[Congressional Bills 109th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. 2084 Introduced in Senate (IS)]
109th CONGRESS
1st Session
S. 2084
To direct the Consumer Product Safety Commission to issue regulations
concerning the safety and labeling of portable generators.
_______________________________________________________________________
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES
December 13, 2005
Mr. Nelson of Florida introduced the following bill; which was read
twice and referred to the Committee on Commerce, Science, and
Transportation
_______________________________________________________________________
A BILL
To direct the Consumer Product Safety Commission to issue regulations
concerning the safety and labeling of portable generators.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives of the
United States of America in Congress assembled,
SECTION 1. SHORT TITLE.
This Act may be cited as the ``Portable Generator Safety Act''.
SEC. 2. FINDINGS.
The Congress finds the following:
(1) Portable generators are frequently used to provide
electricity during temporary power outages. These generators
use fuel-burning engines that emit carbon monoxide gas in their
exhaust.
(2) In the last several years, hundreds of people
nationwide have been seriously injured or killed due to
exposure to carbon monoxide poisoning from portable generators.
From 1990 through 2003, 228 carbon monoxide poisoning deaths
were reported to the Consumer Product Safety Commission.
(3) Virtually all of the serious injuries and deaths due to
carbon monoxide from portable generators were preventable. In
many instances, consumers simply were unaware of the hazards
posed by carbon monoxide.
(4) Since at least 1997, a priority of the Consumer Product
Safety Commission has been to reduce injuries and deaths
resulting from carbon monoxide poisoning. Although the
Commission has attempted to work with industry to devise
voluntary standards for portable generators, and despite
Commission staff statements that voluntary standards were
ineffective, the Commission has not promulgated mandatory rules
governing safety standards and labeling requirements.
(5) The issuance of mandatory safety standards and labeling
requirements to warn consumers of the dangers associated with
portable generator carbon monoxide would reduce the risk of
injury or death.
SEC. 3. SAFETY STANDARD.
Not later than 180 days after the enactment of this Act, the
Consumer Product Safety Commission shall promulgate regulations,
pursuant to section 7 of the Consumer Product Safety Act (15 U.S.C.
2056), requiring, at a minimum, that every portable generator sold to
the public for purposes other than resale shall be equipped with an
interlock safety device that detects the level of carbon monoxide in
the areas surrounding such portable generator and automatically turns
off power to the portable generator before the level of carbon monoxide
is capable of causing serious bodily injury or death to people.
SEC. 4. LABELING AND INSTRUCTION REQUIREMENTS.
Not later than 180 days after the enactment of this Act, the
Consumer Product Safety Commission shall promulgate regulations,
pursuant to section 7 of the Consumer Product Safety Act (15 U.S.C.
2056), requiring, at a minimum, the following:
(1) Warning labels.--Each portable generator sold to the
public for purposes other than resale shall have a large,
prominently displayed warning label on the exterior packaging,
if any, of the portable generator and permanently affixed on
the portable generator regarding the carbon monoxide hazard
posed by incorrect use of the portable generator. The warning
label shall include the word ``DANGER'' printed in a large
font, and shall include the following information, at a
minimum, presented in a clear manner:
(A) Indoor use of a portable generator can kill
quickly.
(B) Portable generators should be used outdoors
only and away from garages and open windows.
(C) Portable generators produce carbon monoxide, a
poisonous gas that people cannot see or smell.
(2) Pictogram.--Each portable generator sold to the public
for purposes other than resale shall have a large pictogram,
affixed to the portable generator, which clearly states
``POISONOUS GAS'' and visually depicts the harmful effects of
breathing carbon monoxide.
(3) Instruction Manual.--The instruction manual, if any,
that accompanies any portable generator sold to the public for
purposes other than resale shall include detailed, clear, and
conspicuous statements that include the following elements:
(A) A warning that portable generators emit carbon
monoxide, a poisonous gas that can kill people.
(B) A warning that people cannot smell, see, or
taste carbon monoxide.
(C) An instruction to operate portable generators
only outdoors and away from windows, garages, and air
intakes.
(D) An instruction to never operate portable
generators inside homes, garages, sheds, or other semi-
enclosed spaces, even if a person runs a fan or opens
doors and windows.
(E) A warning that if a person begins to feel sick,
dizzy, or weak while using a portable generator, that
person should shut off the portable generator, get to
fresh air immediately, and consult a doctor.
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