requirements and test methods within the standard to check for compliance and to support certification, as required under CPSIA, according to PRNewsWire.

With more than three billion toys and games being manufactured and sold each year, the ASTM toy safety standards outlines which tests toys should pass in order to be sold in the U.S. These guidelines are for things such as labeling and packaging along with whether the toys can withstand the typical wear and tear of use, whether small pieces beak off if a toy is dropped and whether a stuffed toy rips at the seams when tugged. 

Although some defects may be easy to see, such as sharp edges, other defects may not be as obvious. Some defects also are much more prevalent than others. Defects in toys may cause serious injury and death. It is reported that about 252,800 children have been treated over the last five years for toy-related injuries. 

Examples of defective toy injuries: 

Burns: Yuka Clothing recalled Wheeli, 2 Wheelz, Back to the Future, Mobile Tech, Hover Shark, NWS, X Glider and X Rider self-balancing scooters/hoverboards in July 2016 because the lithium-ion battery packs can overheat, posing a risk of smoking, catching fire or exploding. 

Intestinal Blockage: March 2014, when over 21,000 units of Design Idea Neatlife Rubber Duck Magnets were recalled, because young children were swallowing the magnets, which in turn caused intestinal blockage. 

Lead Poisoning: Since July 2007, twenty million toys made in China have been recalled for having excessive lead paint levels. Lead is a neurotoxin, which can attack the kidneys and nervous system and prevent growth and development. Children with lead poisoning can show cognitive and behavioral changes, lower IQ scores, impulsivity and an inability to control anger, according to the CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission). 

Choking/Suffocation: Choking is the most common cause of toy-related deaths among children. Alex Toys recalled its infant building play sets in August 2016 because small parts of the toy can detach and be swallowed, causing a choking hazard, according to the Seattle Times. 

Chemical Poisoning and Burns: Since 1985, over 45,000 children younger than six have ingested “button batteries”, with a dramatic increase in more recent years. 

Organizations, like Safe Kids, routinely monitor and list recalled products on their website. Here is a link to the website to be sure the toys you are considering purchasing are safe: https://www.safekids.org/product-recalls. 

“When choosing a toy for a child this holiday season, please choose wisely and age appropriately. Check the SafeKids.org website for toy recalls at the link above. Should a child be injured playing with a toy, please contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A. We have an experienced team handling defective-toy injuries and deaths,” said Fort Myers Child Injury Attorney

, Randall Spivey. 

Fort Myers Defective Product Attorney, Randall L. Spivey is a Board Certified Trial Attorney – the highest recognition for competence bestowed by the Florida Bar and a distinction earned by just one (1%) percent of Florida attorneys.  He has handled over 2,000 personal injury and wrongful death cases throughout Florida.  For a free and confidential consultation to discuss your legal rights, contact the Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A., in Lee County at 239.337.7483 or toll free at 1.888.477.4839,or by email to Randall@SpiveyLaw.com.  Visit SpiveyLaw.com for more information.  You can contact Spivey Law Firm, Personal Injury Attorneys, P.A.in Charlotte County at 941.764.7748 and in Collier County 239.793.7748.