Consumer Reports Technical Director Receives Standard-setting Award.WASHINGTON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Nov. 5, 1998--Dr. R. David Pittle, Vice President and Technical Director of Consumers Union, the nonprofit publisher of Consumer Reports, has been given the 1998 Margaret Dana Award from the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM ASTM abbr. American Society for Testing and Materials ), the largest standard-writing organization in the U.S. Inscribed in·scribe tr.v. in·scribed, in·scrib·ing, in·scribes 1. a. To write, print, carve, or engrave (words or letters) on or in a surface. b. To mark or engrave (a surface) with words or letters. on the award to Dr. Pittle are the words: "For his leadership, innovation, devotion and personal contributions toward the development and implementation of safety and performance standards for consumer products." The award, established in 1979, honors Margaret Dana, founder of the consumer sounding board concept and a longtime participant in ASTM work on consumer product standards. It was presented to Dr. Pittle by John Blair
John Blair was one of the best-trained jurists of his day. , Chairman of ASTM's Committee F15 on Consumer Products, during an October 30 ceremony in Washington. "In today's marketplace, there are hundreds of product-safety standards that were developed in a voluntary setting that protect consumers from needless pain and suffering," Dr. Pittle said. "These have been of great benefit to consumers and industry alike. When industry does not act voluntarily to reduce risks in hazardous products, government must set mandatory safety standards Safety standards are standards designed to ensure the safety of products, activities or processes, etc. They may be advisory or compulsory and are normally laid down by an advisory or regulatory body that may be either voluntary or statutory. to protect the public. "The development of consumer-product standards, whether voluntary or mandatory, must include consumer participation as a fundamental component," Dr. Pittle added. "Like manufacturers, consumers have a clear and vital stake in the outcome of standard-setting. Their participation, which requires adequate funding, adds value and credibility to national and international standards, wherever they are established." Consumers Union, the publisher of Consumer Reports, is an independent, nonprofit testing and information-gathering organization, serving only the consumer. We are a comprehensive source of unbiased advice about products and services, personal finance, health, nutrition, and other consumer concerns. Since 1936, our mission has been to test products, inform the public, and protect consumers. NOTE TO EDITORS: A digitized black-and-white photograph of Dr. Pittle is available, along with the text of this news release, at www.businesswire.com/emk/consumer.shtml R. DAVID PITTLE, Ph.D. VICE PRESIDENT, TECHNICAL DIRECTOR CONSUMERS UNION Dr. Pittle joined Consumers Union as its Technical Director in October, 1982. He is well known as a lifelong consumer advocate. Dr. Pittle has dedicated his career to the advancement of consumer interests and product safety. To this end, Presidents Nixon and Carter appointed him Commissioner of the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, where he served for nine years. During his tenure, he demonstrated a particularly strong interest in problems associated with chainsaws, toys, lawnmowers, cancer-causing chemicals and upholstered furniture flammability flam·ma·ble adj. Easily ignited and capable of burning rapidly; inflammable. [From Latin flamm . He now resides in New York New York, state, United States New York, Middle Atlantic state of the United States. It is bordered by Vermont, Massachusetts, Connecticut, and the Atlantic Ocean (E), New Jersey and Pennsylvania (S), Lakes Erie and Ontario and the Canadian province of , where he is Technical Director of Consumers Union, publisher of Consumer Reports. In this capacity, he supervises the nation's largest consumer testing laboratory. He is directly responsible for ensuring the accuracy and objectivity of CU's assistance to consumers for the purchase and use of products and services. In addition, he directs the technical support of CU's advocacy before Congress, state legislatures A state legislature may refer to a legislative branch or body of a political subdivision in a federal system. The following legislatures exist in the following political subdivisions: Dr. Pittle's commitment to enhancing the role of consumers has included local communities. Over the years, he actively promoted and helped organize citizen action consumer groups to advance consumer awareness and efficacy in solving consumer problems. Dr. Pittle received his B.S. degree in Electrical Engineering electrical engineering: see engineering. electrical engineering Branch of engineering concerned with the practical applications of electricity in all its forms, including those of electronics. from the University of Maryland University of Maryland can refer to:
The author of numerous articles in professional publications, Dr. Pittle has received a number of awards, including the Consumer Federation of America's Philip Hart Philip Aloysius Hart (December 10, 1912–December 26, 1976) was a Democratic United States Senator from Michigan from 1959 until 1976. He was nicknamed the Conscience of the Senate. Public Service Award, the Margaret Dana Award (from the American Society for Testing and Materials) and the Federal Executive Board's Award for Outstanding Public Service in Consumer Protection. He has been a member of a wide range of engineering and consumer organizations, and continues to strive for a marketplace that is fair and safe for consumers. |
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