The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) on Wednesday voted unanimously to advance a proposal targeting all portable generators sold in the United States that would enable them to emit less carbon monoxide and shut down automatically if the odorless, potentially toxic gas reaches a certain level.
CPSC Commissioner Mary T. Boyle on Wednesday (pdf) confirmed that the federal regulatory agency voted unanimously to advance a rule that would “protect unsuspecting consumers from carbon monoxide poisoning associated with portable generators,” noting that it is a “well-documented hazard, responsible for more than 1,300 deaths and 17,000 injuries over the past 18 years.”
“By advancing this rulemaking process, we are taking action aimed squarely at preventing harm and saving lives,” Boyle wrote. “The proposed rule before us sets clear, science-based expectations for manufacturers. It requires them to build safer generators with lower emissions and automatic shut-off mechanisms. The specifics in the rule match up with standards developed by industry-led organizations.”…