News and notes

McDonald's Corporation pay $4 million damage settlement

The McDonald's Corporation has agreed to pay the US government $4 million in damages for failing to inform the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) of playground injuries at some of its restaurants. The settlement resolves a dispute arising from enforcement of a 1995 Playground Equipment Reporting Agreement between McDonald's and the government. The cooperative agreement announced in June also establishes important new playground facility reporting and safety guidelines.

The injuries involved the “Big Mac Climber”, a metal platform resembling a hamburger, that is no longer in any McDonald's playgrounds. According to the CPSC, from the 1970s through the 1980s, more than 400 children were injured on Big Mac Climbers, mostly in falls, including nearly 20 who suffered concussions or skull fractures and 80 who suffered broken bones. Injuries declined significantly in the 1990s as McDonald's began removing the climbers. All the climbers have now been removed and scrapped.

British Airways toddler seat

British Airways has unveiled what it claims is the world's first airline seat for the under 2s, enabling them to travel in safety in their own seat—at no extra charge. Designed by Britax, the UK's leading manufacturer of children's car seats, the seats are suitable for babies from birth up to 2 years old. They fix securely on the bulkhead position and—unlike the existing flat carrycots—can be moved through a range of positions from horizontal to upright. More than 1000 infant seats will be available for booking on British Airways long haul flights, with plans to extend them to short haul services in the future.

Indictments in lighters case

The US CPSC announced in July that two people have been indicted on charges arising from its investigation into the removal of child safety mechanisms from disposable cigarette lighters. The indictments are part of an ongoing investigation by the CPSC and the US Justice Department into the …