[Title 16 CFR 1000]
[Code of Federal Regulations (annual edition) - January 1, 2002 Edition]
[Title 16 - COMMERCIAL PRACTICES]
[Chapter II - CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION]
[Subchapter A - GENERAL]
[Part 1000 - COMMISSION ORGANIZATION AND FUNCTIONS]
[From the U.S. Government Printing Office]


16COMMERCIAL PRACTICES22002-01-012002-01-01false1000PART 1000COMMERCIAL PRACTICESCONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSIONGENERAL
PART 1000--COMMISSION ORGANIZATION AND FUNCTIONS--Table of Contents




Sec.
1000.1 The Commission.
1000.2 Laws administered.
1000.3 Hotline.
1000.4 Commission address.
1000.5 Petitions.
1000.6 Commission decisions and records.
1000.7 Advisory opinions and interpretations of regulations.
1000.8 Meetings and hearings; public notice.
1000.9 Quorum.
1000.10 The Chairman and Vice Chairman.
1000.11 Delegation of functions.
1000.12 Organizational structure.
1000.13 Directives system.
1000.14 Office of the General Counsel.
1000.15 Office of Congressional Relations.
1000.16 Office of the Secretary.
1000.17 Office of the Inspector General.
1000.18 Office of Equal Employment Opportunity and Minority Enterprise.
1000.19 Office of Executive Director.
1000.20 Office of the Budget.
1000.21 Office of Hazard Identification and Reduction.
1000.22 Office of Planning and Evaluation.
1000.23 Office of Information and Public Affairs.
1000.24 Office of Compliance.
1000.25 Office of Human Resources Management.
1000.26 Office of Information Services.
1000.27 Directorate for Epidemiology.
1000.28 Directorate for Health Sciences.
1000.29 Directorate for Economic Analysis.
1000.30 Directorate for Engineering Sciences.
1000.31 Directorate for Laboratory Sciences.
1000.32 Directorate for Administration.
1000.33 Directorate for Field Operations.

    Authority: 5 U.S.C. 552(a).

    Source: 56 FR 30496, July 3, 1991, unless otherwise noted.



Sec. 1000.1  The Commission.

    (a) The Consumer Product Safety Commission is an independent 
regulatory agency which was formed on May 14, 1973, under the provisions 
of the Consumer Product Safety Act (Pub. L. 92-573, 86 Stat. 1207, as 
amended (15 U.S.C. 2051, et seq.)). The purposes of the Commission under 
the CPSA are:
    (1) To protect the public against unreasonable risks of injury 
associated with consumer products;
    (2) To assist consumers in evaluating the comparative safety of 
consumer products;
    (3) To develop uniform safety standards for consumer products and to 
minimize conflicting State and local regulations; and
    (4) To promote research and investigation into the causes and 
prevention of product-related deaths, illnesses, and injuries.
    (b) The Commission is composed of five members appointed by the 
President, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate, for terms 
of seven years.



Sec. 1000.2  Laws administered.

    The Commission administers five acts:
    (a) The Consumer Product Safety Act (Pub. L. 92-573, 86 Stat. 1207, 
as amended (15 U.S.C. 2051, et seq.)).
    (b) The Flammable Fabrics Act (Pub. L. 90-189, 67 Stat. 111, as 
amended (15 U.S.C. 1191, et seq.)).
    (c) The Federal Hazardous Substances Act (Pub. L. 86-613, 74 Stat. 
380, as amended (15 U.S.C. 1261, et seq.)).
    (d) The Poison Prevention Packaging Act of 1970 (Pub. L. 91-601, 84 
Stat. 1670, as amended (15 U.S.C. 1471, et seq.)).
    (e) The Refrigerator Safety Act of 1956 (Pub. L. 84-930, 70 Stat. 
953, (15 U.S.C. 1211, et seq.)).



Sec. 1000.3  Hotline.

    (a) The Commission operates a toll-free telephone Hotline by which 
the public can communicate with the Commission. The number for use in 
all 50 states is 1-800-638-CPSC (1-800-638-2772).
    (b) The Commission also operates a toll-free Hotline by which 
hearing or speech-impaired persons can communicate by teletypewriter 
with the Commission. The teletypewriter number for use in all states is 
1-800-638-8270.
    (c) The Commission also makes information available to the public 
product recall information, its public calendar, and other information 
through its

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Internet gopher service at Internet address cpsc.gov. The public may 
also report product hazards or other information to the Commission at 
its electronic mail address: [email protected].
    (d) The Commission also provides a fax-on-demand service from which 
the public can request Commission documents by calling 1-301-504-0051 
from the handset of a facsimile machine.

[56 FR 30496, July 3, 1991, as amended at 59 FR 66673, Dec. 28, 1994]



Sec. 1000.4  Commission address.

    (a) The principal Offices of the Commission are at 4330 East West 
Highway, Bethesda, Maryland. All U.S. Postal Service mail communications 
with the Commission should be addressed to the Consumer Product Safety 
Commission, Washington, DC 20207-0001, unless otherwise specifically 
directed. Materials sent by private express services or by messenger 
should be addressed to the Consumer Product Safety Commission, 4330 East 
West Highway, Bethesda, Maryland 20814-4408.
    (b) The Commission has 3 Regional Centers which are located at the 
following addresses and which serve the states and territories 
indicated:
    (1) Central Regional Center, 230 South Dearborn St., room 2944, 
Chicago, Illinois 60604-1601; Alabama, Georgia, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, 
Kansas, Kentucky, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Missouri, Nebraska, 
North Dakota, Ohio, South Dakota, Tennessee, and Wisconsin.
    (2) Eastern Regional Center, 6 World Trade Center, Vesey Street, 
room 350, New York, New York 10048-0950; Connecticut, Delaware, District 
of Columbia, Florida, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New 
Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Puerto Rico, Rhode 
Island, South Carolina, Vermont, Virginia, West Virginia, and Virgin 
Islands.
    (3) Western Regional Center, 600 Harrison St., room 245, San 
Francisco, California 94107-1370; Alaska, American Samoa, Arizona, 
Arkansas, California, Colorado, Guam, Hawaii, Idaho, Louisiana, Montana, 
Nevada, New Mexicao, Oklahoma, Oregon, Texas, Utah, Washington, and 
Wyoming.

[56 FR 30496, July 3, 1991; 56 FR 67174, Dec. 30, 1991, as amended at 58 
FR 64120, Dec. 6, 1993; 59 FR 66673, Dec. 28, 1994]



Sec. 1000.5  Petitions.

    Any interested person may petition the Commission to issue, amend, 
or revoke a rule or regulation by submitting a written request to the 
Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, DC 20207.



Sec. 1000.6  Commission decisions and records.

    (a) Each decision of the Commission, acting in an official capacity 
as a collegial body, is recorded in Minutes of Commission meetings or as 
a separate Record of Commission Action. Copies of Minutes or of a Record 
of Commission Action may be obtained upon written request from the 
Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, DC 20207, or 
may be examined in the public reading room at Commission headquarters. 
Requests should identify the subject matter of the Commission action and 
the approximate date of the Commission action, if known.
    (b) Other records in the custody of the Commission may be requested 
in writing from the Office of the Secretary pursuant to the Commission's 
Procedures for Disclosure or Production of Information under the Freedom 
of Information Act (16 CFR part 1015).



Sec. 1000.7  Advisory opinions and interpretations of regulations.

    (a) Advisory opinions. Upon written request, the General Counsel 
provides written advisory opinions interpreting the acts the Commission 
administers. Advisory opinions represent the legal opinions of the 
General Counsel and may be changed or superseded by the Commission. 
Requests for issuance of advisory opinions should be sent to the General 
Counsel, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, DC 20207. 
Requests for copies of particular previously issued advisory opinions or 
a copy of an index of such opinions should be submitted to the Office of 
the Secretary, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, DC 20207.

[[Page 9]]

    (b) Interpretations of regulations. Upon written request, the 
Assistant Executive Director for Compliance will issue written 
interpretations of Commission regulations pertaining to the safety 
standards and the enforcement of those standards. Interpretations of 
regulations represent the interpretations of the staff and may be 
changed or superseded by the Commission. Requests for such 
interpretations should be sent to the Assistant Executive Director for 
Compliance, Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, DC 20207. 
Requests for interpretations of administrative regulations (e.g., 
Freedom of Information Act regulations) should be sent to the Secretary, 
Consumer Product Safety Commission, Washington, DC 20207.

[56 FR 30496, July 3, 1991, as amended at 60 FR 26825, May 19, 1995]



Sec. 1000.8  Meetings and hearings; public notice.

    (a) The Commission may meet and exercise all its powers in any 
place.
    (b) Meetings of the Commission are held as ordered by the Commission 
and, unless otherwise ordered, are held at the principal office of the 
Commission at 4330 East West Highway, Bethesda, Maryland. Meetings of 
the Commission for the purpose of jointly conducting the formal business 
of the agency, including the rendering of official decisions, are 
generally announced in advanced and open to the public, as provided by 
the Government in the Sunshine Act (5 U.S.C. 552b) and the Commission's 
Meetings Policy (16 CFR part 1012).
    (c) The Commission may conduct any hearing or other inquiry 
necessary or appropriate to its functions anywhere in the United States. 
It will publish a notice of any proposed hearing in the Federal Register 
and will afford a reasonable opportunity for interested persons to 
present relevant testimony and data.
    (d) Notices of Commission meetings, Commission hearings, and other 
Commission activities are published in a Public Calendar, as provided in 
the Commission's Meetings Policy (16 CFR part 1012).

[56 FR 30496, July 3, 1991, as amended at 62 FR 46667, Sept. 4, 1997]



Sec. 1000.9  Quorum.

    Three members of the Commission constitute a quorum for the 
transaction of business. If there are only three members serving on the 
Commission because of vacancies, two members constitute a quorum. If 
there are only two members serving on the Commission because of 
vacancies, two members constitute a quorum, but only for six months from 
the time the number of members was reduced to two.



Sec. 1000.10  The Chairman and Vice Chairman.

    (a) The Chairman is the principal executive officer of the 
Commission and, subject to the general policies of the Commission and to 
such regulatory decisions, findings, and determinations as the 
Commission is by law authorized to make, he or she exercises all of the 
executive and administrative functions of the Commission.
    (b) The Commission annually elects a Vice Chairman to act in the 
absence or disability of the Chairman or in case of a vacancy in the 
Office of the Chairman.



Sec. 1000.11  Delegation of functions.

    Section 27(b)(9) of the Consumer Product Safety Act (15 U.S.C. 
2076(b)(9)) authorizes the Commission to delegate any of its functions 
and powers, other than the power to issue subpoenas, to any officer or 
employee of the Commission. Delegations are published in the 
Commission's Directives System.



Sec. 1000.12  Organizational structure.

    The Consumer Product Safety Commission is composed of the principal 
units listed in this section.
    (a) The following units report directly to the Chairman of the 
Commission:
    (1) Office of the General Counsel;
    (2) Office of Congressional Relations;
    (3) Office of the Secretary;
    (4) Office of the Inspector General;
    (5) Office of Equal Employment Opportunity and Minority Enterprise;
    (6) Office of the Executive Director.
    (b) The following units report directly to the Executive Director of 
the Commission:

[[Page 10]]

    (1) Office of the Budget;
    (2) Office of Hazard Identification and Reduction;
    (3) Office of Information and Public Affairs;
    (4) Office of Compliance;
    (5) Office of Planning and Evaluation;
    (6) Office of Human Resources Management;
    (7) Office of Information Services;
    (8) Directorate for Administration;
    (9) Directorate for Field Operations.
    (c) The following units report directly to the Assistant Executive 
Director for Hazard Identification and Reduction:
    (1) Directorate for Economic Analysis;
    (2) Directorate for Epidemiology;
    (3) Directorate for Health Sciences;
    (4) Directorate for Engineering Sciences;
    (5) Directorate for Laboratory Sciences.

[61 FR 1707, Jan. 23, 1996, as amended at 64 FR 66579, Nov. 29, 1999]



Sec. 1000.13  Directives system.

    The Commission maintains a Directives System which contains 
delegations of authority and descriptions of Commission programs, 
policies, and procedures. A complete set of directives is available for 
inspection in the public reading room at Commission headquarters.



Sec. 1000.14  Office of the General Counsel.

    The Office of the General Counsel provides advice and counsel to the 
Commissioners and organizational components of the Commission on matters 
of law arising from operations of the Commission. It prepares the 
Commission's legislative program and comments on relevant legislative 
proposals originating elsewhere. The Office, in conjunction with the 
Department of Justice, is responsible for the conduct of all Federal 
court litigation to which the Commission is a party. The Office also 
advises the Commission on administrative litigation matters. The Office 
provides final legal review of and makes recommendations to the 
Commission on proposed product safety standards, rules, regulations, 
petition actions, and substantial hazard actions. It also provides legal 
review of certain procurement, personnel, and administrative actions and 
drafts documents for publication in the Federal Register.



Sec. 1000.15  Office of Congressional Relations.

    The Office of Congressional Relations is the principal contact with 
the committees and members of Congress. It performs liaison duties for 
the Commission, provides information and assistance to Congress on 
matters of Commission policy, and coordinates testimony and appearances 
by Commissioners and agency personnel before Congress.



Sec. 1000.16  Office of the Secretary.

    The Office of the Secretary prepares the Commission's agenda, 
schedules and coordinates Commission business at official meetings, and 
records, issues, and stores the official records of Commission actions. 
The Office prepares and publishes the Public Calendar under the 
Commission's Meetings Policy. The Office exercises joint responsibility 
with the Office of the General Counsel for the interpretation and 
application of the Privacy Act, Freedom of Information Act, and the 
Government in the Sunshine Act, and prepares reports required by these 
acts. It issues Commission decisions, orders, rules, and other official 
documents, including Federal Register notices, for and on behalf of the 
Commission and controls the use of the Commission seal. The Secretary of 
the Commission also serves as the agency's Advisory Committee Management 
Officer, and is responsible for managing the establishment, procedures, 
and accomplishments of all advisory committees utilized by the 
Commission. The Office supervises and administers the dockets of 
adjudicative proceedings before the Commission. The Office maintains the 
records of continuing guaranties of compliance with applicable standards 
of flammability issued under the Flammable Fabrics Act (FFA) which are 
filed with the Commission in accordance with provisions of section 8(a) 
of the FFA (15 U.S.C. 1197(a)). Upon request, the Office of the 
Secretary provides appropriate forms to persons and

[[Page 11]]

firms desiring to execute continuing guaranties under the FFA. The 
Office also supervises and administers the public reading room.



Sec. 1000.17  Office of the Inspector General.

    The Office of the Inspector General is an independent office 
established under the provisions of the Inspector General Act of 1978, 5 
U.S.C. appendix, as amended by the Inspector General Act Amendments of 
1988. This Office independently initiates, conducts, supervises, and 
coordinates audits, operations reviews, and investigations of Commission 
programs, activities, and operations. Reporting only to the Chairman, 
and under his or her general supervision, the Office also makes 
recommendations to promote economy, efficiency, and effectiveness within 
the Commission's programs and operations. The Office receives and 
investigates complaints or information concerning possible violations of 
law, rules, or regulations, mismanagement, abuse of authority, and waste 
of funds. It reviews existing and proposed legislation concerning the 
economy, efficiency, and effectiveness of such legislation on Commission 
operations.



Sec. 1000.18  Office of Equal Employment Opportunity and Minority Enterprise.

    The Office of Equal Employment Opportunity and Minority Enterprise 
assures compliance with all laws and regulations relating to equal 
employment opportunity in accordance with the Equal Employment Act of 
1972, 29 CFR part 1613, and section 8(a) of the Small Business Act. The 
Office reports directly to the Chairman and provides advice to the 
Chairman and Commission staff on EEO matters and the agency Procurement 
Preference Program. The Office manages the discrimination complaint 
process, the Upward Mobility Program, the stay-in-school program, and 
other special emphasis activities having to do with affirmative action 
employment practices. The Office makes recommendations to the Chairman 
on ways to promote equal opportunity in order to enhance the 
Commission's EEO posture.



Sec. 1000.19  Office of Executive Director.

    The Executive Director with the assistance of the Deputy Executive 
Director, under the broad direction of the Chairman and in accordance 
with Commission policy, acts as the chief operating manager of the 
agency, supporting the development of the agency's budget and operating 
plan before and after Commission approval, and managing the execution of 
those plans. The Executive Director has direct line authority over the 
following directorates and offices: the Directorate for Administration, 
the Directorate for Field Operations, the Office of the Budget, the 
Office of Hazard Identification and Reduction, the Office of Information 
and Public Affairs, the Office of Compliance, the Office of Planning and 
Evaluation, the Office of Human Resources Management, and the Office of 
Information Services.

[59 FR 66673, Dec. 28, 1994, as amended at 60 FR 26825, May 19, 1995]



Sec. 1000.20  Office of the Budget.

    The Office of the Budget is responsible for overseeing the 
development of the Commission's budget. The Office, in consultation with 
other offices and directorates, prepares, for the Commission's approval, 
the annual budget requests to Congress and the Office of Management and 
Budget and the operating plans for each fiscal year. It manages the 
execution of the Commission's budget. The Office recommends to the 
Office of the Executive Director actions to enhance effectiveness of the 
Commission's programs and activities.



Sec. 1000.21  Office of Hazard Identification and Reduction.

    The Office of Hazard Identification and Reduction, under the 
direction of the Assistant Executive Director for Hazard Identification 
and Reduction, is responsible for managing the Commission's Hazard 
Identification and Analysis Program and its Hazard Assessment and 
Reduction Program. The Office reports to the Executive Director, and has 
line authority over the Directorates for Epidemiology and Health 
Sciences, Economic Analysis, Engineering Sciences, and Laboratory

[[Page 12]]

Sciences. The Office develops strategies for and implements the agency's 
operating plans for these two hazard programs. This includes the 
collection and analysis of data to identify hazards and hazard patterns, 
the implementation of the Commission's safety standards development 
projects, the coordination of voluntary standards activities and 
international liaison activities related to consumer product safety, and 
providing overall direction and evaluation of projects involving hazard 
analysis, data collection, emerging hazards, mandatory and voluntary 
standards, petitions, and labeling rules. The Office assures that 
relevant technical, environmental, economic, and social impacts of 
projects are comprehensively and objectively presented to the Commission 
for decision.

[56 FR 30496, July 3, 1991, as amended at 61 FR 1708, Jan. 23, 1996]



Sec. 1000.22  Office of Planning and Evaluation.

    The Office of Planning and Evaluation reports to the Executive 
Director and is responsible for the Commission's planning and evaluation 
activities. It develops integrated short and long range plans for 
achieving the Commission's goals and objectives. The office is 
responsible for the development and analysis of both major policy and 
operational issues. Evaluation studies are conducted to determine how 
well the Commission fulfills its mission. These studies include impact 
and process evaluations of Commission programs, projects, functions, and 
activities. Recommendations are made to the Executive Director for 
changes to improve their efficiency and effectiveness. Management 
analyses and special studies are also conducted. These cover, but are 
not limited to, internal controls, organizational performance, 
structure, and productivity measurement. Recommendations are made to the 
Executive Director for improving management efficiency and 
effectiveness. The Office also coordinates, develops, and issues 
agencywide directives and manages the Commission's information 
collection budget and obtains Office of Management and Budget clearance 
for information collections.



Sec. 1000.23  Office of Information and Public Affairs.

    The Office of Information and Public Affairs, which is managed by 
the Director of the Office, is responsible for the development, 
implementation, and evaluation of a comprehensive national information 
and public affairs program designed to promote product safety. This 
includes responsibility for developing and maintaining relations with a 
wide range of national groups such as consumer organizations; business 
groups; trade associations; state and local government entities; labor 
organizations; medical, legal, scientific and other professional 
associations; and other Federal health, safety and consumer agencies. 
The Office also is responsible for implementing the Commission's media 
relations program nationwide. The Office serves as the Commission's 
spokesperson to the national print and broadcast media, develops and 
disseminates the Commission's news releases, and organizes Commission 
news conferences.

[59 FR 66673, Dec. 28, 1994]



Sec. 1000.24  Office of Compliance.

    The Office of Compliance, which is managed by the Assistant 
Executive Director for Compliance, conducts or supervises the conduct of 
compliance and administrative enforcement activity under all 
administered acts, provides advice and guidance to regulated industries 
on complying with all administered acts and reviews proposed standards 
and rules with respect to their enforceability. The Office's 
responsibility also includes identifying and acting on safety hazards in 
consumer products already in distribution, promoting industry compliance 
with existing safety rules, and conducting litigation before an 
administrative law judge relative to administrative complaints. It 
directs the enforcement efforts of the field offices and provides 
program guidance, advice, and case guidance to field offices and 
participates in the development of standards before their promulgation 
to assure enforceability of the final product. It enforces the Consumer 
Product Safety Act requirement that firms identify and report product 
defects which could

[[Page 13]]

present possible substantial hazards, violations of consumer product 
safety rules, violations of standards relied upon by the Commission, or 
unreasonable risk of serious injury or death, and the requirement that 
firms report certain lawsuit information. It reviews consumer 
complaints, in-depth investigations, and other data to identify those 
consumer products containing such hazards or which do not comply with 
existing safety requirements. The Office negotiates and subsequently 
monitors corrective action plans designed to give public notice of 
hazards and recall defective or non-complying products subject to the 
Commission's jurisdiction, gives public warning to consumers where 
appropriate, and provides guidelines and directs the field in 
negotiating and monitoring corrective action plans designed to recall 
products which fail to comply with specific regulations. It gathers 
information on generic product hazards which may lead to subsequent 
initiation of safety standard setting procedures. The Office develops 
surveillance strategies and programs designed to assure compliance with 
Commission standards and regulations. It originates instructions to 
field offices and provides subsequent interpretations or guidance for 
field surveillance and enforcement activities.

[56 FR 30496, July 3, 1991, as amended at 60 FR 26825, May 19, 1995]



Sec. 1000.25  Office of Human Resources Management.

    The Office of Human Resources Management, which is managed by the 
Director of the Office, provides human resources management support to 
the Commission in the areas of recruitment and placement, position 
classification, training and executive development, employee and labor 
relations, employee benefits and retirement assistance, employee 
assistance programs, drug testing, leave administration, disciplinary 
and adverse actions, grievances and appeals, and performance management.

[59 FR 66673, Dec. 28, 1994]



Sec. 1000.26  Office of Information Services.

    The Office of Information Services, which is managed by the 
Assistant Executive Director for Information Services, is responsible 
for general policy, controlling and conducting managerial activities and 
operations relating to the collection, use, and dissemination of 
information by the agency. The Office manages the Commission's 
information system that supports all its program activities. The Office 
provides automated data processing and operational support for data 
collection, information retrieval, report generation, electronic mail, 
and statistical and mathematical operations of the agency. The Office 
maintains the agency's local and wide area networks and develops and 
supports other network applications. The Office develops plans for 
improving agency operations through the use of information technology. 
The Office's functional responsibilities include planning, organizing, 
and directing information resources management (including records 
management and related requirements), and the managing of the agency's 
management directives system. The Office administers the Commission's 
telecommunications services including the agency's toll-free Hotline by 
which the public reports hazardous consumer products and receives 
information about product recalls and product hazards. It also oversees 
operation of the Commission's Internet and fax-on-demand services.

[61 FR 1707, Jan. 23, 1996, as amended at 66 FR 38369, July 24, 2001]



Sec. 1000.27  Directorate for Epidemiology.

    The Directorate for Epidemiology, managed by the Associate Executive 
Director for Epidemiology, is responsible for the collection and 
analysis of data on injuries and deaths associated with consumer 
products. The Directorate has two divisions: the Data Systems Division 
and the Hazard Analysis Division. The Data Systems Division operates the 
national data collection systems which provide the data that serve as 
the basis for the Commission's estimates of the numbers of deaths and 
injuries associated with consumer

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products. These data systems include the National Electronic Injury 
Surveillance System, a nationally representative sample of hospital 
emergency departments; a death certificate file, which contains data 
obtained from death certificates on deaths associated with consumer 
products; and the Injury and Potential Injury Incident file, which 
contains information on incidents associated with consumer products, 
based on news clips, medical examiner reports, hotline reports, internet 
complaints, referrals, etc. The Hazard Analysis Division conducts 
statistical analysis of these data and conducts epidemiologic studies to 
estimate the numbers of injuries and deaths associated with various 
consumer products and to examine factors associated with these injuries 
and deaths. In addition, staff in the Hazard Analysis Division design 
special studies, design and analyze data from experiments for testing of 
consumer products, and provide statistical expertise and advice to 
Commission staff in support of regulation development. It administers 
the National Injury Information Clearinghouse.

[64 FR 66579, Nov. 29, 1999, as amended at 66 FR 38369, July 24, 2001]



Sec. 1000.28  Directorate for Health Sciences.

    The Directorate for Health Sciences is managed by the Associate 
Executive Director for Health Sciences and is responsible for reviewing 
and evaluating the human health effects and hazards related to consumer 
products and assessing exposure, uptake and metabolism, including 
information on population segments at risk. Directorate staff conducts 
health studies and research in the field of consumer product-related 
injuries. The Directorate performs risk assessments for chemical, 
physiological and physical hazards based on methods such as medical 
injury modeling, and on injury and incident data for mechanical, 
thermal, chemical and electrical hazards in consumer products. It 
provides the Commission's primary source of scientific expertise for 
implementation of the Poison Prevention Packaging Act and the Federal 
Hazardous Substances Act. The Directorate assists in the development and 
evaluation of product safety standards and test methods based on 
scientific and public health principles. It provides support to the 
Commission's regulatory development and enforcement activities. It 
manages hazard identification and analysis, and hazard assessment and 
reduction projects as assigned. The Directorate provides liaison with 
the National Toxicology Program, the Department of Health and Human 
Services (including the Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for 
Disease Control and Prevention, the National Institutes of Health), the 
Occupational Health and Safety Administration, the Environmental 
Protection Agency, other federal agencies and programs, and other 
organizations concerned with reducing the risk to consumers from 
exposure to consumer product hazards. The Directorate is responsible for 
managing and safeguarding confidential business information received 
from the Environmental Protection Agency in accordance with the 
requirements of that agency.

[64 FR 66580, Nov. 29, 1999]



Sec. 1000.29  Directorate for Economic Analysis.

    The Directorate for Economic Analysis, which is managed by the 
Associate Executive Director for Economic Analysis, is responsible for 
providing the Commission with advice and information on economic and 
environmental matters and on the economic, social and environmental 
effects of Commission actions. It analyzes the potential effects of CPSC 
actions on consumers and on industries, including effects on competitive 
structure and commercial practices. The Directorate acquires, compiles, 
and maintains economic data on movements and trends in the general 
economy and on the production, distribution, and sales of consumer 
products and their components to assist in the analysis of CPSC 
priorities, policies, actions, and rules. It plans and carries out 
economic surveys of consumers and industries. It studies the costs of 
accidents and injuries. It evaluates the economic, societal, and 
environmental impact of product safety rules and standards. It performs 
regulatory analyses and studies of costs

[[Page 15]]

and benefits of CPSC actions as required by the Consumer Product Safety 
Act, The National Environmental Policy Act, the Regulatory Flexibility 
Act and other Acts, and by policies established by the Consumer Product 
Safety Commission. The Directorate manages hazard assessment and 
reduction projects as assigned.

[56 FR 30496, July 3, 1991. Redesignated at 59 FR 66673, Dec. 28, 1994, 
and further redesignated at 64 FR 66579, Nov. 29, 1999]



Sec. 1000.30  Directorate for Engineering Sciences.

    The Directorate for Engineering Sciences, which is managed by the 
Associate Executive Director for Engineering Sciences, is responsible 
for developing technical policy for and implementing the Commission's 
engineering programs. The Directorate manages hazard assessment and 
reduction projects as assigned by the Office of Hazard Identification 
and Reduction; provides engineering technical support and product safety 
assesments for the Office of Compliance; provides engineering, 
scientific, and technical expertise to the Commission and Commission 
staff as requested; and provides engineering technical support to other 
Commission organizations, activities, and programs as needed. The 
Directorate develops and evaluates product safety standards, product 
safety tests and test methods, performance criteria, design 
specifications, and quality control standards for consumer products, 
based on engineering and scientific methods. It conducts engineering 
analysis and testing of the safety of consumer products, and evaluates 
and participates in the development of mandatory and voluntary standards 
for consumer products including engineering and human factors analyses 
in support of standards development and product compliance testing. The 
Directorate performs or monitors research for consumer products in a 
broad array of engineering disciplines including chemical, electrical, 
fire protection, human factors, and mechanical engineering. It conducts 
and coordinates engineering research, testing, and evaluation activities 
with other federal agencies, private industry, and consumer interest 
groups. The Directorate conducts human factors studies and research of 
consumer product related injuries, including evaluations of labels, 
signs and symbols, instructions, and other measures intended to address 
the human component of injury prevention. The Directorate provides 
technical supervision and direction of engineering activities including 
tests and analyses conducted in the field.

[61 FR 1708, Jan. 23, 1996. Redesignated at 64 FR 66579, Nov. 29, 1999]



Sec. 1000.31  Directorate for Laboratory Sciences.

    The Directorate for Laboratory Sciences, which is managed by the 
Associate Executive Director for Laboratory Sciences, is responsible for 
conducting engineering analyses and testing of consumer products, 
supporting the development of voluntary and mandatory standards, and 
supporting the Agency's compliance activities through product safety 
assessments. A wide variety of products are tested and evaluated to 
determine the causes of failure and the hazards presented. Product 
safety tests involve mechanical, electrical, and combustion engineering, 
as well as thermal and chemical analyses. Test protocols are developed, 
test fixtures and setups are designed and fabricated, and tests are 
conducted following the requirements and guidance of voluntary and 
mandatory standards and/or using sound engineering and scientific 
judgment. The Laboratory participates with and supports other agency 
directorates on multi-disciplinary teams in the development of voluntary 
and mandatory standards. The Laboratory coordinates and cooperates with 
other Federal agencies, private industry, and consumer interest groups 
by sharing engineering and scientific research, test, and evaluation 
expertise. Additionally, Corrective Action Plans, proposed by 
manufacturers to correct a product defect, are tested and evaluated to 
assure that the proposed changes adequately resolve the problem. 
Regulated products, such as children's products, sleepwear, and bicycle 
helmets, are routinely tested and evaluated for compliance with the 
Consumer Product Safety Act, the Federal Hazardous Substances Act, the 
Flammable Fabrics

[[Page 16]]

Act, and the Poison Prevention Packaging Act. The Directorate is 
composed of the Mechanical Engineering Division, the Electrical 
Engineering Division (which includes flammable fabrics), and the 
Chemical Division. Overall, the directorate provides engineering, 
scientific, and other technical expertise to all entities within the 
Consumer Product Safety Commission.

[65 FR 53167, Sept. 1, 2000]



Sec. 1000.32  Directorate for Administration.

    The Directorate for Administration, which is managed by the 
Associate Executive Director for Administration, is responsible for 
formulating general administrative policies supporting the Commission in 
the areas of financial management, procurement, and general 
administrative support services including property and space management, 
physical security, printing, and warehousing. The Directorate is 
responsible for the payment, accounting, and reporting of all 
expenditures within the Commission and for operating and maintaining the 
Commission's accounting system and subsidiary Management Information 
System which allocates staff work time and costs to programs and 
projects.

[61 FR 1708, Jan. 23, 1996]



Sec. 1000.33  Directorate for Field Operations.

    (a) The Directorate for Field Operations, which is managed by the 
Associate Executive Director for Field Operations, has direct line 
authority over all Commission field operations; develops, issues, 
approves, or clears proposals and instructions affecting the field 
activities; and provides a central point within the Commission from 
which Headquarters officials can obtain field support services. The 
Directorate provides direction and leadership to the Regional Center 
Directors and to all field employees and promulgates policies and 
operational guidelines which form the framework for management of 
Commission field operations. The Directorate works closely with the 
other Headquarters functional units, the Regional Centers, and other 
field offices to assure effective Headquarters-field relationships, 
proper allocation of resources to support Commission priorities in the 
field, and effective performance of field tasks. It represents the field 
and prepares field program documents. It coordinates direct contact 
procedures between Headquarter's offices and Regional Centers. The 
Directorate is also responsible for liaison with State, local, and other 
Federal agencies on product safety programs in the field.
    (b) Regional Centers are responsible for carrying out investigative, 
compliance, and consumer information and public affairs activities 
within their areas. They encourage voluntary industry compliance with 
the laws and regulations administered by the Commission, identify 
product related incidents and investigate selected injuries or deaths 
associated with consumer products, and implement wide-ranging public 
information and education programs designed to reduce consumer product 
injuries. They also provide support and maintain liaison with components 
of the Commission, other Regional Centers, and appropriate Federal, 
State, and local government offices.

[56 FR 30496, July 3, 1991. Redesignated at 59 FR 66673, Dec. 28, 1994]