How to Send a Defective Helmet to CPSC
Summary: How we send to CPSC's Compliance Division an apparently defective helmet or one we have reason to
believe does not meet their helmet standard.
Letterhead
Date
Director, Office of Compliance
Consumer Product Safety Commission
Washington, DC 20207
Dear Mr. Director:
Enclosed is a Xxxxxx Xxxxx helmet. The box carries the address of the [manufacturer] [importer] [retailer].
The box and a sticker inside the helmet certify that it passes the CPSC bicycle helmet standard. We are concerned
that
[apparent problem]
may cause this helmet not to meet the standard's requirements, and recommend that you test this model in your lab.
Sincerely yours,
Signature
Title if any
What Response Should You Expect?
None. None at all. CPSC's compliance office is staffed with competent and conscientious civil servants who do their jobs
as well as possible under some difficult conditions but have been told that they must never under any circumstances
divulge to anyone but the manufacturer the results of their investigations until an actual recall is announced. None of
the helmets we have ever sent to them has been recalled. Attempts to ask questions about the process or the results of
testing produce a "deer in the headlights" reaction and no information. But we continue sending them helmets, and we know
that some manufacturers rat out their competitors, because it is the only way to do anything about a sub-standard helmet
being sold in the marketplace. We recommend that you do too, but don't expect gratifying feedback!
You can use CPSC's website
To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, call CPSC's hotline at 800-638-2772 or visit CPSC's website at
www.cpsc.gov.
You can also report defective products at
SaferProducts.gov.