Aug 25, 2014

ASTM International Committee F15 on Consumer Products has honored John J. Walsh, director emeritus at Keeping Babies Safe Inc. in San Leandro, California, with the Margaret Dana Award.

Walsh was cited for his dedication to the protection of children worldwide through the development of consumer product safety standards. He is an active member of several F15 subcommittees, including F15.18 on Cribs, Toddler Beds, Play Yards, Cradles and Changing Tables, which has been honored by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) for its contributions to injury prevention and consumer product safety for children. Walsh joined ASTM in 1991, and currently serves as F15 vice chairman of liaison-research and programs-education.

A longtime advocate for child safety and injury prevention, Walsh is responsible for spearheading the movement to improve standards for baby cribs and other juvenile products. He worked for the March of Dimes, SPCA and the Danny Foundation before founding Keeping Babies Safe in 2006. Walsh has been instrumental in preventing childhood injuries associated with unsafe cribs and other products through his work with ASTM, CPSC, legislators and the juvenile product industry. He helped introduce the National Infant Crib Safety Act and pass crib safety legislation in seven U.S. states. Many provisions of the National Infant Crib Safety Act are now included in the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Improvement Act, which was signed into law in 2008.

A graduate of King’s College, Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, where he received a bachelor’s degree in economics, Walsh also holds a master’s in theology from the College of the Holy Cross, Washington, D.C.

ASTM PR Contact: Erin K. Brennan, Phone: 610-832-9602; ebrennan@astm.org

Release #9648