Due to the recent events concerning the safety recall on the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has issued out a safety advisory notice regarding commercial motor vehicle transportation of the device and affiliate products which include damaged, defective or recalled lithium batteries, cells, and portable electronic devices. This safety notice was directed towards owners, operators, and passengers of commercial auto vehicles (CMV). The CPSC claims that the lithium-ion battery inside the Samsung Galaxy Note 7 smart phones is vulnerable to overheating and catching fire. This raises some serious red flags due to the fire and burn hazard it creates. About two million Samsung Galaxy Note 7 smart phones have been recalled.
The transportation of Samsung Galaxy Note 7 smart phones by commercial motor vehicles have not been banned however, the FMCSA has issued some safety pre-caution recommendations may want to take. These precautions include:
- Powering off the device
- Disconnecting any charging equipment that is connected to the device
- Disabling all application that can activate the device accidentally
- Protecting the power button against accidental activation during the transport
- Keeping the device accessible at all times
As stated in Federal Hazardous Materials Regulations 49 CFR 173.21(b), the transport of electrical devices that pose a threat in creating sparks or a great amount of heat is not allowed, unless certain packaging instructions are followed. The recalled Samsung Galaxy Note 7 smart phones may only be transported using commercial motor vehicles as cargo only if an approval is granted by PHMSA’s Associate Administrator for Hazardous Material’s Safety. The PHMSA’s Associate Administrator for Hazardous Material’s Safety may also issue you a special permit which allows you to transport a product of such sort.
This is a commendable effort to the safety of travelers and humans in general. The big question is, how certain are we that passengers would adhere strictly to these rules? As we all know, some people have a penchant for breaking rules and some, out of ignorance, break rules. There is need for a defined medium to put every traveler in check.
I know when I first heard about the issue with the galaxy note7 ‘s exploding and starting fires I was glad with they discontinued it. I am glad to hear the transporters of the discontinued galaxy note 7 are taking the proper precautions so there aren’t anymore fires or explosions due to the phones.