Safety

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.

GM Recalls 55K Vehicles To Fix Shifter Problem

January 4, 2013 10:15 am | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

General Motors is recalling nearly 55,000 pickup trucks, SUVs and vans because they can roll away unexpectedly. The recall affects certain 2013 models of the Chevrolet Silverado, Suburban, Tahoe, Avalanche and Express. Also included are the GMC Sierra, Savana and Yukon as well as the Cadillac Escalade.

Big Brother Takes The Wheel

January 4, 2013 8:00 am | by Meaghan Ziemba, Associate Editor, PD&D | Blogs | Comments

While I am all for the advancement of automobile safety, I wonder if placing black boxes in cars is stepping over the privacy boundary? A recent article, “Black Boxes in Cars Raise Privacy Concerns” discussed the placement of event data recorders, also known as black boxes, being placed in new cars and light trucks – such a development caused me to raise an eyebrow.

Upstate NY Factory Faces $75K In Fines For Hazards

December 21, 2012 2:03 pm | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

Federal workplace safety regulators say a factory in the Mohawk Valley put its workers at risk with a series of violations. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration has recommended almost $75,000 in fines against Nationwide Tarp Inc., which makes tents and other canvas products in Amsterdam.

Toyota's Camry Performs Poorly On New Crash Test

December 20, 2012 2:07 pm | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

The Toyota Camry, the best-selling car in the U.S., performed poorly this year in a new crash test and failed to get the best safety rating from an insurance industry group. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety gave the Camry a "Poor" rating on a test that measures how well people are protected when the front corner of a car hits another car or an object.

Toyota To Pay $17.35M Fine For Late Recall Report

December 19, 2012 2:36 pm | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

Toyota Motor Corp. has agreed to pay a fine of $17.35 million (around 1.45 billion yen) for its failure to report a safety defect to the U.S. government in a timely manner, U.S. authorities said Tuesday. The U.S. Department of Transportation's National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said the fine was the maximum allowable under a relevant law.

Hyundai Recalls Velosters Over Shattering Sunroofs

December 19, 2012 2:32 pm | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

Hyundai is recalling about 13,500 Veloster hatchbacks in the U.S. because the vehicle's sunroof can shatter and cause injuries. The recall affects cars from the 2012 model year. Hyundai says it knows of no crashes from the problem, but five people have received minor cuts.

Gov't Warns Mitsubishi Over Improper Recall Handling

December 19, 2012 10:10 am | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

The government on Wednesday gave a verbal warning to Mitsubishi Motors Corp. for its improper handling and explanation of minivehicle recalls prompted by oil leaks. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism is expected to inspect the company soon over the four recalls reported since November 2010.

U.S. Fines Toyota $17M For Delayed Safety Reports

December 18, 2012 10:27 am | by Tom Krisher, AP Auto Writer | News | Comments

The U.S. government has hit Toyota Motor Corp. with a record $17.4 million fine for failing once again to quickly report problems to federal regulators and for delaying a safety recall. The fine against the world's biggest automaker from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, the agency that monitors vehicle safety, is the maximum allowed by law.

Bangladesh Probe: Fire Sabotage, Owner Negligent

December 18, 2012 10:16 am | by Julhas Alam, Associated Press | News | Comments

A Bangladesh government committee investigating the garment factory fire that killed 112 people last month said in its findings that the blaze was sabotage, probably by someone who worked there. But the panel said that no matter who set the fire, the owner of the factory also should be punished for the deaths because he neglected worker safety.

NHTSA Investigating Ford Floor Mats

December 17, 2012 2:16 pm | by Dee-Ann Durbin, AP Auto Writer | News | Comments

The federal government is expanding an investigation into floor mats that interfere with pedals in Ford, Mercury and Lincoln cars. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration was initially investigating 2010 Ford Fusion and Mercury Milan vehicles. Late last week, it said it also would look at those 2008 and 2009 models and the Lincoln MKZ.

S. Korea: Samsung Chip Plant Caused Cancer

December 14, 2012 10:07 am | by Youkyung Lee, AP Business Writer | News | Comments

A South Korean agency said working at a Samsung factory caused the breast cancer of a worker who died earlier this year, the second time it has recognized a link between cancer and Samsung's chip plants. The Korea Workers' Compensation and Welfare Service ruled there was a "considerable causal relationship" between the woman's cancer and her years of work at a semiconductor plant.

Honda Issues Global Recall: Cars Can Roll Away

December 12, 2012 10:27 am | by Tom Krisher, AP Auto Writer | News | Comments

Honda is recalling more than 870,000 minivans and SUVs worldwide because they can roll away even though drivers have removed the keys from the ignition. The recall affects older-model vehicles sold mainly in the U.S. Problems with the ignition switches have plagued Honda for years. It has recalled nearly 2.3 million vehicles for the problem since 2003.

Why Efforts To Stop Factory Fires Have Failed

December 12, 2012 10:21 am | by Allen G. Breed, Anne D'Innocenzio, Scott Mayerowitz, Associated Press | News | Comments

About a year and a half before a fire at a clothing factory in Bangladesh killed 112 people in November, executives from Wal-Mart, Gap and other big retailers met nearby to discuss ways to prevent the unsafe working conditions that have made such tragedies common.

Ford: Software Update Will Fix Fire Problem

December 10, 2012 2:15 pm | by The Associated Press | News | Comments

Ford will update software on 2013 Escape SUVs and Fusion cars to fix a coolant problem that can cause fires. Last month the automaker recalled more than 89,000 of the vehicles after getting complaints about overheating and fires. It urged owners to get loaner cars from dealers until Ford found a fix. Only vehicles with 1.6-liter turbocharged engines are affected.