A product safety guide for exercise bicycles has been issued by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
ACCC Chairman, Professor Allan Fels, said today the guide was targeted at manufacturers, wholesalers, importers and retailers of exercise cycles.
"Exercise cycles must comply with the mandatory consumer product safety standard, Australian Standard 4092-1993 Exercise cycles - safety requirement. This guide should be read in conjunction with the standard," he said.
"Exercise cycles have been responsible for hundreds of accidents, particularly to children," Professor Fels said. "These injuries included broken fingers and, in some cases, amputations. The standard aims to reduce the chance of injury by requiring that hazardous moving parts are guarded, and creating safety requirements for seats and seat supports, sharp edges and points, and markings and instructions.
"The mandatory standard covers the supply of all exercise bikes, including those supplied for sale to consumers, those for hire and hire purchase, those supplied to gymnasiums, and used ones.
"Exercise cycles which do not meet the standard cannot legally be supplied in Australia. The ACCC has acted in the past when it discovered cycles that did not comply with the standard being offered for sale.
"The Trade Practices Act provides for penalties of up to $200,000 for corporations and $40,000 for individuals supplying goods that do not meet a mandatory standard."
Exercise Cycles Product Safety Guide available from all ACCC offices in all capital cities and Townsville and Tamworth. It costs $10.
ACCC Chairman, Professor Allan Fels, said today the guide was targeted at manufacturers, wholesalers, importers and retailers of exercise cycles.
"Exercise cycles must comply with the mandatory consumer product safety standard, Australian Standard 4092-1993 Exercise cycles - safety requirement. This guide should be read in conjunction with the standard," he said.
"Exercise cycles have been responsible for hundreds of accidents, particularly to children," Professor Fels said. "These injuries included broken fingers and, in some cases, amputations. The standard aims to reduce the chance of injury by requiring that hazardous moving parts are guarded, and creating safety requirements for seats and seat supports, sharp edges and points, and markings and instructions.
"The mandatory standard covers the supply of all exercise bikes, including those supplied for sale to consumers, those for hire and hire purchase, those supplied to gymnasiums, and used ones.
"Exercise cycles which do not meet the standard cannot legally be supplied in Australia. The ACCC has acted in the past when it discovered cycles that did not comply with the standard being offered for sale.
"The Trade Practices Act provides for penalties of up to $200,000 for corporations and $40,000 for individuals supplying goods that do not meet a mandatory standard."
Exercise Cycles Product Safety Guide available from all ACCC offices in all capital cities and Townsville and Tamworth. It costs $10.