Safety

NTSB: Boeing 787 Battery Shows Short-Circuiting

January 25, 2013 12:21 pm | by Joan Lowy, Associated Press | News | Comments

The Boeing 787 Dreamliner battery that caught fire earlier this month in Boston shows evidence of short-circuiting and a chemical reaction known as "thermal runaway," in which an increase in temperature causes progressively hotter temperatures, federal accident investigators said Thursday.

U.S. Officials Defend Handling Of Boeing 787 Mishaps

January 24, 2013 2:18 pm | by Joan Lowy, Associated Press | News | Comments

Obama administration officials struggled Wednesday to defend their initial statements that the Boeing 787 Dreamliner is safe while promising a transparent probe of mishaps involving the aircraft's batteries. FAA is working as quickly as possible to find the cause of the problems, assembling a team of technical experts that includes experts from industry as well as the agency's staff, Huerta said.

Boeing Battery Burn-Out

January 24, 2013 1:42 pm | by University of Michigan | Videos | Comments

University of Michigan Chemical Engineering Professor Levi Thompson discusses the grounding of the Boeing 787 jets due to battery malfunction. Thompson explains how overheating of Lithium Ion batteries could cause leaking of fluids, which may lead to ignition. For more information visit http://www.engin.umich.edu.

Do You Hear What I Hear?

January 22, 2013 8:08 am | Articles | Comments

From ringing bells to fireplace logs crackling, the sounds of the holiday season is a near-distant memory. However, for employees in loud workplaces, these sentimental noises may become an even more faint memory of the past if the proper precautions aren’t taken.

Aviation Technology Advances, FAA Tries To Keep Up

January 21, 2013 2:34 pm | by David Koenig, AP Airlines Writer | News | Comments

After two separate and serious battery problems aboard Boeing 787s, it wasn't U.S. authorities who acted first to ground the plane. It was Japanese airlines. The unfolding saga of Boeing's highest-profile plane has raised new questions about federal oversight of aircraft makers and airlines.

Turbulent Times For Boeing & Airbus

January 21, 2013 1:40 pm | by CNN Money | Videos | Comments

CNNMoney's Jim Boulden looks at the pressure and problems Boeing and Airbus have faced in launching their new high-tech airplanes. Airbus' A380 has seen mid-air engine explosions and cracked wings, and now Boeing is dealing with battery - and possibly electrical - issues of its own.

Boeing Halts 787 Deliveries Until Batteries Fixed

January 21, 2013 10:16 am | by Joshua Freed, AP Business Writer | News | Comments

Boeing is stopping deliveries of the 787 until the plane's electrical system is fixed but says production is not stopping. The plane is assembled in Everett, WA, and North Charleston, SC out of pieces built all over the world. The FAA has grounded the 787s currently in use until Boeing can prove the batteries are safe.

Toyota Settlement May Signal Future Legal Strategy

January 21, 2013 10:15 am | by Greg Risling, Associated Press | News | Comments

As Toyota Motor Corp. chips away at settling lawsuits claiming its vehicles suddenly accelerate, the question remains whether attorneys who sued could prove to a jury there was a design flaw. The company maintains stuck accelerator pedals, faulty floor mats and driver error are the reasons for vehicles unexpectedly surging, while plaintiffs' attorneys contend Toyota's electronic throttle control system is to blame.

Over 140 Nations Adopt Treaty To Cut Mercury

January 21, 2013 10:07 am | by John Heilprin, Associated Press | News | Comments

A new and legally binding international treaty to reduce harmful emissions of mercury was adopted Saturday by more than 140 nations, capping four years of difficult negotiations but stopping short of some of the tougher measures that proponents had envisioned.

Honda Issues Recall Because Of Airbag Problem

January 18, 2013 2:11 pm | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

Honda says it's recalling 748,000 Pilot and Odyssey vehicles because of a possible problem with their driver's-side airbags. Honda says that the airbags may have been assembled without some of the rivets needed to secure their cover. That could keep them from deploying properly in the event of a crash and increase the possibility of injury.

Japan Probe Suspects Excess Voltage In 787 Battery

January 18, 2013 2:08 pm | by Malcolm Foster, Associated Press | News | Comments

The burned insides of a battery in the Boeing 787 at the center of a worldwide grounding of the aircraft indicate it operated at a voltage above its design limit, a Japanese investigator said Friday, as U.S. officials joined Japan's probe into the incident.

Toyota Settles Wrongful Death Lawsuit

January 18, 2013 10:21 am | by Andrew Dalton, Associated Press | News | Comments

Toyota Motor Corp. has settled with family members of two people killed in a sudden-acceleration crash in Utah as part of a lawsuit that was to go to court next month and serve as a test case for a group of hundreds more that are pending. Paul Van Alfen and Charlene Jones Lloyd were killed when their Camry slammed into a wall in 2010.

Dreamliner Woes Spotlight Japan Battery Maker

January 18, 2013 10:18 am | by Elaine Kurtenbach, AP Business Writer | News | Comments

The troubles with Boeing's 787 Dreamliner are drawing an unwelcome spotlight for the Japanese maker of the powerful lithium-ion batteries that have become the focus of investigations into onboard fire risks. Kyoto, Japan-based GS Yuasa Corp. said it began working Thursday with investigators probing the cause of recent problems with the 787.

Boeing's 787 Dreamliner Grounded

January 17, 2013 12:33 pm | by CBS News | Videos | Comments

The Federal Aviation Administration has ordered all Boeing 787s in the United States to be grounded for safety inspections. CBS News travel editor Peter Greenberg talks to Charlie Rose and Norah O'Donnell about what that means for Boeing and for passengers.

Grounding Of 787s Adds To Scrutiny Of New Plane

January 16, 2013 2:19 pm | by Joshua Freed, AP Business Writer | News | Comments

Boeing's troubles with its newest airplane got worse on Wednesday after an emergency landing prompted Japan's two biggest airlines to ground all their 787s for safety checks. It was the second fire-related incident in two weeks involving the 787's lithium-ion batteries.

Emergency Landing Grounds Boeing 787 Jets In Japan

January 16, 2013 10:12 am | by Elaine Kurtenbach, Yuri Kageyama, AP Business Writers | News | Comments

Japan's two biggest airlines grounded all their Boeing 787 aircraft for safety checks Wednesday after one was forced to make an emergency landing in the latest blow for the new jet. All Nippon Airways said a cockpit message showed battery problems and a burning smell was detected in the cockpit and the cabin, forcing the 787 on a domestic flight to land at Takamatsu airport in western Japan.

Rig Worker Dies In Accident At WV Prep Plant

January 16, 2013 10:09 am | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

Federal regulators said Tuesday they were working with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to decide who has jurisdiction over a fatal accident involving a gas-drilling rig at a coal mine prep plant. An unidentified worker died Monday night when the rig overturned and crushed him at CONSOL Energy's Loveridge Mine preparation plant in Fairview, W.VA., said Mine Safety and Health Administration spokesman Jesse Lawder.

When Lightning Strikes Your Plant Floor

January 16, 2013 8:08 am | by John Amann, Vice President of First Aid & Safety, Cintas Corporation | Articles | Comments

Several disaster-related hazards can impact your business including, fires, natural disasters, chemical spills, medical emergencies, blackouts and more. Preparing a disaster plan that details how to maintain safety and productivity, and reviewing it with employees can help your business be proactive and ensure the correct reactive solutions are onsite to limit the impact of workplace emergencies.

Gunpowder Company Owner Faces Trial In Explosion

January 15, 2013 2:26 pm | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

The owner of a New Hampshire gunpowder company that was the site of a 2010 factory explosion that killed two men is scheduled for trial in May. Craig Sanborn of Maidstone, Vt., was indicted last year on two counts of manslaughter and two counts of negligent homicide for negligently engaging in the manufacture, production, testing and storage of explosive material.

FAA To Launch Comprehensive Review Of Boeing 787

January 11, 2013 10:21 am | by Joan Lowy, Associated Press | News | Comments

The Federal Aviation Administration is undertaking a comprehensive review of the critical systems of Boeing's 787s, the aircraft maker's newest and most technologically advanced plane, after a fire and a fuel leak earlier this week, the agency said Friday.

Carmakers Let App Developers Drive Innovation

January 11, 2013 10:18 am | by Ryan Nakashima, Associated Press | News | Comments

Drivers have grown so accustomed to their on-the-go tasks that automakers are increasingly trying to make those things easier to pull off with both hands on the wheel and both eyes on the road. As General Motors and Ford commissioned ideas from app makers this week, the possibilities for what you can do with your vehicle's steering wheel buttons, microphone, speakers and internal gauges are quickly expanding.

Opening The Operator’s Eyes: Internal Inspections For Overhead Lifting Equipment

January 11, 2013 8:00 am | by Konecranes | Articles | Comments

Anyone who works with overhead lifting equipment will tell you that safety is absolutely crucial. From machine shop owners to warehouse floor managers, professionals who work in these environments understand how important it is to invest in the reliability and lifecycle of their heavy-duty equipment.

Jeep Grand Cherokee Cleared In Fire Probe

January 8, 2013 10:13 am | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

U.S. safety regulators have cleared the 2012 Jeep Grand Cherokee after an investigation into possible engine fires. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration began checking 107,000 of the SUVs in July after getting complaints about power steering hoses coming loose and leaking fluid onto the engine.

Analyst: Boeing Selloff May Be Overdone

January 8, 2013 10:08 am | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

Boeing's share price decline after a fire on one of its new 787s may be overdone, Jefferies analyst Howard A. Rubel wrote on Tuesday. Rubel wrote that the decline of over $1 billion in market value "would seem to overstate the worry." He noted that there has been no other similar incident to this one, and the other 787s continue to operate normally.

Subaru Recalls 634,000 Autos For Fire Risk

January 4, 2013 2:03 pm | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

Subaru is recalling nearly 634,000 cars and SUVs in the U.S. because lights beneath the doors can overheat and catch fire. The company says moisture can get into puddle lights beneath the doors and cause a short circuit that can melt plastic and cause fires.