| When we discuss Green issues at Ventless Gel | | | | Agency. But, "might" is the operative word. It is feasible |
| Fireplace, it occurred to me that there is some | | | | to believe that the EPA would pass regulations |
| confusion between the agencies that monitor and | | | | concerning the use of gel fuel in and outside the home. |
| pass legislation concerning gel fuel and clean air | | | | But if the label on a can of gel fuel makes that claim, |
| solutions. Advertisers and other content writers throw | | | | you have been lied to once again. |
| around such agencies as OSHA, EPA and even | | | | The EPA does not handle all environmental concerns. |
| agencies like USDA and DOE. But, they often cite the | | | | The overlapping scope of different government |
| wrong agencies and just expect readers to believe | | | | agencies throws people off when they are looking for |
| whatever information they are given. | | | | answers as to who regulates what. But, the EPA does |
| I have always had a pet peeve when it comes to the | | | | not deal with the safety of products used in daily life. If |
| media splashing false information across all of our | | | | a company has a claim that their products meet EPA |
| communication transits with absolutely no responsibility | | | | standards, the company itself should know which |
| for the verification of facts. What makes it worse is | | | | regulations it is responsible for following and it should |
| that there are readers out there who will simply believe | | | | not be attempting to mislead you. |
| the information they have just read and then repeat it | | | | CPSC |
| everywhere they go. It seems the quickest way to get | | | | So, who handles regulations for products that fall |
| information to move is to make it outrageous and | | | | outside of Food, Drugs, Tobacco, Firearms, and |
| false. | | | | Alcohol? Of course there are other products too, but |
| Winston Churchill once said, "A lie can get half way | | | | our gel fuel specifically falls under the scope of the |
| around the world before the truth has time to put its | | | | Consumer Product Safety Commission. With such |
| pants on." While I'm talking about it, that's something | | | | strong language in their mission statement as, |
| you should verify. There is other information that you | | | | "...charged with protecting the public from unreasonable |
| should verify as well and as far as I'm concerned, that | | | | risks of serious injury or death from thousands of |
| should be every time you hear about a product that | | | | types of consumer products under the agency's |
| passes OSHA regulations or a company that is within | | | | jurisdiction." |
| EPA standards. If you verified the information, you | | | | The CPSC finds within its jurisdiction, among other |
| would soon learn how false it is. A company that | | | | things, products that pose a fire or chemical hazard. |
| makes false claims either has no idea what they are | | | | Not to be confused with HAZMAT, which deals with |
| talking about and you don't want to do business with | | | | the transportation of hazardous material or IHOP, |
| them or is making a smokescreen for the laws they | | | | which is the International House of Pancakes. If you |
| are breaking and you don't want to do business with | | | | see either of these acronyms on the label of a can of |
| them. | | | | gel fuel, then you know the company is making false |
| OSHA | | | | claims and your best bet is to not do any business |
| OSHA stands for Occupational Safety and Health | | | | with them. |
| Administration. It's an agency that was enacted in 1970 | | | | There are literally hundreds of agencies in the |
| under the Department of Labor. Its only purpose is to | | | | government and it seems they grow by the day. It's |
| work toward preventing illnesses and injuries in the | | | | easy for companies to throw out an acronym of a |
| workplace. So if you are looking at a can of gel fuel | | | | particular agency and expect label readers to just |
| and you see that it is in compliance with OSHA | | | | accept the label as trustworthy. After all, doesn't it |
| regulations, I would have to say that the label is lying to | | | | seem that the government also has an agency |
| you and that's no way to start a long and respectful | | | | established to verify facts on labels? |
| business relationship. | | | | Well, you would think. But, the fact is that companies |
| EPA | | | | are still getting away with false advertisement. So, |
| A closer agency that might be considered responsible | | | | make sure you know the facts and keep your family |
| for ensuring human and environmental safety when it | | | | safe. Verify everything you read and don't do business |
| comes to gel fuel is the Environmental Protection | | | | with a company that attempts to mislead you. |