By Avijit Ghosh, Industry Manager, Frost & Sullivan Automotive Practice

The transportation of lithium batteries, particularly by air, has remained a challenge for a number of years. Since 1991, more than 40 air transport-related incidents involving lithium batteries and devices powered by lithium batteries have been identified.

Lithium batteries are considered hazardous, and thus fall under the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration's (PHMSA) Hazardous Materials Regulations (HMR) standards for purposes of transportation. They are considered hazardous because they can overheat and ignite under certain conditions. The resulting fire is difficult to extinguish. In general, the risks posed by lithium batteries are a function of battery size (the amount of lithium content and corresponding energy density) and the likelihood of short-circuit or rupture.

Major causes of lithium battery-related incidents:

The Transportation Security Administration (TSA) states that there are not enough compliance inspectors to oversee implementation of the Certified Cargo Screening Program (CCSP). Department of Homeland Security's CCSP mandates 100 percent screening of cargo that originates from the U.S and is shipped through passenger aircraft, at the piece level, by 2010.

Transporters have a low awareness of the categorization of different types of hazardous materials (hazmat), which leads to several accidents/incidents.

Dangerous cargo may be transported without being properly labeled or marked with correct signage

Previously, the PHMSA and Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have taken several actions to improve the safety of lithium batteries in transportation. Besides writing and enforcing all safety regulations, these agencies have worked with representatives of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Consumer Product Safety Commission, manufacturers of lithium batteries and battery powered products, airlines, and others, to share information on battery-related risks and to promote the methodologies adopted by those agencies to mitigate those risks. However, recent reports of cargo-related accidents/incidents that involve lithium batteries show that there is still room for improvement.

In October 2009, PHMSA issued a press release on lithium battery safety, in which it reemphasized its enforcement effort on shippers and carriers of hazmat that are using air transport, in specific reference to lithium batteries. The PHMSA and FAA are working on additional rule-making to increase the safety requirements of Lithium battery transportation through the air. They are focusing on undeclared shipments of lithium batteries, and are planning to enforce appropriate actions against those responsible for their transportation.

Lithium battery safety is one area in which governing bodies are working currently, and more changes are expected soon. One such change is an anticipated request from TSA for an additional 150 inspectors for fiscal year 2010 to enhance the effectiveness of the CCSP, thereby enhancing the safety of lithium battery transportation.

For more information, please contact Johanna Haynes, Corporate Communications, at 210-247-3870 or johanna.haynes@frost.com.

Description: Please supply a brief description (summary) of the article

In October 2009, PHMSA issued a press release on Lithium battery safety in which it has reemphasized its enforcement effort on shippers and carriers of hazmat that are using air transport, specific to Lithium batteries. Lithium battery safety is one area where governing bodies are working currently and more changes are expected soon.

CCSP: Certified Cargo Screening Program
FAA: Federal Aviation Administration
Hazmat: Hazardous Materials
HMR: Hazardous Materials Regulations
NTSB: National Transportation Safety Board
PHMSA: Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration
TSA: Transportation Security Administration
U.S: United States
Date written: 18th November, 2009