Kids' science kits may take hit from safety ruling

YahooNews ^ | Sep 29, 2010 | JENNIFER C. KERR

[Daffynition]

WASHINGTON – One of the tools that teachers use to get kids jazzed about science — hands-on science kits — could face an uncertain future amid a debate on safety.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission has been mired for weeks in deliberation as it writes guidelines on what makes a product a "children's product" — and consequently which products would have to undergo more stringent safety testing as part of a 2008 law. Caught up in the debate are the classroom science kits and some of the items they contain, such as paper clips to show kids how magnets work.

Science kit makers asked for a testing exemption for the paper clips and other materials. The commission declined to grant them a blanket waiver as part of the guidance the agency approved Wednesday on a 3-2 vote.

The guidance for businesses is supposed to help sort out which products have to be tested under legislation passed by Congress over two years ago that requires rigorous safety checks for lead, chemicals, flammability and other potential dangers.

[Daffynition]

[Daffynition]

Those *Gilberts* were W-O-N-D-E-R-F-U-L!

[Daffynition]

[Daffynition]

That set is a thing of BEAUTY!

[tnlibertarian]

No harsh chemicals or sharp tools or fire is used

Well, maybe not by you...

[Daffynition]

WWMcD?

[Daffynition]

Another cunning plan.....................

[Daffynition]

Chemistry. It's a career.

[FourPeas]

Why are people in positions of authority in this country trying to make us look like pathetic fools?

[Professional Engineer]

Paper clips?

Good thing they didn’t go after the scalpel.

[Daffynition]

Or a house! ;)

[Roccus]

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks Daffynition. I've very relieved. Wearing protective eyewear (at least) try dumping a pile of table salt in a sturdy bowl and dump in some Everclear. S'cool. Saw it on TV once. Can't remember the show, it was a cop drama. Had to catch the episode in rerun, on the recommendation of my childhood friend, the late Fred Smith. ;')

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[SunkenCiv]

nuclear reactor smoke detector michigan site:freerepublic.com

Google

[samtheman]

I'd like to know what testing is done on paperclips. I have several around my house & I'd like to test them.

Do you swallow a bunch of them & then see what happens? Do you straighten them out & poke yourself in the eye or ear? Are they dangerous to use during kinky sex?

Shouldn't we be teaching kids how to safely handle, store & use paperclips, to avoid potential disaster? I'd hate to see a recent graduate die on his/her first day on the job from a deadly first encounter with a paperclip.

How many people are employed at the CPSC testing paper clips? 10? 100? 1,000? How many mice, dogs, & monkeys have died or were maimed testing paper clips?

Finally, why do most worthwhile gov’t programs become a public farce that degenerate into nothing more that a jobs program for relatives, friends, & cronies?

You ask excellent questions, and you ask them with the appropriate spirit of skepticism and ridicule, but you left out the most important question:

How much do these a-holes get paid for DEBATING whether and how to test paperclips?

What a farce. What a complete and total rip-off farce.

Tar and feathers. That's what we need to clean this government out.

Tar and feathers.

[onedoug]

Ah, but a microscope....

[Screaming_Gerbil]

The good old days...

[AlexW]

“The good old days..” Gilbert chemistry set..

My brothers, twins, each had one just like that, but, IIRC, twice the size (early 50s). The blue cabinet and bottles look exactly the same. My father also had gas lines for Bunsen burners installed in the workshop.

[Protect the Bill of Rights]

Saving the chidren from paper clips!!!!
Is this a great country or what?

[Screaming_Gerbil]

Thanks for reminding us on the dangers of some bright young kid with just enough knowledge to get himself into serious trouble...

http://www.dangerouslaboratories.org/radscout.html

Warning - The picture of David Hahn at the link is not pleasant to look at...

Police say that Hahn's face was covered with open sores, possibly from constant exposure to radioactive materials.