So... californians are extra special people?

[Jan K.]

Every time I come across this warning in my Nikon manuals (love manuals!), I can't help thinking... but not sure, what to conclude?

So as tp is full of intelligent users

I would like to hear your take on this?

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Notice for Customers in the State of California
WARNING: Handling the cord on this product
may expose you to lead, a chemical known
to the State of California to cause birth
defects or other reproductive harm. Wash
hands after handling.
---------------------------------------------------------------------

I always add by myself:
"As for the rest of the world; we can't really be bothered, if your children are being deformed or you loose your reproductiviness..."

What do you think?

*) I'm pretty certain, none of Nikon products contains any lead, as this is against EU regulation.

 

[fracster]

California is in America Jan, I have always found *some* Americans very odd.

* some are bloody great people, just to balance things out.*

 

[MartynK]

Liability lawsuits, driven by huge punitive damages and attorneys acting on a contingency basis (conditional fee, no win no pay), has become a major growth industry in the US. Most of these actions are governed by state law which varies considerably, and California is an attractive jurisdiction for plaintiffs.

There are innumerable examples of the sort of absurdities manufacturers have to resort to, particularly in respect of directions for use and warnings about misuse and possible harm, to mitigate their risks. Many of these claims defy common sense, but I don't blame manufacturers for trying to protect themselves against asinine claims based on "failure to warn".

 

[JonathanRyan]

California is in America

In some ways. But really I think they would like to be their own country. Population is roughly that of Poland. If it ever managed to break away it would be in the 50 biggest countries in the world. As far as I can work it out, the chief national economy would be based on suing people.

 

[Nod]

Californians ARE special, that's why the busses are called Sunshine coaches...

If (or rather when...) California breaks away from the USA, it'll just slide into the Pacific ocean!

 

[skysh4rk]

I would like to hear your take on this?

---------------------------------------------------------------------
Notice for Customers in the State of California
WARNING: Handling the cord on this product
may expose you to lead, a chemical known
to the State of California to cause birth
defects or other reproductive harm. Wash
hands after handling.
---------------------------------------------------------------------

Well, just as anyone selling products in the UK would need to comply with UK and EU laws, companies selling products in California must comply with the laws of California (and every other US state for that matter as they each have separate and distinct legal systems).

As I understand it, the state of California requires companies to inform consumers of any potentially harmful chemicals in their products that could cause cancer or birth defects, which is why there is a specific notice for Californians in this instance.

 

[JonathanRyan]

Well, just as anyone selling products in the UK would need to comply with UK and EU laws, companies selling products in California must comply with the laws of California (and every other US state for that matter as they each have separate and distinct legal systems).

As I understand it, the state of California requires companies to inform consumers of any potentially harmful chemicals in their products that could cause cancer or birth defects, which is why there is a specific notice for Californians in this instance.

Yeah, but there isn't seriously lead on electrical cables, is there?

Oh hang on, it turns out there is. Or may be.

http://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer...ng-labels-based-on-californias-proposition-65

Though of course

there is no way to assess risk or even level of exposure for any one person handling electrical cords.

So nobody really knows if it's actually there. Or if it's possible to get into your blood. Or if it did get into your blood would that necessarily be a bad thing at the (unknown) doses that may or may not transfer.

Looks to me like if you sell a cable in California and don't label it you'd better be pretty certain these microscopic amounts of lead aren't in it. Safer and cheaper just to put a label on that says it may contain it. Nobody's safer but the lawyers and label makers are kept happy.

Wikipedia says it's $2,500 per day for infringing prop 65 (possibly per product - I got bored). It also says that many people have said it's a ridiculous law that is basically there to make money for lawyers. Apparently some firms exist entirely on finding prop 65 infringements and suing on behalf of people who don't exist.

 

[Steve Smith]

California is in America Jan, I have always found *some* Americans very odd.

* some are bloody great people, just to balance things out.*

Every American I have actually met has been great - America as a whole though seems to be completely different!


Steve.