Do you or someone you know use a hoverboard at home or work? The Division of the Fire Marshal (DFM) wants everyone to be aware of the dangers these boards present. After becoming the popular holiday gift of 2015, hoverboards caused many fires and falls. Homes, apartments and automobiles have been destroyed. Several users have also suffered burns and some pets have lost their lives in fires caused by hoverboard accidents. Hoverboards have been banned by many airlines, railroads and college campuses.
Several efforts are underway to prevent any additional losses and/or injuries. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) issued a recall that involves over a half million units manufactured by 10 different companies. According to the CPSC Chairman, older hoverboards were “sold without a safety standard in place” and as a result, these “fundamental design flaws” placed several people in harm’s way. Underwriter’s Labs (UL) has recently developed a test procedure that addresses the associated fire risk and newer units have the familiar UL logo. The American Society for Testing Materials (ASTM) is in the process of developing a balancing test to help prevent falls.
Take the following hoverboard precautions for the safety of your family and coworkers, as well as to protect NIH’s valuable research:
- Check to see if it is a recently sold unit bearing a UL mark.
- Check if the unit has been recalled at CPSC.gov. The major manufacturers are offering refunds, repairs or replacements, depending on the model.
- Recalled units and those not UL certified must remain off NIH property and out of leased spaces.
Follow these safeguards for UL certified hoverboards at home and work:
- Use only the charger that is packaged with the hoverboard.
- Keep away from combustible materials while charging.
- Follow the manufacturer’s recommended charging times. DO NOT overcharge.
- If an incident occurs, evacuate and call 911.
- Fire extinguishers may be ineffective on certain battery fires.
- Follow all manufacturer-recommended safety guidelines, including wearing recommended personal protective gear.
Consumer safety incidents with hoverboards can be reported at www.saferproducts.gov. For more information or questions, contact DFM at (301) 496-0487.
