CONSUMER PRODUCT SAFETY COMMISSION RECALLS LED LIGHT BULBS

Certain LED light bulbs imported by Lighting Science Group were recently recalled because the bulbs can overheat during use, posing a fire hazard.  The 120-volt LED bulbs, sold as 6- 8- and 9-watt bulbs (equivalent to 40 or 50 watts), were marketed under the brand names Definity, EcoSmart, Sylvania and Westinghouse.  Lighting Science Group is aware of 68 incidents of product failures.  There have been no reports of personal injuries, according to information listed on the Consumer Product Safety Commission website.

Store maintenance and loss prevention teams should send bulletins to stores that may be using recalled products.  A robust plan to monitor, track, and alert stores to recalled products is a valuable way to minimize risk.

To read more:   http://www.cpsc.gov/en/Recalls/2013/LED-Light-Bulbs-Recalled-by-Lighting-Science-Group/

(Post by Josh Rockwell, an associate at Perez & Morris, LLC. Josh’s practice focuses on retail risk management issues, property loss recovery, and cargo/transport issues. Josh manages cases nationwide.)

CAMERAS– USING FOOTAGE TO DOCUMENT CLAIMS PROCESS

It is an unfortunate fact that retailers have to contend with false claims or outright scams.

More and more, stores are using surveillance cameras in their claims review process, to catch and deter scam artists.

Good Morning America has reported on how some of these scammers have been caught using video footage.

Risk managers should carefully review their procedures on claims preparation to utilize surveillance footage to its full extent. http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=WOGviw50im4

(Post by Josh Rockwell, an associate at Perez & Morris, LLC. Josh’s practice focuses on retail risk management issues, property loss recovery, and cargo/transport issues. Josh manages cases nationwide.)

MALL OF AMERICA TURNS TO ISRAEL FOR SECURITY

One of America’s largest malls, the Mall of America, has deemphasized the exclusive reliance upon cameras and metal detectors and instead adopted Israel’s profiling techniques.

“…it uses the same three components as [Israel’s] Ben Gurion airport: detecting suspicious indicators, security interviewing … and operational deployment.”

The program is grounded in behavior profiling.  That is, it uses trained officers to identify “behavior that isn’t considered normal in the mall’s setting.”  According to MOA’s director of security:  ”We want this to be the new industry standard.”

http://www.emergencymgmt.com/safety/Behavior-Profiling-Security-Mall-of-America.html

SLIP AND FALL – WALMART PAYS FOR POPEYE DEFORMITY INJURY

A Walmart customer in Florida was awarded nearly $1.3 million by a jury for injuries sustained when he slipped on a Gatorade sign that had fallen on the floor.  The injuries were severe and included an abnormally bulging arm – known as Popeye Deformity.

Surveillance footage recorded the Gatorade sign falling and … [the customer] slipping on it minutes later.  Walmart argued that its employees didn’t have time to pick up the fallen display.  But, the plaintiff argued – apparently successfully – that if the display had been put together in accordance with Gatorade’s instructions the sign could not have fallen.

So, this is a case of liability turning on the retailer’s creation of the hazard, regardless of its knowledge that the sign had fallen.
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2276122/Man-suffers-Popeye-deformity-slipping-Walmart-awarded-1-3-million.html#ixzz2L5QhNPNX