Childrenswear Safety Manual - Clothing and Accessories

Childrenswear Safety Manual 2024 - Clothing & Accessories Introduction Safety is extremely important to us and our customers have high expectations of our ability to trade safely and responsibly. It underpins our core business values and we take great pride in selling safe product that meets the highest standards of our business. M&S has a large exposure to the consumer and so we must minimise the possible safety risk by minimising the hazard (Hazard X Exposure = Risk). It is therefore essential that all possible steps are taken to eliminate hazards and it is for this purpose that the Childrenswear Safety Manual exists. Understanding and adhering to its content will support the process of producing a safe product and assure continued confidence and trust in the M&S brand. This manual has been designed to give the reader guidance when designing and manufacturing Children’s clothing for M&S and is arranged in alphabetical order for convenience. This manual is a ‘living document’ and will be continually updated to remain relevant to the changing needs and expectations of our customer as well as changes or updates in legislation. Please ensure you are always referring to the latest version available origin Technologists in our UK Buying Office and in our Sourcing Offices, are available to support you in interpreting the topics covered in this manual. There will be occasions when product is outside the guidelines of the manual. In this instance advice must be sought, from the M&S Departmental technologist. The technologist will assess the risk using available research, data and the services of our independent safety consultant. Product Safety Manager It is a condition of supplying M&S Childrenswear that our Suppliers designate a senior level person to be accountable for all aspects of Safety. This person will be the key point of contact for M&S for safety related matters. A Product Safety Auditor must be employed on each factory site and this person must report directly to a senior manager within the factory All Product Safety Auditors will undergo the M&S ‘Certified Auditor Program’ this program involves: training, witnessed audits and an examination All workers involved in the manufacturing process from development to delivery must have access to adequate training so that they can successfully play their part in delivering safe product. It is the responsibility of the Supplier to ensure that this is delivered. Product Safety Audit (PSA) The M&S Product Safety Audit exists to ensure that procedures operating in each factory can consistently produce the safe product our customer expects and that the M&S brand and reputation demands. To ensure that a factory is set up to M&S safety requirements the Product Safety Auditor should ensure that the guidelines laid out in the Product Safety Guidelines pack have been implemented these can be found on Origin Before any factory can produce Childrenswear product, the Regional Product Safety Auditor must carry out a PSA and the factory must achieve a grading no less than ‘minimum standard’. Where applicable Product Safety Corrective Action Plans will be issued and followed up with a visit(s). Product Safety audit requirements can to be found on the Supplier Exchange Factories will be re-audited by Regional Product Safety Auditor, the frequency of which will be determined by the grade awarded. It is a M&S requirement that internal audits are carried out by the factory Product Safety Auditor, monthly. A copy of the safety audit form can be found on Origin Ferrous Free Policy In order that product may be effectively metal detected, it is a requirement that suppliers keep to the M&S policy of using ferrous free metal components so they pass through the metal detector and ensuring the sewing needles are of ferrous content so they are detected for all production. Environmental and Chemical Policy (ECP) Marks & Spencer have an Environmental and Chemical Policy (ECP) in place to ensure that all products manufactured meet the strictest legal requirements and to restrict or eliminate specific chemicals of concern. This is part of our commitment to source responsibly and to protect consumers, workers and the environment. It is our supplier’s responsibility to share this policy with their supply chain and ensure that all chemicals and materials used in the manufacture of M&S products are compliant. Compliance is required to the following: • M&S Manufacturing Restricted Substances List (MRSL) - restricts the input of hazardous chemicals to the manufacturing process. The chemicals listed are banned from deliberate use in formulations. This list has been developed in conjunction with the Zero Discharge of Hazardous Chemicals Group (ZDHC) of which M&S is a signatory member. • M&S Restricted Substances List (RSL) - defines the limits for residues of hazardous chemicals allowed on the finished product. • M&S ECP Minimum Standard Self Audit - Each dyer, printer, laundry and tannery must confirm that they have completed and submitted the minimum standards self-audit as part of the technical submission process • REACH - Every supplier must also be familiar with and comply with European REACH Legislation. A robust process must be in place to respond to any requests, especially about Substances of Very High Concern (SVHCs), within 45 days. • Applicable national or local environmental laws and workplace regulations We expect that suppliers will carry out Due Diligence Testing to ensure compliance with the Restricted Substances List, and to request evidence that their upstream suppliers also carry out Due Diligence Testing and checks as appropriate. Failure to comply with the Marks & Spencer’s Environmental and Chemical Policy may result in a fine or the rejection of your product. We reserve the right to RTM the product at the supplier’s cost, according to our Terms and Conditions. Non Adherence to Safety Manual – Our Policy The safety of our Childrenswear is a core requirement for Garment Makers to conform to. Specifically, all products presented to Childrenswear must be risk and safety assessed, and suitably specified, to avoid any foreseeable risk of danger to the customer. The Childrenswear Safety Manual details the M&S minimum standards of safety that are required. These standards must be adhered to for all our products, from first design samples through to production, including those products made for our Outlet Stores. Suppliers who deliver product that fails to perform to the clearly specified guidelines and requirements in this manual risk having non-conforming product rejected: at source, warehouse, RTM’d, or potentially recalled from M&S Stores or customers at their cost. This Merchandise will be destroyed unless it can be re-processed to a safe standard and in a timely manner, to the Departmental needs. No unsafe merchandise will be allowed to be disposed of for re-sale elsewhere. M&S takes the issue of product contamination very seriously – specifically where there is contamination of sharp items which have originated in the factory. In certain instances, these can cause a serious injury or even a fatality to a customer. Please ensure you are familiar with Our General Merchandise Terms and Conditions especially for: • Sharp contamination found in product, a fine of £10000 GBP • Bulk RTM’s • Product Recalls s The Terms and Conditions can be found on PLM Contents Category Non-adherence to our Safety Policy Risk Assessment Legal Documentation M&S Internal Standards Test Methods No 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10. 11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30. 31. 32. 33. 34. 35. 36. 37. 38. 39. 40. 41. 42. 43. 44. 45. Aglet (Flugelbinder) Bags ( Including Lunchboxes) Battery Operated Components Beads Bells Belts Bibs Bottles- drinking/water Bows Braces (Separate Braces) Buttons Chains Corsages Decorative Feathers Diamantes Direct Embroidery / Fusible Motifs and Badges Dress up Dry Cleaning Elastics Faux Fur pile fabrics & trims. Flammability – All Garments excluding nightwear and Dress up Flammability – Nightwear Flash Flame Float Lengths - Includes socks / tights / gloves / and garments with integral feet. Formaldehyde Hair Accessories Hanger Loops Headbands Hoods and Headwear Hooks and Eyes Interlining / Fusible Backing Jewelry Lace Crochet - open constructions LED Lights (Light Emitting Diode) Light Modules Liquid Filled Products (e.g. Badges/ Teethers Magnets Market Fabric & Trims / Non ECP Fabric & Trims Metal components - Press fasteners, Stud buttons, Rivets, Eyelets, Strap adjusters Migration of Toxic Elements Natural Materials for Accessories & componentry Neck Stretch Neck Ties Netting Onesies & All In Ones with Hoods