Consumer Reactions to Walk-Behind Power Lawn Mower Safety Features

Abstract

Because of growing concern about walk-behind power lawn mower-related injuries, the Consumer Products Safety Commission, lawn mower manufacturers, and consumer advocates have developed improved safety standards for mowers. This project reviewed the process of developing safety standards and studied the effectiveness of the standards, including consumer attitudes toward these product modifications. The resulting conclusions and implications have implications for the safety improvement process for a wide range of consumer products.

Managing product-harm crises

“…Consumers suffer injury and death, corporate managers lose their jobs, stockholders and investors experience financial losses and the public at large is put at risk. In the USA, premium increases ranging from 25% to more than 1,000% were faced by firms of all sizes for property and liability insurance ( Wall Street Journal, August 5, 1985;Dudley et al, 1987). In sum, crises entail extensive damages and substantial costs for organizations, individuals and society as a whole.…”

“…Product liability claims (due to product-related injuries and illnesses) result in a $5.5 billion loss to the US economy annually. Moreover, injuries that require medical treatment have reached high levels; specifically, every year, 20 million such injury cases occur on the average, resulting in 110,000 permanent disabilities and 30,000 deaths (Dudley et al, 1987).…”

The virtues of bans on high‐THC content cannabis products?

“…The viability of banning specific products within a broader class is even more clear when looking at safety regulations more widely. For example, in 1982, the United States banned walk‐behind rotary lawn mowers that lacked blade control systems [6]. That did not spawn a massive illegal market for lawn mowers lacking a ‘dead man’s switch’.…”

“…For example, in 1982, the United States banned walk-behind rotary lawn mowers that lacked blade control systems [6]. That did not spawn a massive illegal market for lawn mowers lacking a 'dead man's switch'.…”

Vulnerability in the Marketplace: Concepts, Caveats, and Possible Solutions

“…Policy makers, as well as commentators, are often concerned that consumers cannot adequately navigate markets (Ringold 1995;Braunstein and Welch 2002;Baker, Gentry, and Rittenburg 2005 [this issue]). To protect them, some want to censor product information (Silverglade 1991;Lexchin and Mintzes 2002), restrict product choices (Dudley, Dudley, and Phelps 1987;Ringold 1991), and mandate productrelated behaviors (Weller and Chandler 1989;Ringold 1991). Others observe that marketplace circumstances limit consumer opportunities to participate and should be redressed by legal means (Crockett and Wallendorf 2004;Harris, Henderson, and Williams 2005;D'Rozario and Williams 2005 [this issue]).…”