Makers Note Peril in Infant Gates, Stop Production

The Consumer Product Safety Commission said Tuesday six manufacturers have agreed to halt production of hazardous wooden baby gates--three years after it was found the gates could be lethal.

Commissioner Stuart M. Statler announced the action, blasting the agency and the manufacturers for “foot-dragging” on the accordion-style gate blamed for at least eight infant deaths.

The babies were killed when their heads became trapped in the gate openings.

Statler said he voted against the voluntary accord to halt production on Jan. 31, saying the commission should have forced an end to the manufacturing as early as 1982.

Commission Chairman Terrence Scanlon said that since October, when the commission was advised of the latest fatality the commission got agreement from all six manufacturers to stop production.