Headphones explode mid-flight – victim suffers facial burns
A woman wearing noise-cancelling headphones on a flight from Beijing to Melbourne was injured when her headphones exploded whilst she was sleeping.
They suddenly exploded – sparking and igniting – while she slept.
Feeling her face burning, she ripped the headphones from around her neck and threw them onto the floor of the cabin, stamping on them. The headphones were still emitting sparks so flight attendants swiftly threw buckets of water on them to avoid any serious incidents.
Continue Reading…
Skin creams containing paraffin have reportedly caused 37 deaths in England in the last decade
Medical manufacturers have sent out warnings to eczema skin cream users, as some users have reported that they have caused fires, and consequently 37 deaths.
The majority of skin creams contain paraffin which can soak into bedding and clothes, and therefore make them more flammable. In November 2007, the NHS webpage alerted healthcare staff involved in prescribing, dispensing or administration of paraffin-based skin products of a potential fire hazard. The page states that paraffin-based products – e.g. emulsifying ointment – are easily ignited with a naked flame or a cigarette, so users should take caution when using them.
Continue Reading…
Should Apple recall iPhone models that are experiencing unexpected shutdowns?
iPhone batteries have reportedly been a long-standing problem since their entry on the market. Users have reported multiple issues with the battery, especially with regards to the iPhone 6.
Its been reported that a bug or defect causes the phone to crash ‘dramatically’, meaning the power might plunge from 50% or 30% to 1% and other times the iPhone just shuts down altogether.
Continue Reading…
Samsung Note 7 recall findings and the company’s commitment to do better
Last year, multiple Samsung Note 7’s were unexpectedly igniting; causing great concern for users’ safety.
Samsung quickly initiated a recall to replace the faulty batteries. However, it didn’t take long for those to set on fire too. After a thorough investigation into the phones and what exactly caused the ignitions, Samsung has revealed that there were two main reasons; both relating to the batteries in the hand set.
Continue Reading…
Regulators reportedly find no evidence of defect in Tesla car involved in fatal Autopilot crash
Regulators have concluded their investigations into Tesla Model S cars, which was prompted by the death of a man named Joshua Brown in May of 2016. The driver was using the self-drive autopilot system when he collided with a truck.
The Regulators report apparently blames human error rather than the unfamiliar new technology…
Continue Reading…
Nissan recalls over 150,000 vehicles over potentially deadly airbags.
Nissan has recalled a total of 152,554 vehicles after reports of defective airbag inflators causing injury and death. The airbag inflators may rupture: exploding and shooting metal fragments into the cabin of the car; potentially causing substantial harm.
This defect is susceptible to rupturing for a number of reasons:
- Propellant degradation;
- Long term exposure to absolutely humidity;
- Exposure to temperature cycling (quickly going from one temperature extreme to the other).
VW’s fines and penalties hailed as strong deterrent
Director of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has hailed fines and penalties inflicted upon the VW Group as a great success for deterring further cheating from other automakers.
According to Reuters, Christopher Grundler, director of EPA’s Office of Transportation and Air Quality, in a meeting with automotive engineers commented on the effectiveness of the fines and penalties. He said, “It gets everybody’s attention”.
Continue Reading…
Takata to plead guilty for the airbag defect scandal
Major auto part maker Takata is set to plead guilty and pay a $1 billion settlement in a plea agreement over an airbag fault scandal.
It has been called one of the “largest and most complex safety recall” cases in history, with defects linked to 16 deaths worldwide, and a further 100 injuries reported.
The airbag’s defect can lead to a sudden explosion, shooting sharp metal fragments into the cars cabin. A safety device that’s intended to save lives has ended up costing them instead.
Continue Reading…
VW Group Action Settlement offers approved by U.S. judges
On 14th February 2017, the U.S. federal judge decided to share the love with thousands of affected vehicle owners when it granted preliminary approval to a $1.22 billion (£979 million) settlement offer made by VW.
In a separate hearing, U.S. District Judge, Charles Breyer, also approved a $327.5 (£262) million settlement offer made by Bosch.
Things are moving forward nicely in the U.S. which is, to be fair, frustrating for the thousands of U.K. clients we act for! We’re still confident we can win the cases though. So we’ll keep fighting them!
Continue Reading…
Coca-Cola has ‘misled’ consumers for years, according to the CSPI
A lawsuit has been brought against Coca-Cola for allegedly misleading consumers in relation to the health risks that consuming sugary drinks can pose.
According to the suit, filed by the Center for Science in the Public Interest (CSPI), it’s alleged that Coca-Cola, together with the industry group the American Beverage Association (ABA), have misled customers regarding the health risks of drinking sugary drinks.
Continue Reading…
Class 4 MHRA alert: Mirena inserters incorrectly mounted
Bayer plc, a global pharmaceutical company, has received two complaints with regards to its Mirena inserters. The complaints detail that the insertion tube was mounted inversely to the handle, and this has led to an inversion of the insertion depth scale, which may lead to incorrect insertion depth; consequently reducing the efficacy and/or causing injuries.
An investigation has shown that both complaints involve one batch of inserters and a Mirena batch number TU01BPE. The affected batch was first distributed on 29th August 2016, with an expiry in June 2019.
Continue Reading…
Land Rovers and Jaguars rolling away while parked reportedly causing injuries
According to automotive regulators, some Land Rover SUVs and Jaguar XF sedans have been reported to cause injuries after the vehicles rolled away while parked.
Seven reports were received of rollaway vehicles for the following models: year 2012-2014 Land Rover Evoque sport-utility vehicles; and 2013 Jaguar XF sedan vehicles.
It’s thought that approximately 39,000 vehicles could be affected by the problem though, which is a lot of potential accidents waiting to happen…
Continue Reading…