Apple AirPods; Are you Aware of the Associated Hazards?
The other day, I was tidying up and was about to throw away the warranty and the safety and handling instructions of my Apple AirPods that I recently was gifted. I did end up throwing away the warranty, but as a safety professional, I was more curious about the safe handling and use of my AirPods. How often do you read the safety and handling instructions of products you buy? Probably not very often. So today, I thought I would educate others on the associated hazards of Apple AirPods.
Charging the Apple AirPods
The instructions say not to use damaged cables or chargers and not charge when moisture is present. These hazards can cause unnecessary risks such as fire, electric shock, injury, or damage to the case or other property. It also says that when using a wireless charger, avoid placing metallic foreign objects on the mat, for example, keys or coins, as they may become warm or interfere with charging.
Heat Exposure
The instructions say to avoid prolonged skin contact with the device, its power adapter, the charging cable, and connector when plugged into a power source. It says it may cause discomfort or injury due to potential heat exposure. It says while the case is charging, do not sit or sleep on the case, or place them under a blanket, pillow, or your body because there is a potential of heat exposure.
Hearing Loss
The instructions state that listening to sound at high volumes may permanently damage your hearing. They say to check the volume after inserting AirPods and before playing audio. They also included a warning image that states to prevent possible hearing damage, do not listen at high volume levels for long periods. They even included a website for more information about hearing loss and setting the maximum volume limit. The website is easy to read and gives three precautions for consumers: Listen Responsibility, Think about the volume, and Keep Track of Time.
Driving and Using Airpods
The use of Airpods while operating a vehicle is not recommended and is illegal in some areas. The instructions also state to be careful and attentive while driving.
Choking Hazard
The safety instructions state that AirPods and its case may present a choking hazard or cause other injuries to small children. They state to keep them away from small children.
Medical Device Interference
The safety instructions state that AirPods and their case emit electromagnetic fields, and they also contain magnets. The safety instructions state that these fields and magnets may interfere with pacemakers, defibrillators, or other medical devices.
Skin Irritation
The safety instructions state the earphones can lead to ear infections if not properly cleaned. It states to clean AirPods regularly with a soft lint-free cloth. It also states not to get moisture in any openings and to not use aerosol sprays, solvents, or abrasives to clean.
Electrostatic Shock
The safety instructions state that when using AirPods in areas where the air is arid, it is easy to build up static electricity, and it is possible for your ears to receive a slight electrostatic discharge from the AirPods. It states to minimize the risk of electrostatic discharge, avoid using AirPods in extremely dry environments, or touch a grounded unpainted metal object before inserting your air pods.
Which hazard do you think the public is primarily unaware about? My first thought is the Medical Device Interference. I also feel that many consumers do not take hazards seriously, such as the most obvious one, hearing loss. It's essential to be cognizant of the volume of your Airpods to prevent noise-induced hearing loss due to repeated exposure to loud sounds over time. Take into account these hazards for the next time you put in your AirPods!
Note: The safety information in this blog is referenced from the “Safety and handling” pamphlet that came with my purchased Apple Airpods. The goal of this blog was to share with others on the associated hazards in the event they did not read their pamphlet.
Me wearing my Apple AirPods after reading the Safety & handling instructions!
