August 11, 2017 | The LEGO Group arranged for a day of meetings and tours for Ann Marie Buerkle, acting chair of the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), on July 31.
The day kicked off in Hartford with a visit to the Connecticut Children’s Medical Center, where Chairman Buerkle, along with U.S. Senator Richard Blumenthal, toured key areas of the facility related to consumer product safety and injury prevention. The invited guests also participated in a child safety education workshop led by hospital staff, and a lunch presentation highlighting the hospital’s position as a national leader in critical contemporary issues related to children’s health and development.
The day continued with a trip to The LEGO Group’s Enfield, CT headquarters, where Chairman Buerkle learned about LEGO’s approach to safety, held discussions about relevant CPSC issues, and toured the company’s model shop, where model builders shared how safety is built into both small- and large-scale models.
She also learned about the company’s standards, processes, and precautions taken to keep both employees and consumers safe in LEGO stores. The day closed with a discussion with Skip Kodak, LEGO’s senior vice president - Americas, who provided additional insight into the company and play’s vital role in childhood development.
“Toy company tours are an excellent way to inform regulators and legislators about the real-world impact of their policies,” says Edward Desmond, executive vice president of external affairs at The Toy Association, who was present at LEGO’s headquarters for the meetings. “Chairman Buerkle shared that her meetings were highly informative. She learned about LEGO’s deep commitment to the safety of its young consumers, and how the company designs safety into its products – from design, to chemical and material testing, to continuous improvements.”
The Toy Association is available to assist members in planning a similar visit and tour of their facilities for local legislators and regulators. Contact Autumn Moore for more information.