Toy Safety Information - A guide
Guidance on toys for children under 3 years
If you can prevent a customer buying an unsuitable toy for a young child, you may well be preventing that child injuring himself or herself. You will also be demonstrating to your customer the principles behind the Approved Lion Mark Retailer scheme - safety is not only offering for sale safe toys, but also making sure that an inappropriate toy doesn't become an unsafe toy in the wrong hands.
Age labelling
Check age guidance instructions on the package. Age labelling is the manufacturer's guide to the consumer as to the suitability of the product for a particular age group. This may be referring, in essence, either to the mental perception or physical dexterity of the child with all the senses being involved in varying degrees. So often, parents (and more often, proud grandparents) are quite certain little Johnny and Mary are far too bright to be bound up by the age guidance recommendations, but on the basis that no manufacturer wants to limit his sales, it is safe to assume that a toy marked 'age 4-6' is pitched for those ages where awareness and interest begins at the younger end and tails off at the higher end.
Following the publication of Part 6 of EN71, this pictogram began appearing on toys during 1995. It warns that the toy is unsuitable for children under 3 years because it might, for instance, contain small parts.
Additional to the age warning symbol there shall appear the indication of the specific hazard/s on the toy itself, on the packaging or in the instructions for use. When the symbol is used, the hazard must always be given in the language of the country in which the toy is being sold. If the customers get it wrong with the age grading, little harm is likely to happen in the physical sense. However, if their conception of age warnings is based on the same premise, there could be a real danger for the young child. When a manufacturer warns 'not suitable for children under (age)', and/or the pictogram is displayed, we must repeat that this is not an age label, but a warning, and where possible, this should be pointed out to customers at the point of sale.
Simple question to the customer: "Are you aware that this product states that it is unsuitable for children under 3? Do you know why they have made this warning?" If they do, fine. If not, you should explain briefly.
Why are some toys not suitable for children under 3 years?
Beside obvious reasons such as the size or mental abilities of the young child, the other reasons are that safety regulations demand that parts used in toys for children under 3 years must pass the Choke Hazard Test (see below). A test cylinder has been specifically designed to reflect the size of a gullet in a child of 3 years and under. Items that do not fit into the test cylinder pass the test as do items that fit in but have some part still visible and therefore accessible. This test has dramatically reduced the incidence of choking on small items. The Choke Hazard Test does not apply to toys for the over 3's.
The Choke Hazard Test
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Pass |
Pass |
Fail |
Fail |
Under Supervision
This phrase is featured on those toys (for example, those played with in water) which expect some form of adult involvement. It implies that while the manufacturer has made the product to the required safety standards, the product should not be used without adult supervision as children might misuse it in play and therefore transform a safe toy into a dangerous one.
Again, you should inform your customer that the toy requires adult supervision.
Contents
Introduction - How to use this guide
The CE Mark, the Lion Mark and the Approved Lion Mark
Toy Safety Regulations and Standards
What is a toy?
Advising customers on toys for children under 3 years (Age labelling and age warnings, 'Under supervision', Choke Hazard Test
Electrical and battery powered toys, Chemical toys and age warnings for older children, Accoustics and toys
Appendices A & B : About the TRA & TRA Code of Practice
Appendices C & D : BTHA Code of Practice and About the BTHA
Appendix E : Other sources of information
Toy Safety Problem : Contact Details