Comment from Sean Camp

As a safety-minded consumer, I wholeheartedly agree with this proposed regulation. At its most basic level; this regulation simply passes the “common sense test” and is, in my own opinion, long overdue. While the Underwriters Laboratories (UL) Standards for Safety, UL 1727 and UL 859 specifically, have done a significant job in reducing the reported injuries/fatalities from electrocution by hand-held dryers; adding such devices to the Product Hazard List will hopefully/finally negate such injuries all together. While focused primarily on the benefit to the consumer; my research has not uncovered any negative reaction from manufactures with regard to this proposed regulation. This is likely due to the fact that, as you have already stated, the overwhelming majority of hair dryers sold in the U.S. are already UL listed. Since the majority of businesses (both large and small) are already in compliance with the voluntary standard, the proposed rule is not expected to pose a significant burden. Further research has indicated that the majority of hand-held dyers that do NOT meet the UL standards are being imported from Asian/Pacific manufactures. Based on three of the most recent recalls of hand-held dyers (Vintage Int’l – June 2009, Universalink Int’l Trading – April 2009, and Big Lots Stores, Inc. – March 2009); manufacturers in Thailand, Taiwan, and China continue to trade human safety for cost-savings and this is unacceptable. One would hope that these manufacturers and the U.S. importers of their goods would realize that the dollars lost in including immersion protection are insignificant when compared to the potential dollars lost through civil liability suits. Regardless if they do not, this regulation will protect U.S. consumers from accidental electrocutions by stopping these products at the borders once and for all. Immersion protection may cost consumers more at the register, but the peace of mind it provides and the lives it protects is invaluable.