Yard Sale Safety—Below Standards

2010-05-12

One person’s trash is another's treasure.

Second-hand toys, used cribs, children's clothing, appliances, strollers, hand-me-down sports equipment and an endless collection of knick-knacks are just some of the discarded treasures found at typical Canadian yard and garage sales.

Products that have not been used in years can end up in the hands of new owners for a bargain price. Because many yard sale items have been collecting dust for long periods, it’s possible they no longer comply with current standards and regulations.

With the often daily product recalls issued by Health Canada, the concern over the sale of used items is obvious: whether they are properly tested or certified, and meet the latest safety standards.

"There’s always a problem (at yard sales) because they don’t have a computer to check recalls, so you could come home with a product that has been recalled and you’re not aware of it," said Gail Salminen, head of the Information and Education Unit at the Consumer Product Safety Bureau.

Yard sales may be convenient for the public, but they don’t provide much assurance that products being sold are safe. From kitchen appliances to automobile parts, there is no shortage of products that could be potentially harmful if not properly safety certified.

For example, an ice hockey helmet purchased at a yard sale must meet the requirements of the Canadian Standards Association’s Ice Hockey Helmet Standard (CSA-Z262.1), which establishes safety criteria for helmets used by ice hockey players and goaltenders.

The Standards Council of Canada (SCC) plays a significant role in accrediting the organizations that conduct the actual testing and certification of a range of products. Through SCC’s accreditation process, certification bodies are able to demonstrate they have the right expertise and evaluation procedures to ensure that products bearing their certification marks adhere to the appropriate performance and safety standards. Products not subjected to such verification could be potentially dangerous for consumers.

One potentially dangerous item which is often seen at yard sales is the infant car seat. Because car seats have short shelf lives, with expiry dates for various models, buying one used can be a game of safety roulette.

The expiry date on a car seat is usually molded onto the plastic shell of the seat, showing the useful life expectancy which—depending on the manufacturer—is usually between five and ten years. Manufacturers set a life expiry date because over time the structural integrity of the seat can break down, the history or condition of the car seat or booster cushion can become difficult to check, and the applicable safety regulations on standards may have changed.

"The health and safety of children is of the utmost priority to the Government of Canada and the need to have confidence in consumer products intended for children is crucial," said the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, the Canadian federal Minister of Health during a news conference announcing ongoing efforts to improve testing of playpen accessories sold in Canada. Because children’s products are widely found at most yard sales, it’s imperative that shoppers know whether these are safe to use.

Robert Ianiro, the Director of the Consumer Product Safety Bureau, explains that it is up to the seller to ensure that the products they’re offering are safe.

"Everyone holding a garage sale is legally responsible for ensuring that products sold, whether new or used, are safe and meet current safety standards," he said.

However, it’s the buyer who ultimately faces potential danger if a faulty product makes it into his or her home after a day of yard sale bargain hunting.

"It’s important for buyers to be aware because often they have full trust," said the Consumer Product Safety Bureau’s Gail Salminen.

So while yard sales need not be considered dangerous, a heightened awareness of product safety and the value of certification, will certainly help raise the bar on yard sale safety. Yard sale shoppers looking for discarded treasures should be prepared to do some extra work to distinguish what is safe from what could be harmful.

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Detailed information on product recalls and product safety is available from Health Canada’s Consumer Product Safety website.

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