Toy Safety Standard in Need for Urgent Revisions. Germany Calls
Germany has filed a formal objection to the toy safety standard EN 71-1 due to concerns raised after a child sustained a significant finger injury while playing with a three-wheeled ride-on toy.
Germany has filed a formal objection to the toy safety standard EN 71-1 due to concerns raised after a child sustained a significant finger injury while playing with a three-wheeled ride-on toy. This incident has highlighted safety deficiencies within the current standards, prompting the need for urgent revisions to ensure toy safety.
Upon closer inspection, this ride-on toy, classified under the Toy Safety Directive (Directive 2009/48/EC) and EN 71-1, revealed several danger points that demand immediate attention.
Identified Danger Points:
1. Crush Risk: The design flaw in the wheel spokes and the gap between the wheel fork blade and the wheel pose a significant risk of crushing a child's fingers.
2. Shearing Risk: Fingers can easily enter the spokes of the front wheel during use, exposing them to the potential of shearing injuries.
3. Jamming Risk: The unrestricted steering angle allows for a child to put their entire hand into the opening between the front wheel and its fork, leading to potential hand entrapment and jamming.
Current Standards and Shortcomings:
It was noted that ride-on toys, especially smaller models, where the wheel is close to the seat and accessible while in use, pose a higher risk of injuries. The particular design of these toys allows children to use their feet to power and steer the toy, leaving their hands free. This increases the risk of fingers being crushed, shorn, lacerated, or torn off, or fingers and hands being pulled into gaps by the force of the wheel.
The current safety standards for ride-on toys, as outlined in Directive 2009/48/EC and EN 71-1, do not fully address the dangers posed by this category of ride-on toy.
EN 71-1's product-specific requirements do not adequately encompass the unique features and risks associated with ride-on toys. The absence of generic, hazard-based regulations leaves room for potential harm, especially considering the nature of children's play behaviour and the inherent delay in their reaction time to incidents.
Call for Revisions:
To address these safety gaps, a compelling case is made for the revision of EN 71-1:2014+A1:2018, particularly focusing on points 3.19 and 4.15. Proposed changes include specific requirements to prevent crushing, shearing, and trapping risks, accounting for the anatomy of human tissue and the dynamic forces at play during use.
Urgent Regulatory Action:
In light of the inadequacies found, Germany calls for immediate action under Article 19(3) of Directive 2009/48/EC for an EC-type examination. The absence of a harmonised standard covering all relevant safety requirements for this ride-on toy category necessitates urgent regulatory attention and revision.