After several notable news reports following vape battery explosions in devices, the FDA has turned its attention to these personal vaporizers in looking for answers. Now, the FDA is asking consumers to step forward and share their stories to collect vape explosion statistics.
The Safety Reporting Portal
The FDA has set up a Safety Reporting Portal on their website to take complaints from consumers who have suffered a battery explosion first hand. The government agency notes that their primary objective is to get to the bottom of the problem and determine what is causing the explosions in the first place.
The portal asks for a wide range of details including the brand information, where the device was purchased, how it was used and if the device was modified in any way from the manufacturer's specifications.
The Findings
So far most of the complaints registered to the FDA have pointed to mishandling of the devices in question rather than flaws in the devices themselves. This is good news for most manufacturers, but it has made it difficult for the FDA to take any concrete action on the issue.
As a result, the agency created some guidelines for users who are interested in vaping, suggesting that you always choose a brand that has adequate protections in place like short circuit protection and over-heating protection to prevent explosions. They have also published tips for how to properly care for your batteries so that they are not damaged by over-charging or negligence.
Consumer Safety Comes First
As Samsung tries to claw its way back from last year's exploding Note 7 phones debacle, and hover board devices continue to start fires, there is plenty of reason to make sure that consumer devices are safe for the general public.
However, in the case of personal vaporizers it appears that there is very little evidence of poor quality standards on the part of vapor manufacturers. It looks as though the majority of cases have to do more with how people are using their devices, and especially how they are carrying their devices when they're not in use. For instance, cases where vaporizers have blown up when carried in a purse or when held between the legs while driving indicate that it is often accidental firing of the device that causes problems more than anything else. On the plus side, manufacturers have been very responsive to these reports and many of them have added extra protections and firing button locks to minimize the risks to consumers.
