[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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