The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) issued a safety advisory this week regarding the recently-recalled Samsung Galaxy Note 7 smart phone and its lithium-ion batteries; a battery type that may be present in other electronic devices as well.
According to the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), the lithium-ion battery in the Samsung Galaxy Note7 smartphones can overheat and catch fire, posing a serious burn and fire hazard. The recall affects nearly two million Samsung Galaxy Note7 smartphones, the agency said.
While carrying the Samsung Galaxy Note7 smartphone aboard a commercial motor vehicle (CMV) is not being banned, FMCSA is recommending that truck drivers and/or passengers in a CMV who wish to carry these devices take the following precautions:
- Turn off the device
- Disconnect the device from any charging equipment
- Disable all applications that could inadvertently activate the phone (e.g., alarm clock)
- Protect the power switch to prevent its unintentional activation
Also, in accordance with the Federal Hazardous Materials Regulations 49 CFR 173.21(b), the transportation of electrical devices, such as batteries and battery-powered devices that could be likely to create sparks or generate a dangerous evolution of heat, is forbidden, unless packaged in a manner which precludes such an occurrence.
