Sunday, September 30

Mistakes that cost lives

From The Economist Plenty of blame to go around, Sep 27th 2007:


"On September 5th Mattel had told an American Congressional committee that
its recall of 17.4m toys containing a small magnet that could be swallowed by
children was due to a flaw in the toys' design, rather than production
flaws in China.
"



From a BBC article on the 13 August 2007:


"The boss of a Chinese toy firm involved in a huge safety recall has committed suicide, Chinese media has said. Zhang Shuhong, who co-owned the Lee Der Toy Company, was reportedly found dead at his factory in southern China.
About 1.5 million toys made for Fisher Price, a subsidiary of US giant Mattel, were withdrawn from sale earlier this month. Many were made by Lee Der."


(emphasis all mine)
This seems to suggest the suicide was a consequence of the recall and the accusations.
If only the (late, reluctant and shameless) apology could bring Zhag Shuhong's life back...

Sources:
Plenty of blame to go around
Chinese toy boss 'kills himself'

No comments: