harbor freight warning

[blarf]

So the default CYA action is put it on anything that might remotely apply, better warn than leave yourself open to being sued. End result is that the "warning" is useless.

Are you /sure/ that's the case? I know Apple's been dinged before because of high "plasticizer" content in some of their headphones. All that ****'s nasty, but I wouldn't be surprised if that meant high levels of lead. Likewise I know there's a problem up here of corner stores in the Mission importing candy from Mexico with high levels of lead in them. It's just not uncommon to find high levels of lead in various items*@#$(especially imported ones).

With Prop. 65 you're still free to ignore them, but for me, I like being alerted to non-obvious things because then I'll ask. Still not quite sure what's wrong about being able to make an informed decision.

To me it seems a lot like wanting to know the COO of something.

 

[Plombob]

Prop 65..... What a waste of resources.

Prop 65 caused the destruction of countless trees to put notices in our bills every month and on the walls of businesses. It's done nothing to improve life.

Some people in this state are afraid of their own shadow.

 

[rt dak]

Probably 98% of the things I touch everyday at work cause cancer in California. Good thing I live in New York.

 

[Al Bundy]

Warning signs posted in California:

This sign contains materials known to cause cancer in the state of California.

 

[Greatbear]

I'm willing to bet there is a strong correlation between opportunistic, sue-happy people and those who complain the most about gov't oversight.

 

[57JoeFoMoPar]

Try not to eat your hammer and you'll be OK

 

[oldtools]

California also requires labels on all cows asses warning of methane gas.

But yet they let Nancy Pelosi run around unchecked. Talk about needing a warning label.

So that mean every Californian are required to have that label on their *** as well.

 

[strnjss]

I know a lot of people say "oh they put that on everything" etc, but in the case of that hammer, it probably has lead in it, or is painted with lead paint or both, and who knows what other harmful **** they put in it. Ever smell that HF smell on your tools? How bad is that to breathe in?

Overkill or not, the labels are good in the fact that they make you aware of it.

You know, it may be simple to say "wash your hands" and "don't eat it", but if your hammer contains lead for example, you're also potentially getting that lead on more than just your hands. Your workbench, the surfaces you hammer, your clothes, etc. You don't want that kind of **** around, especially if you have kids.

We are supposed to be reducing the amount of harmful materials in products, but instead, because we outsource everything to China, everything from Kids toys, to USB cords, to hammer and dolly sets have lead in them!

It is a big deal, and that warning sticker, while maybe a little overboard in some cases, is at least a stumble in the right direction.

"Exposure to lead can have a wide range of effects on a child's development and behavior. Even when exposed to small amounts of lead levels, children may appear inattentive, hyperactive and irritable"
http://www.aacap.org/cs/root/facts_for_families/lead_exposure_in_children_affects_brain_and_behavior

"Lead overexposure is one of the most common overexposures found in industry and is a leading cause of workplace illness"
http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/lead/

 

[TheFarmer]

Granted I've never set foot in an Applebees but have you ever thought to ask why? I've seen Prop. 65 warnings at Kragen (lead battery terminals, etc), at the liquor store (sells cigarettes)... but not in a restaurant.

I've posted the list of Prop. 65 chemicals in the last whine about California thread and I'd be curious to know which of those the naysayers would like to see in a restaurant (and not be told about it).

They actually state the whole thing on a plaque type sign when you walk in. Something along the lines of, chemicals used to prepare some foods is known to cause cancer or birth defects in the state of Ca blah blah blah. Next time I'm there, I'll take a picture of it.

 

[Al Bundy]

It's all just typical over reaction by people who think they have to be everyone elses mommy. Lead is bad for you, we get that. Putting a warning label on everything is idiotic. Why don't you just lock yourself in the house and never come out so the boogeyman can't get you. Oh that's right everything in your house causes cancer too.

 

[thesilverone]

reading this thread may give you cancer in california

 

[oldtools]

Your computer contain so many chemicals that may cause cancer in California, you should stop using it to complain California idiotic labeling in GJ.

 

[HandyManny]

Oh god. Jerry Brown. Sigh. That said, I'm with Lockyer on this. I'd rather know what I'm eating than not. If you don't care, eat up.



Prop. 65 has thresholds that must be met before a label is required. So, no, I doubt it's simply trace levels of whatever.

Most of this stuff is a trace amount until somebody decides the threshold for it. If you do any real work on cars or on anything else, you expose yourself to tons of toxins anyway. What difference is it going to make if there are trace amounts of lead on your hammer? Didn't we all grow up fishing with lead sinkers. I've spend all my life shooting and reloading my own ammo. But it's called using common sence, meaning don't **** on the lead and wash-up afterwards. Don't people clean-up before eating anyway? No amount of legislation can fix stupid. We don't need warnings on cutlery to tell us they are sharp and can cut you.

The newer brass and copper used in most plumbing application these days contain more lead in them than virgin copper or brass does. That's all due to the recycling we do with that stuff today. So there is actually the down side of "going green". Personally I think too many companies use this whole "going green" to mean something else for themselves, a different kind of green, more like $$$$$ (green). Know what I mean?

I agree it's good to have transparency and to know what the products you buy contains, but those lables should be more effectice, like stating exactly what is in that product that is grounds for the warning. This catch-all phrase stuff just doesn't work very well and I'm sure it costs money too.

 

[blarf]

Most of this stuff is a trace amount until somebody decides the threshold for it. If you do any real work on cars or on anything else, you expose yourself to tons of toxins anyway.

And there's definitely a move away from some of the toxins (ex: chlorinated brake cleaner seems to be NLA in California). But then what about Joe Schmoe the homeowner who walks into Harbor Freight for a hammer? Or Sears for a garden hose (which doesn't have a Prop. 65 warning, but does have a "this contains lead" warning)? Not everyone is going to constantly expose themselves to the same chemicals (or same amounts) as a professional (or hobbyist) mechanic.

I was just reading up on the Radium Girls, and the efforts that US Radium went to in order to avoid paying their medical costs.

I agree it's good to have transparency and to know what the products you buy contains, but those lables should be more effectice, like stating exactly what is in that product that is grounds for the warning. This catch-all phrase stuff just doesn't work very well and I'm sure it costs money too.

Agreed. And, unfortunately, that falls on the shoulders of the lazy *** companies. AFAIK Prop. 65 doesn't spell out any specific language for the signs (hence KFC uses very explicit language, but most places just have a generic sign).

 

[SeanConklin]

I'm from Florida but am stationed in California and went to Carl's Jr. the other day and noticed the window had the same sticker on it. Fast food to hammers...who knew

 

[slip knot]

oh hell, dont get me started on the lead crapola coming from the EPA courtesy of the cali paranoids. Cant even get a house painted nowdays without some certified contractor doing the frickin work.
Most of us older folks grew up in houses coated in lead based paint and believe it or not we turned out OK. Most of even became productive citizens who can watch out for ourselves. Maybe this newer generation needs a good dose of lead every now and again.

 

[Wakefield]

oh hell, dont get me started on the lead crapola coming from the EPA courtesy of the cali paranoids. Cant even get a house painted nowdays without some certified contractor doing the frickin work.
Most of us older folks grew up in houses coated in lead based paint and believe it or not we turned out OK. Most of even became productive citizens who can watch out for ourselves. Maybe this newer generation needs a good dose of lead every now and again.

In the day when my father was growing up little boys used to have casting kits that used to let them melt lead (made fumes) and make toy soldiers out of it!
I think lead paint is OK if you don't eat it.

 

[slip knot]

In the day when my father was growing up little boys used to have casting kits that used to let them melt lead (made fumes) and make toy soldiers out of it!
I think lead paint is OK if you don't eat it.

My brother and I were laughing about the lead warnings a while back. We used to run around in cutoffs with our pellet guns all summer, back in the day. Pockets all had holes in them so we carried the pellets around in our mouth. No wonder we feel like some dumb SOB's