Safety Alerts

The Center receives information from the Government-Industry Data Exchange Program (GIDEP) concerning product recalls. In an effort to keep employees informed of recalls that may affect you at work and at home, Code 300 will provide alerts or recalls with web site links for retrieving further information on the recalls or alerts.

New Technology in Gas Water Heaters Can Save Lives
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml03/03158.html

CPSC Warns Backyard Pool Drownings Happen Quickly and Silently
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml03/03151.html

Clothing-Related Burn Injuries to Children are Focus of New Data Collection Tool
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml03/03150.html

CPSC, American Promotional Events Inc. Announce Recall of Fireworks
http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/prerel/prhtml03/03157.html

Safety Alert - CD-R Disk Fails and is Ejected Explosively from CD-ROM Drive

The NASA AMES Research Center has provided the following safety issue on July 2, 2003:
"On Thursday, June 19, 2003, a compact disk (CD-R) being used in a CD-ROM drive at NASA Ames Research Center shattered and was ejected explosively from the drive. The cover and door of the CD drive were blown off and landed about six feet away from the front of the CPU. Pieces of the disk were found in a pattern that extended about three and a half feet out from the CPU."

"The drive was dissected on Friday by an Ames Computer System Engineer to investigate possible causes. The drive appeared to be in good condition other than the few remaining disk pieces that had remained there. This is a generic 56x CD-ROM drive. No manufacturer could be identified, however, the drive was built in China in March 2001 and bears the number (not sure if a model or serial number) CKD0112002456. Our computer specialists believe this was a failure of a flawed
disk, not the drive. The brand of the disk is also not known."

"Due to the distinct possibility of future similar events, we issue the following cautionary statement: Many computer users install their CPUs on top of their desks. This places the CD drive at approximately eye level resulting in an unacceptable risk to the user should a disk failure occur. We recommend that, where possible, the CPU should be installed below the desktop and to the side of the users legs. If the CPU must remain on the desktop, it should be arranged so that the front of the CD drive does not face the user or any other person. An initial mishap report has been written and entered into IRIS. The case number is 03-ARC-39."

Any inquiries may be directed to Andy Hocker
Safety, Environmental, and Mission Assurance
Ames Research Center, Mail Stop 218-7
Moffett Field, CA 94035
Telephone (650) 604-4120
Email: ahocker@mail.arc.nasa.gov